Bone fragility disorder (BFD)

Veterinary advice should be sought before applying any treatment or vaccine.

Bone Fragility Disorder (BFD)

Bone Fragility Syndrome

Bone fragility disorder (BFD) is a progressive, debilitating bone disease that causes horses to develop lameness, swayback (not age-associated), neck stiffness, and outward bowing the shoulder blades. The disease progressively worsens until horses develop spontaneous bone fractures and die or are humanely euthanized.

Although the cause is unknown, horses affected by BFD also have pulmonary silicosis, which is a chronic lung disease. Pulmonary silicosis is caused by inhaling toxic silica crystals from the soil. Once horses' inhale the crystals, they migrate into the lung tissue and surrounding lymph nodes, resulting in chronic inflammation.

BFD is a type of silicate-associated osteoporosis (SAO) that affects horses that have previous or currently live in the state of California in the United States, particularly the northern coastal mountain range and the Sierra Mountains. The soil in this geographic regions contain toxic silica crystals (e.g., quartz, cristobalite and tridymite). Horses inhale or ingest them when feeding on pasture or eating hay off of the ground.

Symptoms

Lameness
Ataxia
Exercise intolerance
Neck or body stiffness
Decreased range of motion
Loss of appetite
Severe weight loss
Difficulty breathing
Swayback
Outward bowing of the shoulder blades

Diagnosis

  • History
  • Physical exam - Can provide a diagnosis of horses with severe disease.
  • Nuclear scintigraphy - Provides the most definitive test for all stages of BFS, as areas of high bone activity associated with bone loss can be seen as bright spots.
  • Ultrasound - scapular spine’s widened appearance.

Support

Therapies

TherapiesDetails
BisphosphonatesAdministering Tildren and ZoledronateTarget the bone cells that cause osteoporosis to help prevent bone resorption.
Pain managementAdministering NSAIDs (phenylbutazone or flunixin meglumine) or steroids (such as dexamethasone)May be helpful during the initial stages of the disease, however becomes ineffective as it progresses.

Prevention

  • Perform soil testing on horse pastures that are located along the Northern California coastline, or in any pasture land suspected of containing silica crystals.
  • Prevent exposure to dust, particularly during high winds.
  • Keep horses inside and away from exposure to blown dust and soil during days with moderate to high winds.

Scientific Research

General Overviews

Risk Factors

  • Horses living and grazing in pastures located along the coastal mountain region of Northern California
  • Silica crystal exposure
  • Exposure to high amounts of dust, especially coupled with high winds.