My 6 month old lab was diagnosed with OCD approx 6 weeks ago. The vet put him on a course of 6 injections of Pentosan Polysulphate. The vet has now said we need how it goes. Although his walking has improved after getting up after a sleep his joints appear to be really stiff. We have started to give him a glucosamine supplement - GO4 to see if this further helps him.

Does anyone have this problem with your dogs and what treatment are you undertaking. Should we continue as we are ie limited exercise with glucosamine and cod liver oil supplements or should we opt for surgery. Although we have been advised that this could aggravate the condition.

Our vet has been really vague about the progression of treatment ie injections have now been stopped. Is the surgery the only way we can get him back to full health. Does anyone know approx what we might be looking at cost wise for the surgery?

I'd ask your vet for a referral to a specialist orthopaedic vet either at a vet school or private orthopaedic clinic. Without contrast X-Rays/arthroscopy which the average vet can't do you really can't tell the extent of the OCD. Three years ago one of my boys had OCD in both shoulders. He was referred and had contrast X-Rays done on the day I took him up. They operated on the worse shoulder the next day and I got him back the day after that. He then had 4 weeks of cage rest and went back for an op. on the other shoulder. After that he had another 4 weeks of cage rest plus 4 weeks of gentle increasing exercise. Since then he hasn't looked back and is now a nifty lure courser. :)