Growth Related Skeletal Diseases

Growth related skeletal diseases

During the growth of companion animals several disorder may occur leading to pain and lameness. These complaints may become apparent before as well as after these animals are fully grown. During this presentation an overview of the most frequently occurring growth related skeletal disorders will be given as an introduction to Dr Corbee’s lecture. Dr Corbee will present on the nutritional etiology behind these disorders and the possible nutritional treatment options for patients suffering from these disorders.

Osteochondritis (dissicans) of the shoulder
Osteochondritis (OC) is a disturbance of the normal process of endochondral ossification. When subsequently a cartilaginous flap develops the correct term is osteochondritis dissicans (OCD). Several locations, for instance shoulder, elbow and tarsal joints may be affected. In the shoulder mostly the caudocentral and caudoventral part of the humeral head is the location for the cartilaginous flap. The lesions are bilaterally present in 27-68% of the dogs with OC. Most of the time patients are male dogs of the giant and large breeds. Affected dogs are often consuming a high protein, high caloric content diet (typical puppy diets). Usually clinical signs develop at an age of 4-8 months old. Most often the lameness is unilateral despite the often bilateral alterations. Lameness is mostly visible after rest and exercise (comparable to osteoarthritis). Some dogs only start showing lameness until later in life. Often muscle atrophy of the mm. Supraspinatus, Infraspinatus and Deltoideus is palpable. Especially hyperextension elicits a (pain-)reaction. The diagnosis is made using radiographic examination or CT-images. On the medio-lateral view the subchondral bone defect of the caudal head of the humerus and sometimes the loose fragment in the caudal joint space or biceps tendon (10%) can be found. Our treatment of choose is to surgically remove the fragment and debride the defect. This could be done by an arthrotomy or arthroscopy. When only little osteoarthritis is present the prognosis is fairly good. […]