OCD

[mle22]

Can someone explain to me what it is please. Someone I know told me recently that her 3 yo had it and I didn't like to ask. Horse was operated on. I've seen others refer to it on the forum but I still can't work out wahat it is. When she said it I immediately thought of obsessive compulsive disorder - but I do know it's not that!

 

[woolly]

osteochondrossisdessecans (sp?) If you google it will explain it better than me lol! Hope this helps. Caused by a variety of factors.

 

[mle22]

Thanks - I will google it. Something to do with the bones I'm guessing!

 

[lynspop]

OCD stands for OSTEOCHONDRITIS DISSECANS. Its most common in young horses with rapid growth spurts and can have a lot to do with nutrition. It happens to otherwise healthy horses often and causes stuff like cysts on the bone, deformities of the limb and can affect pretty much any bone in the body! Deficiency in various minerals or excessive amounts of some can contribute to it (think lack of copper can contribute or too much zinc etc).
Often there arent many symptoms apart from maybe slight lameness and swollen joints etc
If its not diagnosed many youngsters grow out of it and the problem disappears naturally. Otherwise it can be treated with various injections or keyhole surgery (i think)
hope this helps!