OCD

[Sandollar]

My boy has been dipping on both shoulders on and off since June. The lameness is getting worse and occurs almost daily now. The vet initially diagnosed muscle sprains and strains and suggested rest, antiinflammatories and pain killers. Nothing has worked, and at our most recent visit OCD was mentioned and X-ray diagnosis suggested. What is OCD? Is it genetic? or is it something I have done that has caused the problem? what are the long term effects? I am worried sick. 'Boss'is only a pup and has already had one op for calcinosis circumscripta. Can anyone give me some advice? Thanks http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/smile.gif

[Nancy Estes]

How old is your dog? OCD is usually found in young, fast-growing dogs. If it's not *outgrown* (in simple cases), sometimes surgery is necessary to remove calcium build up or *joint mice* = if I remember correctly, detatched, calcified cartilage tissue from the joint/s that cause pain and lameness. Osteochondritis is where there are no joint mice; Osteochondritis Dessicans describes the condition where there are joint mice. It can be found in shoulder, stifle, hock, elbow joints.

Nancy

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von Dorow Rottweilers
doggo1@apex2000.net

[Terryann]

My male dog had OCD in his left hock, at approximately age 15 months. He had surgery which fused his hock. However, I understand that arthroscopy is now being used. My male does just fine though with his hock fused - doesn't slow him down a bit!

[Michele Baxter]

Sandollar,
My boy Moe had surgery for OCD of his back hock this year. He had a "joint mouse" like Nancy described. We tried treating it with natural remedies, and adequan injections to no avail. I didn't want to put him through the surgery if we could treat medicinally. Ultimately, I'm glad we did the surgery as he gets around much better although he is still on Rimadyl and glucosamine/chondroitin supplements and will be probably for the rest of his life-at least the supplements. We haven't been able to wean him from the Rimadyl with any success. But at least he is living without pain. You should see the size of the mouse they took out. It was so large they had to open the joint up and needed to pin and wire it back together. The good news is they with usually lead a normal life after the surgery. Be sure to get a vet that has done this type of surgery before. Mine sent me to a specialist for an opinion, but ultimately I elected for him to do the surgery as he was very famiiar with it, and Moe loves him. He only had to stay overnight. Good luck. If you have any questions of wish to talk more about it please email me I'd be glad to help if I can.

[Sandollar]

Thanks Terry and Nancy for the information. 'Boss' is 10 months old and growing fast - could explain a lot!

[Sandollar]

Thanx for taking the time to tell me of your experiences Michelle. The good news is, we took 'Boss' away for a weekend to the beach and he did a lot of walking and running with absolutely NO LIMPING!! We're keeping our fingers crossed that he may just have been going through a rapid growth phase and the problem has righted itself . . . I'll email you for further details if I need them. Thankyou again.