Osteochondrosis (also known as OCD) is a common, painful disease in dogs. It is characterized by an abnormality in the cartilage-to-bone transformation. As a result, cartilage and bone fragments may break off into the joint space.
Osteochondrosis is not a form of arthritis, however, it often leads to arthritis. Larger breeds of dog have a genetic predisposition towards the condition, which results from rapid growth. (The pain from osteochondrosis is similar to the “growing pains” experienced by adolescents.)
- Lameness and pain in the affected joint.
- Restricted movement of the affected joint (e.g. paddling effect).
- Muscle wasting in the most affected side.
The symptoms of osteochondrosis (OCD) depend on where the problem is located. The dog may try to compensate for lameness by restricting the movement of the affected joint. For example, if the elbow is affected, your pet may swing his/her leg outward in a circular motion to avoid bending the elbow. Although osteochondrosis (OCD) usually affects both sides (i.e. left and right elbows), one leg is often worse than the other. As a result, the dog may take extra weight on the better foreleg, resulting in decreased muscle development in the other foreleg.
Osteochondrosis is a congenital defect in normal joint cartilage development that leads to the development of a loose piece or flap of cartilage. This loose piece or flap can give rise to secondary degenerative joint disease. Secondary degenerative joint disease that develops as a result of osteochondrosis, generally occurs early in the dog's life as opposed to the "wear and tear" arthritis that many dogs experience later in life.
The treatment for osteochondrosis (OCD) is geared towards inhibiting further breakdown of the hip joint and decreasing the pain your pet is experiencing. Various medical and surgical treatments are available today that can ease your dog's discomfort and restore mobility. The type of treatment depends upon several factors, such as the age of your dog, the severity of the problem and financial considerations. Management of osteochondrosis (OCD) usually consists of exercise restriction, body weight management and symptomatic pain management with analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs.
Exercise Control Restricting the amount and intensity of a puppy's activity has been shown to reduce the incidence of osteochondrosis (OCD). Flaps of cartilage that have not yet broken away from their underlying bone may heal back if the affected joint use is not too intense or prolonged. All large breed puppies should participate in only regular short walks until they have finished growing; this recommendation is particularly important if the dog already has osteochondrosis. Dogs with osteochondrosis (OCD) should be restricted to the leash and given a maximum of three short (10 - 15 minute) walks per day.
Dietary Restriction Overfeeding contributes significantly to the development of many orthopedic conditions in dogs, including osteochondrosis (OCD). If your dog has osteochondrosis (OCD), you should discontinue administration of any vitamin or mineral supplements unless specified by your veterinarian. (Consult your veterinarian about an appropriate dog food to give your pet.) Many dogs that develop osteochondrosis (OCD) are the healthiest-looking, largest and fastest growing in their litter; these are the dogs that managed to push out the litter mates from the feeding bowl and are growing too rapidly for the strength of their physical structure. Reduce your dog's total calorie intake to that recommended by the feed company and your veterinarian.
Analgesic and Anti-inflammatory medications - Ideally, these should only be used for the short term, when necessary to encourage movement. Although your pet may respond quickly to anti-inflammatories, this is usually because they are quelling pain, and not because the condition itself is improving. In most cases these medications act simply as painkillers, and should only be used in addition to lifestyle modifications including weight control and good exercise management.
Commonly prescribed analgesics and anti-inflammatories include acetaminophen and various NSAIDs (non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs).
Acetaminophen For mild to moderate osteochondrosis in dogs, your veterinarian may recommend acetaminophen (Tylenol®, Panadol®, Exdol®, etc.) to relieve pain. Since acetaminophen is only a pain reliever and has no anti-inflammatory properties, it can generally be safely combined with anti-inflammatory medications when recommended by a veterinarian.
Too-high doses of acetaminophen can cause liver damage. You should therefore seek a veterinarian’s advice before administering acetaminophen.
NSAIDs are a type of medication that helps reduce pain and swelling of the joints and decreases stiffness. When taken at a low dose, NSAIDs reduce pain; when taken at a higher dose, NSAIDs can also reduce inflammation. NSAIDs such as ASA (Aspirin®, Anacin®, etc.) can be purchased without a prescription. NSAIDs do not prevent joint damage and when used over the long-term, may accelerate joint breakdown. Taking more than one NSAID at a time increases the possibility of heartburn and severe side effects such as ulcers and bleeding. (Special buffered ASA is available for dogs.) Many NSAIDs require a prescription such as the newer sub-class of NSAIDs called Cox-2 Inhibitors (Rimadyl® (carprofen), Metacam® (meloxicam) and Etogesic® (etodolac).
Never use Ibuprofen for dogs as it is toxic to a dog's kidneys.
Cortisone is a corticosteroid that reduces inflammation and swelling. For severe pain and inflammation, veterinarians may inject a corticosteroid, such as cortisone, directly into the affected joint. Cortisone mimics the anti-inflammatory effects of cortisol, which is a hormone naturally produced by the body. Although corticosteroids closely resemble cortisol, they exert a much more powerful anti-inflammatory effect. An injection can provide almost immediate relief for a tender, swollen and inflamed joint.
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