What Might Cause Orthopedic Disease in Young Horses?

The incidence of developmental orthopedic disease (DOD) on a commercial Thoroughbred farm was studied over a four-year period.

A total of 271 foals were monitored. DOD was diagnosed in 10% of the foals. Fetlock osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) tended to occur before 180 days of age while hock, shoulder, and stifle OCD occurred around 300-350 days of age. Foals that developed hock and stifle OCD as yearlings tended to be large foals at birth that grew rapidly from 3 to 8 months. These foals were heavier than the average population as weanlings. Foals that developed fetlock OCD before 6 months of age were born early in the year (January, February, or March).

The results of this study suggest that growth rate and management may affect the incidence of certain types of DOD.

This report of KER’s 1996 research was published in Pferdeheilkunde.

Read the entire research paper, titled The Incidence of Developmental Orthopedic Disease (DOD) on a Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm.