An Osteochondritis Dissecans

Case presentation

Iona is a black New Foundland male with pedigree, born on 8/8/1993. On December 2^nd 1994 her owner, Mr. Michel D… coming from Evette-Salbert in the region of Belfort, presents me his bitch, hoping to avoid surgery planned two days later, because she has an osteochondritis dissecans* at the bottom of her right scapulum.

Anamnesis

Iona is a long-limbed, fine built female , gentle, playful, very sociable, apparently at ease with herself. In a dog group she doesn’t escape, but neither does she look for a fight. Half an hour after starting, she limps heavily. This began 9 days ago, whilst she was playing. She was playing the fool and suddenly she came back limping and crying. She kept crying a whole minute.

Now when starting she is somewhat stiff. She stretches herself a little but doesn’t really limp along. She was fed with industrial food for giant dogbreeds with too much proteïn (38%), Calcium and vitamins. She likes water and somewhat rough playing. She happened to knock down her masters while playing. When the wind is blowing strong, she raises her snout and shows interest.

Prescription

According to her playful and cheerful disposition as well as to her longlimbed and elegant constitution, I prescribe three doses of Calcarea phosphorica 9 CH, one a week and Symphytum 5 CH , three granules morning and evening for 10 days.

Follow up

I lose touch with Iona because her master lives more than 200 km from here. On June 21, 1996 I get some news by phone. The dog was not operated on and has never limped since.

* Osteochondritis dissecans is a joint condition in which a piece of cartilage, along with a thin layer of the bone beneath it, comes loose from the end of a bone.

Soultz-sous-Forêts 7/11/2011

Jacques Millemann, Dr vétérinaire