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  Discussion on Time frame/age in which OCD will probably not need surgery?
Author Message
Member:
Jeans

Posted on Thursday, Jul 10, 2003 - 2:43 pm:

Hi--by the way, thank you Dr. O, for your article up above on OCD and DOD--very enlightening and myth-squashing for someone who knows very little about this condition. My two year old filly (1/2 Clydesdale 1/2 Thoroughbred)was diagnosed with OCD of the distal intermediate ridge of the right hock back in December. (I suspect since she had a pretty serious stifle injury on the other side that she used this hock more for a while, possibly initiating the swelling/OCD.) Antway, due to the stifle injury, she will not be able to do much more than easy trail riding, or similar degree of work, so I am faced with the question of whether or not to have the OCD operated on or not. To back up a bit, she has never been lame, the hock just swelled up. It has gone down now (it's 7 months later), but is still a little swollen. She runs and plays out in the pasture with no seeming problems, and a recent lameness exam showed no signs of lameness. My question is this: Is there an age at which you can say that since she hasn't gone lame from this OCD, then most likely the hock will be okay? (without surgery). Or is it a matter of reaching a certain level of training intensity to determine this? If so, what would that be? I don't want to spend the $1600-$1700 on the OCD operation when my main goal with her is to now give her away to someone who will give her a good home. (I had intended on doing more intense work with her when I bought her, eventing, jumping..,etc.) However, I also don't want to give her away only for the new owners to find THEY must spend that $ on her, to become an easy trail riding horse. I have only done ground work with her, (walking, backing, trotting, no tight circles) of course at this young age, and will only allow that she be ridden no sooner than when she is four years old.
Any advice or insight would be truly appreciated.
Thank you!
Jeans.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Jul 10, 2003 - 9:13 pm:

An excellent question and quite frankly the answer is not absolutley clear cut and there is no point where you can say there is no risk now.

If going by just my experience I would say it is training level: I only see lameness from OCD in young horses during times of increasing work loads. But ever so often I read a report of OCD raising its head in an older horse at established work levels.

But you are trying to answer the question wrongly, this is not a medical question considering your stated goal. By being upfront with the future owners about the possiblilities you absolve yourself of the responsiblity if future further treatment is needed.
DrO
Member:
Jeans

Posted on Sunday, Jul 13, 2003 - 1:02 pm:

Thanks, Dr. O--once again U R awesome!
Jeans.
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