According to the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) is a common developmental disease that affects the cartilage and bone in the joints of horses. Essentially, in joints with OCD, the cartilage doesn’t form normally, which causes cartilage and the bone underneath to be irregular in thickness. The result is cartilage and bone flaps that can cause inflammation and degeneration in the joint.
At Iron Spring Farm, we do everything we can to prevent OCD. Yet, even with the best precautions, some youngsters still develop it. The excellent news: when OCD is caught early and treated properly, the prognosis can be good. Andrea Bomkamp, ISF broodmare manager, and Quinnten Alston, ISF sales manager, answer common OCD questions.
What measures does ISF take to help prevent OCD?
Andrea: We make sure our horses receive a balanced, nutritious diet, safe turnout and proper exercise for their age. We also feed a bone and growth supplement to all foals and yearlings. This provides microminerals thought to help with healthy bone development.
We’re also proactive in utilizing the latest research. All foals get two rounds of Adequan. A study showed multiple rounds of Adequan in young, growing horses can help reduce the incidence of OCD. It should be noted that Adequan did not participate in the study and they consider this an off-label use.
Genetics is also thought to be a factor. To help breeders reduce risks, the KWPN utilizes a D-OC test for dressage and jumping horses. Stallions, mares and foals can be DNA tested for the likelihood of developing and passing on OCD. The higher the score, the lower the risk of OCD. At ISF, we select our crosses very carefully to diminish the chances. Learn more about the KWPN’s test here.
At this time a universal equine gene test for OCD hasn’t been developed, so there’s no assessment available for other breeds.
Does ISF radiograph young horses without symptoms?
Andrea: Yes. We do survey radiographs on all yearlings in November/December of their yearling year. We take films of all four fetlocks, hocks, stifles and front feet. Warmbloods rarely have knee issues, so although Thoroughbred breeders will x-ray knees, we do not. We wait until they are yearlings because some foals will have small lesions that resolve on their own. After one-year of age, any lesions evident on x-ray will be permanent unless there’s surgical intervention.
Our x-rays are reviewed by a surgeon, as well as our regular veterinarian. They will diagnose the presence or absence of bone chips and OCD lesions. If the horse has an OCD lesion, we will almost always remove it even without signs of lameness. The sooner a chip is removed, the lower the risk of joint damage. Some locations are considered higher risk, so it’s important to discuss each individual case with your veterinarian to determine whether or not to remove a chip.
What does the OCD surgery and rehabilitation look like?
Andrea: The fragment is removed arthroscopically and requires general anesthesia. There are usually two or more incision sites for each joint. The horse comes home in bandages and we will continue to wrap for 4-5 months until they are returned to full turnout. We normally do surgery early in their two-year-old year, so they are not in work and have plenty of time to heal before they start under saddle training.
Sutures are removed at 10-14 days. Then the horses are injected with hyaluronic acid (HA) or similar regenerative product and also receive an Adequan series.
Stall rest is recommended for 2-4 weeks. After that, they’re on restricted turnout for another 1-2 months. At ISF, this means a porta pen and a small field. They will then graduate to a large field. Usually around four months, they’re moved back with their age-group companions and resume regular turnout.
We have a rehab barn with porta pens and graduating size paddocks to make these transitions easier. The barn usually only has a few horses, so things are quiet and low key to aid in reducing the stress of stall rest and reduced turnout.
What is the prognosis for a horse with an OCD surgery?
Quinnten: Many horses with a history of OCD have gone on to have happy and successful performance careers at the highest levels of competition. An OCD lesion should not be viewed as an end to a life of usefulness. It’s often helpful to pay more attention to the horse's soundness and suitability for your riding goals.
If you’re shopping for a horse, what should you look for related to OCD?
Quinnten: X-rays. Most of our potential buyers consider it a game changer that all of our sales horses have a set of survey films already available that they don't have to pay for themselves. We always disclose if a horse has had an OCD lesion surgically removed. Our buyers can rest assured that we will provide pre and post-op radiographs of the OCD lesion site, along with surgical and rehabilitation notes from the veterinarians involved. Our horses are always sold with job descriptions appropriate to the individual horse, so any prior health history is accounted for.
Thanks to modern sporthorse management and veterinary care, equine athletes can lead productive, happy lives.
Many thanks to Zander ISF's owner Jamie Hedges for her consent for our use of Zander's photo
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All content provided by Iron Spring Farm is general and for informational purposes only. Content may also not constitute the most up to date information. Nothing in this content is intended to constitute veterinarian advice or to serve as a substitute for consultation with a veterinarian. Always seek the advice of your veterinarian or other qualified provider with any questions that you may have about the treatment and care of your horse.
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