Seek veterinary advice if you suspect this disease.
In the equine species, fibrous osteodystrophyis commonly caused by nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism, a metabolic disorder widely reported in unweaned foals and horses fed high phosphorus and low calcium (ratio ≥ 3:1) diets. The nutritional disorder also develops in horses fed diets high in oxalates.
Because this disease is caused by dietary calcium to phosphorus imbalance, treatment begins with first correcting mineral balance in the diet. If caught quickly enough in mature horses, most of the damage can be reversed and the bones will remineralize.
The disease is a bigger problem for young horses as their bones have not finished growing and ossifying. The demineralization from inadequate bone calcium can cause permanent damage to young horses even once the diet is corrected.
Calcium can be added to the diet by feeding alfalfa hay or providing calcium carbonate. However, calcium supplementation alone may not be sufficient.
The most common treatment is the administration of a bisphosphonate drug approved for use in horses. This drug works by binding and inhibiting the action of osteoclasts—cells that break down bone.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) are sometimes used to treat bone pain, but these medications do not cure the condition.
Consult with a veterinary nutritionist to determine whether your horse’s diet is providing an appropriate ratio of calcium to phosphorus.
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Osteochondrosis Seek veterinary advice before applying any treatment Osteochondrosis is a prevalent developmental orthopedic disease mostly found in growing horses.
Bone Spavin Seek veterinary advice if you suspect this disease. Bone spavin is osteoarthritis, or the final phase of degenerative
