Osteochondritis Dissecans is commonly referred to as OCD.  It is a disease of the cartilage that affects the joints in a dog's body.  In any joint in the body two bones come together and movement is allowed between them.  Where the two bones meet and exceptionally smooth area of cartilage covers their surfaces.  This acts as a cushion and protects the underlying bone.  If anything disrupts this smooth cartilage surface, movement of the joint becomes painful.  In a dog with OCD this cartilage is damaged or grows abnormally.  Instead of being attached to the bone it covers, it separates or cracks, causing great pain.  In some cases, small pieces of cartilage break off and float free in the joint.  These pieces of cartilage do not die, but rather continue to grow and increase in size.  These are known as joint mice.  Approximately 15% of all dogs will develop OCD.  This article will cover the disease and its treatments and will explore some of the suspected causes.

Who Gets OCD?

 OCD is primarily a problem in large or giant breed dogs.  It has been reported in small dogs and cats though it is not very common.  It affects male dogs 2 to 5 times as frequently as females, most likely due to the males' larger size and increased stress on joints.  It generally occurs when the animal is between 4 and 8 months of age though it can show up in older dogs.  There are several breeds that despite being larger breeds have decreased incidences of the disease including the Doberman, Collie and Siberian Husky.

 What Are The Symptoms Of OCD?

The symptoms are lameness in the affected limb.  Some dogs have a barely noticeable limp and others are unable to bear any weight on the leg.   The lameness tends to worsen after periods of exercise and improves after rest.  74% of the cases of OCD occur in the shoulder joint, 11% in the elbow and 4% in the hock.  When it affects the front shoulder a shortened forelimb stride may be noted due to reluctance to flex and extend the shoulder joint.  Occasionally the disease will affect both limbs simultaneously and the dog may be reluctant to move.

 How Is OCD Diagnosed?

 Diagnosis is based on history, physical exam and radiographs (x-rays).  On physical examination we notice joint pain.  For instance, most healthy dogs show no resistance when their shoulder joint is fully extended.  However, if they have an OCD lesion in their shoulder they may resist shoulder manipulation and may even cry out in pain when it is attempted.  In addition this flexion and extension of the shoulder joint may worsen the lameness.

 Radiographs of the affected joint are taken to confirm diagnosis.  The dog is often sedated so that full relaxation of the joint can be obtained.  Several views of the affected joint and the healthy joint on the other side are taken for comparison.  The separations of the cartilage or joint mice are often identified on radiographs.  If the radiographs are not confirmatory but OCD is still suspected, radiographs may be taken again in 2 to 3 weeks.

 What Causes The Formation Of OCD?

 The cause of OCD is considered to be multi factored.  It is thought that there are several factors that contribute to the formation of OCD lesions including trauma to the joint, hereditary factors, rapid growth, restricted blood flow to the cartilage, and nutrition.

 Trauma, whether chronic or acute, may contribute to the formation of OCD lesions.  Injury to the surface cartilage may lead to the separation of the cartilage from the bone or cause a decrease in blood supply that leads to cartilage flap formation.

 It appears that there is a genetic link between parents and offspring and the formation of the disease.  Certain breeds and genetic lines are much more likely to develop the disease.  Careful screening of parents against the disease is recommended during the selection of all breeding stock.

 The disease usually occurs during periods of rapid growth.  Therefore it has been suggested that nutrition that creates rapid growth may lead to the increase in incidence of the disease.  It has been recommended that animals that are susceptible to the disease be fed a diet that is lower in protein and fat or that they are fed in a limited manner to allow steady even growth during the first year of life.  This theory may have merits but more specific studies need to be done before any general recommendations can be made.

 How Is OCD Treated?

There are currently two ways to treat OCD, conservative medical treatment or surgical removal of the lesion.  Conservative treatment may be indicated for dogs that have early mild symptoms of OCD or where a specific lesion cannot be identified on radiographs.  Conservative treatment consists of strict rest of 4 to 8 weeks.  Leash walking is permitted but no running or playing is allowed.  Anti-inflammatory and painkillers may be indicated.  In addition, the use of glucosamine/chondroitin products has been suggested yet there is not current studies that confirm their beneficial use in this particular disease.  Conservative treatment may be difficult in young active puppies that may still need to undergo surgery if the symptoms don't improve.

 Surgery is indicated in animals that show severe symptoms; in cases where large lesions are identified on radiographs or when conservative treatments fail.  The surgery is very straightforward.  The affected joint is opened and the offending flap, defect, or joint mouse is removed.  There is a very high success rate for surgery and most animals recover fully without any further problems.

 How Is OCD Prevented?

 Prevention consists of careful selective breeding that avoids the breeding of animals with a history of OCD. Young large and giant breed dogs should not undergo strenuous activity, particularly jumping activities.  Housing on hard concrete surfaces has also been linked to increased OCD lesions in pigs and may also contribute to problems in the dog.  Providing a well balanced diet that promotes even sustained growth is also recommended.

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