[QUOTE=YankeeLawyer;4206288]
OCD can have a genetic component but very frequently it is caused by poor nutrition and improper turnout programs (i.e., not enough turnout). Given your filly’s history, it would not be surprising if genetics did not play a role.[/QUOTE]
I would have to disagree with you on both counts for the sole reason that I have had at least FOUR top veterinarians tell me otherwise. What I was told the top reasons for OCD are 1) too much nutrition (i.e. overfeeding), 2) too much alfalfa which causes an imbalance of calcium and phosphorus in the system, 3) genetics, 4) rapid growth in utero and in the first 6 months due to reason number 1.
Back when TBs were only getting oats and timothy hay, there didn’t seem to be much of a problem with OCD but now that we are feeding these super rich diets, there seems to be a higher incidence of it. So, is it the TB or the food? It could be both.
I have never heard of poor turnout causing OCD. In fact, if you have a very large foal with large joints like I did, sometimes keeping the foal contained in a smaller paddock than a huge one can minimize stress placed on those growing joints while still allowing the foal to benefit from moving around 24/7.
