|Common disease - OCD,Osteochondritis| Osteochondritis is an
ossification problem that occurs during the development of an
animal, generally less than one year old. Consequently, a small
area of the bone remains cartilaginous at the level of the
subchondral region (located under the joint cartilage). This
abnormal cartilage is predisposed to trauma, and it can fissure
and become detached, resulting in osteochondritis dissecans.
This problem is often encountered among large breed puppies and
is considered rare among small breed dogs and among cats. The
cause has not yet been well established; however, this disease
is considered to be multifactorial, implicating genetic and
environmental factors. If your young pet has these clinical
signs, X-rays will be recommended in order to evaluate the bone
at the joint level and to check for the presence of arthrosis.
Open surgery or arthroscopy is recommended for this condition.
It consists of joint exploration and curetting of the affected
area. The prognosis is good fo