Osteochondrosis (OCD)

[Boolagh]

During a scan to investigate a stifle injury caused by a kick, our vet has identified signs of OCD in our 18 month old filly.
I'd be grateful for any information on likely prognosis, whether we can do anything to prevent a worsening of the condition, do horses "grow out of it" etc. Horse is currently on two months box rest with a course of intra-muscular injections for cartilage renewal, and glucosamine powder.

 

[Maesfen]

Has your vet mentioned anything like Synequin (more effective than Glucosamine in my vet's view) they've had a lot of success with it and it has worked for some I know? They've gone on to lead perfectly normal lives and the old boy has had a new lease of life, no longer lame from an arthritic knee and bucking and kicking as he did as a two year old (he's now 22!!)
Poor filly stuck inside at this time of year, hope she makes a full recovery very soon.

 

[tillyd]

Hello

I don't know much about OCD specifically, but my horse has just been diagnosed with first signs of arthritis in her coffin joints and I plan to ask my vet on Thurs re the best glucosamine/MSM supplement to give etc etc, so will pass on any knowledge I glean, as guess it would apply the same, whatever joint you're talking about. She is having intr-atricular (sp? into the joint!) cortisone/HA jabs.
I think the term arthritis brackets together a whole heap of differing conditions, like OCD and DJD. I may be wrong but can't they operate on certain big joints (like stifle?)that show OCD? Fingers crossed for you

 

[eventer28]

Yes they can operate on stifle OCD. My KWPN gelding had large OCD lesions in both his stifles and he underwnt surgery to scrape the OCD lesions. He was box rested for a month post surgery and then on the horse walker 2x daily for a week, paddock for a week and then 160acre field for a month's rest with the oldies, youngsters and brood mares. I had to then do daily 6-weeks of walking followed by a bit of trotting in straight lines before starting school waork. He felt so much better. I sold him on as a hack because I was worried he wouldnt be able to cope as a competition horse. Operation cost me 5k