I wonder if anybody knows of a vet anywhere NEAR the East Yorskhire area who would hip score under sedation rather than with a GA?  Is it cheaper under sedation and that's why more vets do it that way or is there no difference?  Its just that I would rather not put by dog under completely if it could be done under sedation instead.  I am happy to travel some distance but all the ones Ive read that do it are down South and that would be too far to go :0(

>Is it cheaper under sedation and that's why more vets do it that way

A GA gets the dog more relaxed so it's easier to get it into the correct position, and is supposed to give a more accurate result.

Ah, that does make sense, and answers one question then.  Ive had conflicting opinions on what the average price for scoring is and as my first dog was done 4 years ago while already under GA for another problem, I cant remember.  I know the BVA fees are about £80 but as for the actual GA and films etc, any idea what an "average" fee would be?  He's a Ridgeback and Ill need to save up for it to be done so I could do with a rough target to aim for!

The BVA costs are listed here, but you'd need to ask your vet for their prices; a lot depends on their overheads, which of course vary from area to area and practice to practice.

Actually one school of thought is that the dog can be TOO relaxed under G.A. and consequently the hip joints become rather lax. With a sedation, the dog's joint may be held tighter by the muscles and produce a slightly better result. Not sure how true this is?

My vet always does xrays under sedation but he is Lancashire. There is one in Yorkshire though who is apparently very good because it was recomended to me from a breeder in Yorkshire but I cant think where she said it was.  If it comes back to me I will let you know. My vet quoted just under 200 pound for xrays to hips and elbows for a 55kg dog.

Richmond Vets,Dewsbury,West Yorks Tel 01924 462428 they do all the police dogs,I travel there to get mine done under sedation.

hi pippadee, can you please let me know who you use in Lancashire?

There is Moy Farm Vets in Out Rawcliffe and Hampton Vet Centre at Malpas. Both are good but I prefer Ewan Bryson at Hampton Vets.

thank you, just booked my lad into Moy Farm :)

I use Moy farm vets and they are fantastic spot on with their opinion on what the hips may be and very nice.

thank you bluemerlemum, that's good to know. My boy has just turned 18 months and it's high time I sorted this out. I made some enquiries through my vet but they refer to a practice that uses GA so wasn't keen to go there.

No problem. I am so glad I found them, they are so professional and very very helpful. I would not use anyone else.
Keep me posted on how it goes. :)

Will do, we are booked for the end of the month :)

Good luck. :)

thanks, we're keeping fingers crossed--is it ok to ask them for an informal assessment based on what they see on the plates? 

I should think so.

When I got my bitch scored there they called me a few days later (the vet was away I believe) to tell me what they thought they are and they were spot on, my next dog is going to them in a month or so.

I took my last girl to Mike Guillard in November.  She was done under sedation he said that her score would be 9 or 10 and it came back as 8 so I was really pleased.

Hi I take my dogs to Peter Richmond over Mirfield way for their hip scores and they do them under sedation.  You drop your dog off and stay with them until the sedation takes effect then they do the films whilst you go off (usually to the Asda cafe for a brew!!!) and they give you a time to pick them up when the films have been taken and they are happy the dog is fully reversed and safe.  I had them recommended to me by a Kennel Club accredited breeder and they offer a safe effective service at a cheaper cost then having a GA, I also think from a personal point of view and having a great deal of dealings with GAs and sedation it is to my mind a safer option.

We always use Ewan Bryson in Malpas cheshire, he is fantastic, just had 2 youngsters done.
Good luck with your scores everyone

Bean went today to have his hips scored, full of praise for Moy Vets--They're about 50 and a bit miles from us, which I thought was doing well, though I didn't realise how well till I spoke to another owner waiting there today--they'd come from Scunthorpe!

Poor Bean--could see him thinking "looks like a vet's, smells like a vet's..but it's not the usual guys, what the..." :). I got the other two out for a walk while we were waiting, thinking they might like to go inside--they tore off down the road with me in tow...

Keeping everything crossed for a good result now for our little lad :), expecting a phone call by mid-week to give a provisional score...

Glad everything went well, keep us updated on teh scores.

When I went in October someone had come from Scotland and another from Ireland. They are so quick too...very very good vet.