I have been reseraching on the internet because my vet told me last night Koda may have OCD. We couldn't do xrays last night because Koda had already eaten and they will have to seduate him. The vet said sometimes they grow out of this and surgery isn't the only option. He keeps limping on the same leg, it will go away for a few weeks, and come back in the same leg again. This has happened twice. The breeder I got him from said that the person that had the puppies first (a co-ownership thing) overfed him and when he came to her Koda was very over weight so she cut him back. I have fed him the same thing she did and he hasn't been over weight while he's been with me. In fact he is under weight right now because he went on strike. But he's eating again now. And yes the vet has checked that out too, we have to switch his food. That's another thing I need help with, a really good food. Anyway, is OCD genetic? I had plans to breed Koda but if this is genetic, I won't. There is not alot of info I can find except blurbs online. Any good websites. I am willing to do any research I can, I guess I need pointed in the right direction. Is surgery the only option? Help please


Chris

Brain fart...OCD?
B.

Osteochondeitis desicans-little flaps of extra cartilage in the shoulder joint, from what I understand it's due to excessive growth and is genetic. Or it can be from an injury. There is just not alot of info out there about it. I wish someone could help.

Chris

I just got some great info on this as well as a breakthrough way to treat it.

There has been a lot of research done for humans, which applies to dogs. OCD is a human condition as well as a canine condition. It can be caused by excessive growth spurts, trauma, and may have a genetic trigger- but most studies claim that it is a physical condition.

With Osteoarthritis Dissecans (OCD) what happens is that the fluid surrounding the joint stops nourishing the cartilage. At the same time, the blood supply to the joint decreases. This causes pieces of the joint to die (necrosis) and can splinter away from the joint. The cartilage also looses its smooth frictionless quality. This in turn causes the joint to become painful. Bad news is that it is very hard to see on a radiograph. The symptoms tend to "flair up" causing pain and limping. This can occur in any joint and is sometimes seen in varying joints. The symptoms are often confused w/ Panosteitis (Pano) and only a knowledgeable vet can give a correct diagnosis.

The good news. There is a drug on the market that can not only relieve the symptoms, but repair them as well. It is called Cartrophen. It has been approved for human use and veterinary use as well. This drug actually helps repair the joint rather than just mask the pain.

Other ways of managing this is to rest the affected joint. (Check out the thread on Elbow Displasia (OCD) and some help can be gained from glucosamine and similar products.

Brandi. . .OCD. . .obsessive compulsive disorder.

You know, better known as the Malinois disease?


Sorry. . .couldn't resist. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

A vet in Denmark pointed me towards this stuff. You gotta read the article on this drug for Cartrophen. So far in the US all I can get a vet to do is suggest surgery or rest for OCD. This stuff provides a non surgical option and a lot better results.

Cartrophen article

I have used the Cartrophen injections on a very geriatric and athritic Siberian and was extremely pleased with the results. I had to really push my vet to get it as all she wanted to prescribe was anti-inflammatories.

Lynn,

Can you tell me how you acquired the Catrophen?

Thanks in advance.

I had the vet order it in for me and she administered the 4 shots- it was about 50$ Cdn a shot. She didn't seem to have used it much and they don't seem to push it much. I was really impressed with the results. My sister recommended it to me as she had given it to
her old GSDs. The dog I had "Cartrophened" was a
14 yr old Siberian who was really starting to have mobility problems and was in pain. I had her done in November and she is still doing very well - very livley and happy dog. I have a 15 yr old that is getting done soon.

Lynn,
Thanks for posting the price, I was interested in the overall cost of the treatment.