What are the symptoms of osteochondrosis in dogs?
The key signs are lameness and stiffness, most evident after rest following exercise. Examination may reveal muscle wastage with painful, swollen joints. A CT scan is the most accurate way to diagnose osteochondrosis. This also allows presence and severity of secondary osteoarthritis to be assessed.
Can OCD in dogs be cured?
Will my dog develop osteoarthritis? As soon as OCD starts to develop, osteoarthritis (inflammation of the joint and associated bones) immediately starts to develop. Once present, osteoarthritis cannot be cured but can be effectively managed in most patients.
How is osteochondrosis treated?
Treatment
- Resting your joint. Avoid activities that stress your joint, such as jumping and running if your knee is affected.
- Physical therapy. Most often, this therapy includes stretching, range-of-motion exercises and strengthening exercises for the muscles that support the involved joint.
How can osteochondrosis be prevented in animals?
Prevention
- Genetics. The genetic component is very important in osteochondrosis. If we only breed from dogs that are free of the disease, it should follow that the pups will be free of the disease.
- Environment. Diet.
- Exercise. This is covered more fully in the exercise section of the puppy pages.
How does osteochondrosis affect a young dog?
Osteochondrosis is a common condition that affects the joints of young, rapidly growing dogs. The surface of the joint (the articular cartilage) fails to convert into bone in specific locations. This results in areas of thickened cartilage.
Is it OCD or osteochondritis dissecans in dogs?
No, it isn’t when your dog obsessively grooms or keep things organized. Osteochondritis dissecans, or OCD is actually a serious condition that affects a dog’s joints. OCD is a result of osteochondrosis, which is when an abnormal development of cartilage appears on the end of a bone in a dog’s joint.
What should I do if my dog has Hock osteochondrosis?
If successful this can give a good outcome, although complications can be seen. Conservative management may be appropriate in older dogs that have established osteoarthritis. Some dogs with hock osteochondrosis develop severe secondary osteoarthritis that results in permanent pain and lameness.
Can a dog with Osteochondrosis recover after surgery?
The majority of dogs with shoulder osteochondrosis recover very well following surgery. Lameness usually resolves despite the development of osteoarthritis. Occasionally stiffness or lameness after vigorous exercise will be evident.