SO-- WHAT'S IT ALL MEAN?

Now that hip x-rays are done, I have a choice.

I can keep the information to myself and share with those I choose…

OR

I can send them (for a fee) to OFA-Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (America)…

OR

I can send them (for a fee) to OVC-Ontario Veterinary College. (Canada)

Keep in mind veterinarians are not radiologists. They can only offer their opinion as to whether or not the hips will pass or fail.

I had one of my girls, CH. Sandalwood What a Scandal TT x-rayed and the vet I used at the time told me he wouldn't suggest breeding her...her hips wouldn't pass, so not to bother sending in the x-rays. I sent them in anyway and they passed!

OFA is the most widely accepted data -bank for hip evaluation/certification, along with many other tests from thyroid testing to DNA.

Three radiologists, independent of each other, will evaluate and grade the dog's x-rays: Excellent, Good, Fair, Borderline, with the last rating subdivided to denote the severity of Dysplasia---Mild, Moderate or Severe.

I don't understand why there isn't a 'very good' rating in there, as I'm sure there could be a vast difference between 'excellent' and 'good'). When I refer to something as excellent, I mean it's fabulous-great, positively the top. Good on the other paw denotes acceptable.

Good in any survey I've ever seen is always two steps below the excellent rating. Are the dog's hips at the top-end of good--bordering excellent or at the bottom-end, bordering on a fair?

For years, there have been nasty rumours circulating-involving the time of month one sends the x-rays in....if one gets them in between the 1st and 6th of the month (days may vary depending on who you're talking to) they will get a pass-if sent later and OFA has reached their 'passing' quota for the month, you're out of luck.

But don't despair... apparently people have been known to re-submit previously failed x-rays only to get a pass the second time round.

There are also rumours of people downloading a hip clearance certificate ( the same way one can for vaccinations) from the internet, print it out, white-out the dog's personal data, insert their own dog's data, et voila-their dog has a hip clearance of 'excellent'! Of course in this case, there would be no such dog listed on the OFA site but one would, I assume, produce said fake certificate to show to prospective puppy owners.

Once you've submitted your x-rays to OFA, if they fall within the first three classifications-excellent, good or fair, you/your dog gets a number and the rating becomes public domain, which anyone can view on the OFA site.

If the dog on the other paw gets a borderline; mild, moderate or severe report, the owner of the dog can choose to keep the information from the public/open data base.

What???

Well, that's most considerate-but it really doesn't help the cause. I believe if you choose to send the x-rays in to be evaluated-let the public see the results.

Then there are the unethical persons ( and they are out there-probably on KIJIJII) who confidently and proudly state their dog has had its hips x-rayed and leave it at that...without mentioning the results of the tests!!

Another choice is OVC at the University of Guelph, in Ontario.

OVC terminated their hip evaluations a couple of years ago for a short while but now have fully re-instated the program. OVC offers a 'Pass' without any sub-grading or a rating of Grade I-IV. With no sub-grading-did the hips pass just by a hair or are they excellent?

So this shows the comparison between the two rating systems:

OVC.............................OFA

Normal/Pass................Excellent

Normal/Pass................Good

Normal/Pass................Fair

Grade I........................ Borderline

Grade II.......................Mild Dysplasia

Grade III......................Moderate Dysplasia

Grade IV......................Severe Dysplasia

There's an interesting 'By Breed Dysplasia Statistics' list from OFA here: http://www.offa.org/hipstatbreed.html

When all is said and done, the rating should be a firm guideline for any serious breeder…which dog/line to keep in your breeding program and which to steer away from.

Unfortunately, just because the sire and dam both test clear of dysplasia, does not guarantee a litter of pups free of the disease.

It does however stack the odds in your favour that it won't be present!

HIP HIP HOORAY!

I'm planning on breeding my almost 3-year old girl in the near future. In order to ensure I've done all I can to produce healthy puppies, I will do some health testing. I won't be getting every test that's available but will cover the basics--heart, thyroid, hip x-rays and brucellosis. I expect the male we settle on using to have documentation on passing the same tests.

Hip xrays are an emotional test for any ethical breeder to do. If the dog's hips don't get a 'pass' on evaluation---you shouldn't breed your dog--no matter how beautiful it is or how many 'Best In Breed/Group' the dog has won!

Two weeks ago, I started searching for a veterinarian to do the hip x-rays. I wanted to ensure the same tragedy didn't take place as did with my last dog I got hip x-rays done on.

I had taken her to a vet who does alot of hip clearances. The selling point for me, although quite a drive to this vet's place, was a foam cradle that's placed on the exam table to hold the dog still and in place while the x-rays are being done. That also means the dog is not resting its spine on the hard steel tabletop.

After she had a light tranquilizer they were ready to do the x-ray. I asked if I could be of help getting her onto the table but they declined my offer and asked me to 'stay back.' Three of them hoisted her up onto the table and into the cradle. Within seconds, my girl, whose care I had entrusted to two vet techs and a veterinarian, squirmed out of their grip and fell three feet to the floor...onto her back.

Needless to say their warning to 'stay back' was no longer my concern. I was there beside her, helping her up and trying to calm her.

I then told them I would help get her back up onto the table. I figured we were there, she had been sedated-we might as well finish this nightmare and be done with it. I was standing at her head, calming her and we got the x-rays.

Never to return to that clinic, thank you!

Enter Dr. John and the Caledon Mountain Veterinary Hospital http://www.caledonvet.com/ in the delightful town of Caledon; which by the way, has been awarded the 'safest town to live in' in Canada for two years running (Macleans Magazine).

The receptionist connected me with a vet tech who I shared my concerns and past experience with. She patiently assured me they too had a cradle to place the dog in and had never had a dog squirm out of their grasp while on the table (would she have divulged this info??!). I decided to make an appointment.

This time, I brought along two people who I knew to have an abundance of calm, positive energy and who my girl is very fond of...just in case (thank you Mishelle & Sean!).

Dr. John and everyone who works along with him were very personable and caring. They spent the time needed to get to know the patient (Journey) before 'the hoist'. I was able to help put her onto the table, into the foam, without too much ado. I watched Dr. John gently place her rear legs into the required position (full extension) for a good read, then stepped quickly out of the little room while he did the x-ray. He asked me to keep talking to her through the door to keep her calm.

Journey squirmed abit--it's such an unnatural position for any dog to be placed in at anytime by anyone--especially in a place that's foreign to them! That position is usually savoured by a very relaxed, sleepy dog in the comfort, privacy and security of its own den.

X-rays done, Journey was carefully guided off the table and placed back onto the floor.

It was done!!

We met in an examination room where Dr. John spent more time, discussing the results of the x-rays. He put them up on a monitor and patiently outlined the details...the depth of the ball in the socket, the tightness of the fit into the socket, the roundness of the ball, the lack of any arthritic changes--all very much desired in a hip evaluation!

Hip Hip Hooray!!

I will follow-up tomorrow--x-rays done...now what?

COMMENTS: 1

I relate to the nightmare with hip x-ray. Just been through that recently. I had to find a new vet clinic to my hips, since the one that has done mine for years is gone now. The new place I decided to try was a nightmare....so now I'm still looking!! At least you found a good one in the end. :o)

D.W.