Hi,

When is the best time do I get this done ,my dog is being hiscored after xmas at 12 months is it the same for elbows how is it done?Any information greatly appreciated what are the scores.My breed is a golden.
Thanks in advance,

Briony :-)

hi briony.....if england follows FCI's scheme they probably do them at one year....they are usually either pass or fail.[grade 1,2,3]...because of the nature of elbow dysplasia and the fact there are three conditions that can affect the elbow[OCD<FCP<UAP] they are mainly looking for changes assciated with the conditions.as they can't see completly inside the joint.......many dogs show no symptoms ,they say they one diagnosed subclinnically are just the tip of the iceberg.......go to ofa's site they have an elbow dysplasia video you can download...you will never not do elbows after you see it!!!..its kinda scary how they can have no signs....

Thanks for that I'll go and take a look.

Biony:-)

Hi, I had my 3 dogs from my first litter elbows xrayed by the vet for my own satisfaction when they were 2yrs but had no where to send them off to to be scored. Then had 2 dogs from my third litter elbows & shoulders xrzyed when they had hips done at 13/14mths old but the vet made a cock up & didn`t put identification on the xrays so couldn`t be sent off to be scored by experts! For me I did it just to know what they were like & what I`d bred wether or not the dogs themselves are ever bred from, happy to say they looked great comparing them to good ones on the net & vets opinion. I think for people breeding breeds where there is a known prob with bones it should be done but voluntarily. Not sure on what age it should be done tho, some say 1yr some 2yrs.

Christine, Spain.

The BVA price is £25-70 plus the vets fee for the x-rays. Two x-rays are taken of each elbow, one with the leg straight and the other with the leg bent (at the elbow)

The score ranges fron 0 (Clear) to 3 (Severe elbow displacia) and the dog should be at least 1 year old. A vet will often do the hip and elbow x-rays all at the same time.

Best wishes, John

Hi John,

Thanks for that.

Regards Briony :-)

Hi Briony,

You can see the results of the scores in the quarterly KC BRS. In the last issue April-June 2003, there were just 28 Goldens elbows scored compared with approximately 300 hip scored. The majority of scores were 0 (21), 1 (5) and there were just two with a score of 2. From this unscientific sample, 75% had 'perfect' elbows and the other 25% had varying degrees of dysplasia.
However, I have read of varying estimates of the percentage of GR's with ED, but most seem to be around the 20% affected mark.

The BVA elbow scoring procedure requires 6 radiographs, 3 for each elbow.

See the following link for details:
http://www.bva.co.uk/pdf/chs_elbow_procedure.pdf

If it is desired to have the elbows and hips scored, it is best to have the radiographs for both procedures done at the same time to minimize the anaesthesia required for the dog. Due to the number of radiographs the dog is unconscious for quite a long time, and in my opinion it is best to get it all over and done with in one go.

Due to the relative unpopularity of the procedure, many vets (including the one we use) have no experience of the procedure, so it is worthwhile finding one with practical experience.

I have heard reports of costs varying from £150 to over £300 for the hips and elbows combined, so it pays to shop around!

snomaes

Hi Snomaes,

Thanks for the info,I'm having young dog go up to Yorkshire for his hip scoring and was wondering whether to get the elbows scored as well,I will admit I am having to read up about it never had a dog elbows done only hips,so any info I am very grateful I know some Golden breeders do it but how many across the country i've no idea.I'm getting his eyes tested next week always anxious time waiting for results.
Good luck with your new pup out in December.

Briony :-)

Hi, yes if your going to have them done it`s best get it all done at the same time, thats what I did. :)

Christine, Spain.

£150 to £300! That’s extortion! No wonder very few people are taking it up! With the BVA charge of just £25-70 including vat there is no justification for that.

Sorry, yes, it is three plates per elbow, not two as I stated in my first post.

John

I have just had Britney my 15 month old Dogue de bordeaux hip scored and elbow's x-rayed in the last few weeks had them both done at the same time and it cost £191 we were shown the plate's and they were very clear, just waiting for the official results. We took britney up to north yorkshire to get her's done.Her eye testing is been done on saturday that is £16

JOHN
Have you any experience of heart testing,I want the best test done on britney, I have talked to the bordeaux club, but as yet they do not have a ethics requirement,I have here'd of doppler tests, but do not fully understand the procedure, can you help

Sorry Lynn. Heart testing is something I've never been involved with. By and large we dont have that problem in Labradors in this country.

Doppler is Val's subject but I've not seen her on here for some time.

Best wishes, John