Developmental orthopaedic diseases (DOD) including osteochondrosis and physitis affect growing horses, causing joint pain and potential long-term structural damage if not identified and managed early.
Developmental orthopaedic disease causes welfare suffering in growing horses at a critical developmental stage. Affected youngsters experience joint pain that restricts movement and exploratory behaviour fundamental to healthy development. The pain from OCD flaps or physitis may be difficult to recognise in foals and weanlings — they may appear less active or unwilling to move rather than demonstrating obvious lameness. Early identification through radiographic screening enables appropriate management before secondary damage accumulates. Dietary management to control growth rate and maintain appropriate mineral balance is the primary preventive welfare intervention, and responsible breeders screen at-risk breeds radiographically to identify affected individuals requiring early treatment.