To help protect foals from OCD, therefore, it is prudent to feed them concentrates that produce low glycemic responses, such as those that incorporate fat and fiber as energy sources. These specialty feeds minimize the amount of sugar and starch in the diet, thereby reducing the likelihood of OCD. One of the most common problems of feeding young horses is excessive intake that results in accelerated growth rate or fattening, two conditions that may result in OCD.
Calorie consumption is key. Large intakes of grain are appropriate if the forage is sparse or poor quality. Occasionally, the concentrate offered to a growing horse is incorrectly fortified to complement the forage that is being fed. The problem occurs particularly when the forage is mostly alfalfa or clover. Most concentrates for young horses are formulated with levels of minerals and protein needed to balance grass hay.
Inadequate fortification of grain is another concern for managers of young horses. These errors in feeding can be corrected by the incorporation of a highly fortified grain balancer supplement. In almost every circumstance of OCD, the surest way of determining if nutrition is a contributing factor is to perform a ration evaluation, which compares the intake of several essential nutrients with the requirements of the horse. Gross deficiencies or excesses of key nutrients can then be identified and corrected.
Ration evaluations can be approached in two ways. This is actually more difficult than it may first appear since most horsemen do not actually know exactly what their horses are eating. Alternatively, a new ration may be developed.
One easy way to determine the appropriateness of a ration is through the use of Gro-Trac, the growth-monitoring software designed by Kentucky Equine Research. One special feature of Gro-Trac is the ration evaluator, which allows users to work with their feed manufacturers in determining the best feed for their horses.
Not all cases of OCD can be traced to a nutritional origin. Other factors such as heredity and trauma may also be implicated. By feeding a well balanced, low-starch diet and aiming for moderate growth, breeders can help build a sound skeleton and a solid foundation for a long-lasting athletic career. Subscribe to Equinews and get the latest equine nutrition and health news delivered to your inbox. Sign up for free now! Search Library Entire Site. Library Section Only.
Severe cases can be very lame and may be confused with wobblers because of the difficulty they have flexing the stifles in getting up and down. In older animals, an increase in the level of exercise may be part of the history. Horses will often have a bunny-hop gait behind and this also could be confused with a neurologic problem. Some horses will be very subtle in their lameness. Joint distention when the disease is clinically significant is a regular feature.
Careful palpation of the joint may identify free bodies or the surface irregularity associated with the damage within the joint. Bilateral involvement is common in the stifle, so careful examination of both stifles should be completed. Lateral to medial radiographs provide the best means of diagnosis regarding specific location of the lesion and its size. The most common location is on the lateral trochlear ridge of the femur and shows up as an area of flattening, irregularity, or concavity.
The area of the trochlear ridge adjacent to the bottom portion of the patella is most commonly involved. Various degrees of mineralization may be present within the flap tissue, affecting the radiographic signs, and free bodies may also be identified. OCD can also primarily affect the patella or the medial trochlear ridge of the femur.
Generally the extent of damage to the joint identified at surgery is more extensive than would be predicted from radiographs. Although other joints can be involved concurrently, this is uncommon. In general, arthroscopic surgery is recommended for the treatment of most of these cases. However, it has been recently identified that in low grade lesions detected very early, stall confinement could allow healing, presumably with reattachment of any separated cartilage.
When there is a significant concave defect or flaps or fragments identified, arthroscopic surgery is recommended. The joint is thoroughly explored and this usually gives a better assessment of all damage. Suspicious lesions are probed and loose or detached tissue is elevated and removed. Loose bodies are also removed. The defect site is then debrided down to healthy tissue. This can lead to some difficult decision-making. Electing to submit a sound horse to surgery can be tough but, if you do not, will it remain sound?
Is it reasonable to complete the purchase? As a vet, it is hard to provide accurate advice to enable purchasers to proceed with the least risk. There is also an argument that lameness is a greater risk in the older horse with undiagnosed or ignored OCD problems, since long-term inflammation in joints can potentially cause arthritis.
The choice of treatment therefore depends on a variety of factors, including the degree of lameness and the location and severity of the OCD. The age of the horse and its intended use must also be considered.
There is no simple answer for many of these cases, so it makes sense to discuss all the options with an equine orthopaedic specialist. Surgical advances and joint medication have certainly helped manage OCD in individual horses. Home Horse Care Vet advice. Joint problems Lameness.
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