Osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis is a disturbance in endochondral ossification that is sometimes classified as dyschondroplasia. The immature articular cartilage may separate from the underlying epiphyseal bone, which sometimes dissects completely free and floats loose in the synovial cavity, resulting in accompanying synovitis or the retention of pyramidal cores of physeal cartilage projecting into the metaphysis. Often, these two lesions are seen simultaneously in the same bone. The disease develops during maximal growth when the biomechanical stresses are greatest in the immature skeleton (4-8 mo in dogs, 80-120 lb [36-54 kg] in pigs). It is most common in large and giant breeds of dogs and in rapidly growing pigs, horses ( Osteochondrosis), turkeys, and chickens.