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Name
Osteochondrosis, Canine
Short Description
Osteochondrosis, osteochondritis dissecans (OCD)
Affected Animals: Dogs, humans, pigs, horses, cattle, chickens, and
turkeys.
Overview: Osteochondrosis is a disease that affects
cartilage formation; the cartilage, due to an abnormal thickening,
is unable to receive a normal supply of nutrients from the joint
fluid, causing it to become weaker and more susceptible to damage.
Cartilage provides a protective gliding layer between the bones in a
joint, and when it is injured and lesions form, the dog will
experience pain, lameness, and arthritis. Lesions may occur on one
or both sides of the body.
Scapula
Humerus
Humeral Head
Floating Cartilage and Bone
Detachment Site
In all animals, osteochondrosis can affect many
different joints, but in the dog, the most common sites of disease
are the shoulder, elbow, stifle or knee joint, and tarsus or hock.
Generally, osteochondrosis occurs in young, large to giant breeds,
although it is also seen in mixed breeds. The most commonly affected
breeds include the German shepherd, golden and Labrador retriever,
rottweiler, Great Dane, Bernese mountain dog, and Saint Bernard.
Clinical Signs: Lameness, pain, crepitus, and swelling of the
affected joint(s).
Symptoms:
Lameness and pain.
Description:
Osteochondrosis, or OCD, is a disease of
cartilage formation that results in weakened cartilage. Because
cartilage is the contact layer between bones forming a joint, joint
pain, lameness, and progressive arthritis result when the cartilage
is damaged. A form of the disease called osteochondritis dissecans (OCD)
occurs when a weakened layer of cartilage forms a flap that becomes
elevated because of joint fluid dissecting between it and the
surrounding cartilage and bone. Mineralization can occur when the
flap breaks off and floats around in the joint. This complication,
called a joint mouse, can result in a "pebble-in-the-shoe" feeling
of irritation for the dog, as well as intermittent or persistent
lameness.
Osteochondrosis can affect any joint, but generally, there are four
commonly affected joints in the dog:
Shoulder osteochondrosis, or shoulder OCD, causes a lesion to
develop on the head of the humerus, which is the bone in the upper
front leg. Although this condition occurs while the dog is growing,
some animals will not show signs of disease until they have matured
fully and more advanced disease is present. However, the majority of
animals show lameness early on, between the ages of five and 10
months. In 25 to 75 percent of the cases, both shoulders are
affected. The lameness is usually one-sided and tends to improve
with rest. With exercise, though, the lameness recurs. Pain is seen
on extension of the shoulder. The amount of arthritis present
depends on the size and duration of the lesion. Because
osteochondrosis is often bilateral, it is necessary to take x-rays
of both shoulders to evaluate the extent of the disease.
Primarily occurring in large to giant breed dogs, elbow
osteochondrosis is one of three diseases that are grouped under the
term elbow dysplasia. The other diseases, ununited anconeal process
and fragmented medial coronoid process, are described under separate
encyclopedia headings. With elbow osteochondrosis, the lesion is
usually seen on the inside of the humerus. Most dogs with elbow
osteochondrosis are presented for lameness at less than one year of
age. As with the shoulder form of the disease, some animals may not
be seen until they are much older, after the onset of significant
arthritis. The lameness may be intermittent or persistent, tending
to improve with rest and worsen with activity. Because it can be
difficult to differentiate between elbow and shoulder
osteochondrosis, x-rays of both joints may need to be taken. Even
with x-rays, though, it can be difficult to detect a lesion in the
elbow. Exploratory surgery may be needed in some cases before
arrival at a definitive diagnosis.
Stifle osteochondrosis, which occurs in the knee joint, affects the
same breeds and types of dogs that develop shoulder and elbow
osteochondrosis, but it is much less common. Dogs with this disease
usually show a slow onset of lameness that worsens with activity.
The lesion will occur on the femur, the large bone in the thigh --
usually on the outer part of the bone. The degree of arthritis
depends on the size and duration of the lesion.
Tarsal or hock osteochondrosis occurs in large dogs, most commonly
the Labrador retriever and rottweiler. Hind-limb lameness and a
straight-hocked stance are the most common signs. The joint will
appear thick and will be painful on manipulation. With this form of
the disease, arthritis tends to develop more rapidly and become more
severe.
Diagnosis: The veterinarian may presume a diagnosis of
osteochondrosis if the dog shows signs of disease and is a commonly
affected breed. A definitive diagnosis requires analysis of x-rays.
Prognosis: The prognosis for shoulder osteochondrosis is
excellent. Dogs with this disease often become normal after surgery,
unless the lesion has been long-standing and arthritis has set in.
The prognosis for elbow osteochondrosis is good but becomes guarded
if significant arthritis is present. The prognosis for stifle
osteochondrosis is good unless the lesion is very large or
significant arthritis is present. The prognosis for tarsal or hock
osteochondrosis is guarded because most of the dogs with this form
of the disease already have significant arthritis. If the arthritis
is severe, surgery may be no more effective than medical management.
Transmission or Cause: The cause of osteochondrosis is unknown, but
because the disease is primarily seen in large and giant breed dogs,
a genetic component is suspected. Other factors, such as a high
calorie diet, and diets that promote rapid growth, are also thought
to be significant.
Treatment:The treatment of osteochondrosis is
surgical. A chondroplasty procedure, in which the cartilage is
reshaped, involves opening up the affected joint to expose the
lesion, removing the abnormal cartilage, and exposing the deeper
blood vessels. Scar cartilage will fill in the defect, decreasing or
eliminating the pain caused by the lesion.
Medical management of osteochondrosis consists of weight loss and
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, such as aspirin,
carprofen, or etodolac.
Prevention: Prevention generally includes avoiding
calorie-dense diets in large to giant breed dogs. Puppies should be
fed adult diets or giant breed growth formulations, and vitamin
over-supplementation should be avoided. Maintaining a lean body
condition also seems to decrease the risk of osteochondrosis.
