Early Marker for OCD in Foals

Levels of osteocalcin, a marker of joint metabolism, might help to identify very young foals that are at increased risk of developing skeletal problems such as osteochondritis dissecans (OCD).

Researchers drew blood from foals between 2 and 52 weeks of age and found correlations between osteocalcin levels and foals showing clinical signs of OCD at 5.5 and 11 months of age.

Although more study is needed to validate this link, the finding might prove to be an early warning for foal managers so that they can more carefully manage nutrition and weight gain in growing foals.