Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD) is a shoulder issue, often seen in underdeveloped, large and giant dogs. It happens when cartilage doesn’t form as it should in the shoulder, leading to a lesion and eventually a cartilage flap.

A canine patient with OCD can show symptoms as early as 4 months old. A dog may limp on one or both front legs which will often get worse with exercise.

Treatment options may include surgery since the cartilage flap would need to be removed and the surrounding area cleaned up. This could be done through a minimally invasive procedure, such as arthroscopy, or an open surgical approach.