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Osteochondritis Dissecans
All the moveable joints of the body, there is a soft spongy cartilage, called Hyaline Cartilage, that produces a thick, viscous lubricant called hyaluronic acid. The purpose of this tissue is to act as a lubricant to decrease the chance of irritation, inflammation, and bony change in the joint. With this condition there is a change in the lining of the cartilage of the joint producing varying degrees of thickness which is susceptible to injury. Lesions can occur as well as small pieces of cartilage can break off and can produce chronic pain. The cause of this condition is considered to be multi-factorial. It is thought that there are several factors that contribute to the formation of OCD lesions including trauma to the joint, hereditary factors, rapid growth, restricted blood flow to the cartilage, and nutrition.
OCD is primarily a problem in large or giant breed dogs. It has been reported in small dogs and cats, though it is not very common. It affects male dogs 2 to 5 times as frequently as females, most likely due to the males’ larger size and increased stress on the joint. It generally occurs when the animal is between 4 and 8 months of age, though it can show up in older dogs.