This document discusses various bone diseases including osteodystrophy, rickets, osteomalacia, and osteoporosis. It describes their causes such as nutritional deficiencies, physical trauma, tumors, and endocrine disorders. Clinical signs, diagnostic testing, and treatment approaches are covered. Specific conditions like renal osteodystrophy, laminitis, osteomyelitis, and bone tumors are also summarized.

1. Dr. Ajith Y. MVSc PhD
Assistant Professor
TeachingVeterinary ClinicalComplex, COVAS, Mannuthy
Departmentof VeterinaryClinicalMedicine, Ethics and Jurisprudence
KeralaVeterinaryandAnimal Sciences University, Pookode

2. • General term used for non-inflammatory bone
(Osteo) abnormalities (dys) in development (trophy).
- If mature bone - rubbery jaw, susceptibility to fracture,
abnormal posture and gait.
- If growing bone– Enlargement, hyperostosis, bowed
legs, beaded ribs.
• Chondrodystrophy – Partial failure in normal
development of cartilages.
• Achondroplasia – Complete failure of cartilage
development.

4. • Nutritional
– Ca, P, Vit D deficiency/imbalances: ODF, Rickets
– Copper deficiency: Osteoporosis, epiphysitis
– Protein deficiency: Osteoporosis
– Chronic parasitism
– Hypo (low osteoblasts) or hyper (high osteoclasts) vitaminosis A
– Lead and fluride poisoning (deposits in bone/teeth)
• Physical/environmental causes
– Trauma
– Anything affects biomechanics like slatted concrete floors
• Tumors
– Osteosarcomas

5. • Failure of mineralization of developing bones in Young
animals.
• Overgrowth of fibrous tissue, epiphysitis, hemmorrhages.
• Stunted growth, bowed legs, string of beads (rachetic
rosary) in costochondral jns, enlargement of joints and
bone ends.
• Distorted mandible & maxillae, irregular teeth eruptions,
irregular dental sockets.
• Stiff gait, Pica and unthriftiness

7. • Osteomalacia: Demineralization/resorption results in
softening of mature bones in adult animals leading to
Spontaneous fracture.
• Osteoporosis: Failure in formation of organic matrix
(osteoid) ie, reduced osteoblatic and increased osteoclastic
activity. Copper deficiency, under nutrition, lead poisoning,
hormonal imbalances etc are common causes.
• Osteodystrophy due to chronic fluorosis: Periosteal
hyperostosis and exostosis on shaft of long bones.

8. • Big head disease, renal rickets, rubber jaw, bran disease,
Miller’s disease.

9. • Condition similar to rickets & osteomalacia, but ODF
mostly due to hyperparathyroidism.
(a) Primary hyperparathyroidism: Functional lesion on
Parathyroid gland
(b) Secondary renal hyperparathyroidism: In older animals
(Common in dogs) (http://tru.uni-sz.bg/bjvm/BJVM%20September%202009%20p.212-218.pdf)
(c) Secondary nutritional hyperparathyroidism: In younger
animals. Increased P or decreased Ca diet. Common in goats
and horses.
(Exceptional puppy case ==> https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-020-03193-x)

10. • Radiography: Thinning of bone/low density , Epiphyseal
plate widening (Some times moth eaten appearance in
epiphysis also ==>Differentiate with osteomyelitis)
• Ca & P levels: Ratio to be considered (Compensatory changes)
• Nutritional History: Grain diet, Boneless meat
• Treatment history: Ca chelators (OTC, PO4)
• Alkaline Phosphatase Elevated, Not specific
• Clinical signs of renal failure

11. • Vitamin D injection: 10,000 IU per Kg single injection or
lower dose in alternate days.
• Ca & P supplementation: 10-20 times requirement of Ca.
Based on Ca: P ratio.
• Adequate bedding to prevent inflammation and pain.
• Phosphate binders: Al salts (Kaolin), Ca salts (CaCO3),
Sevelamer………………… Content of IPAKITINE®
• Sunlight & Exercise ==> Improve Vit D activity
• Ecto and Endo parasite control
• Corticosteroids and Anabolic steroids??? (Anecdotal use)

12. • Hypertrophic pulmonary
osteoarthropathy or
achropachia ossea. Common in
dog -> horse -> Cattle
• Periosteal exostosis & local
tissue edema.
• Found along with pulmonary/
thoracic/abdominal neoplastic
or infectious masses.
• Actual etiology is not clearly
understood.

13. • Inflammation of sensitive laminae (epidermal laminae
connected to the hoof wall from the dermal laminae attached to the
distal phalanx).
• Severe foot pain, Separation of horn, rotation of pedal bone.
Etiology
a) Sepsis/Infectious
b) Metabolic/Endocrinopathic
c) Supporting limb/Traumatic
Eg: SARA, Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae

14. • Inflammation of bone (Infectious or neoplasm or trauma).
• Routes of infection entry
- Hematogenous: Specific => Actinomycosis, Brucellosis,
Non-specific => Omphalitis, TB
- Extension of adjacent infection foci.
- Direct inoculation by trauma/surgery
• Clinical findings: Lameness, inflammatory swelling, pain
on palpation, draining of pus/abscess, secondary muscle
atrophy.

15. • Necrotic sequestrum, moth eaten appearance, new bone formation,
loss of bone density.

16. Radiography- Bone tumors
• Moth eaten pattern ??? Osteolytic lesion
• Sunburst appearance??? Osteosarcoma