Hello
We took Ella to the vets earlier this week to have a small lump checked (just a cyst!) and while there booked her in to have her hips x-rayed for scoring.  Our vet said that he could do them this week so we said fine.  I have just been trying to find the detailed post on hip scoring that I remember someone providing (anyone remember this please?) and have come across a post suggesting that bitches may have a higher score nearer their season.  Ella has just finished her season (day 26 today) and I did ask the vet if this would be a problem and he said it wouldn't.  Has anyone heard of this and can it make a big difference?
Thanks for your help.
Best wishes
Alex

Statistically bitches score higher than dogs.  It has been mooted that some of this difference may be hormonal.  In the UK system there is no way to prove it, as you can only have them scored the once.  The theory is that the joints may be more lax under the influence of the hormones.

I have had a bitch scored just after a season and her result was a bit higher than I had expected and hoped based on her relatives.  She came back 7/7 where as most of her female and male relatives were between 9 and 12.

In future I will go for csoring mid way between seasons.

Thank you Brainless, that's very helpful.

Hello Treacle - what did the vet say about the 'cyst'?

Personally I've always avoided scoring around the time the season is due, for the same reason Brainless said, but there's a tremendously experienced person near here who does a lot of scoring, and says they think it makes little difference.

Jo and the Casblaidd Flatcoats

Hello Jo

The vet said he was sure the lump was just a sebaceous cyst (as you thought) and nothing to worry about but to just keep an eye on it - only charged £11 which included worming tablets which I thought was very good. 

I really haven't made up my mind about the scoring yet, I'll have to have a think but I do appreciate your reply which is very helpful.

Best wishes

Alex

Have it done half way! if you dont & its higher than expected you will be kickin yourself!

One of the vets at the practice I go to is an orthepaedic  (Is that spelt wrongly?) specialist and he said that bitches joints lax whilst they are in season & he doesn't recommend X-raying at that time.  Who am I to argue?   Saying that i still won't let that practice do a hip X-ray!

Sorry I haven't said thanks for the replies yet but I haven't been able to log in long enough to reply for a few days.  Ella was booked in for the 12th - last Thursday - and basically with Jo's reply and a discussion with a well trusted vet plus the fact that I'd psyched myself up for the anaesthetic we just decided to go ahead.  I had not read the last two replies and I would not have hips scored at this time in the future just in case there is a connected problem.
We'll have to wait and see but, if they don't score well, I suppose we are never going to know whether the season was contributory or not as hips can't be scored twice.  For what it's worth the x-ray was very clear and our vet said he had never seen perfect hips and wouldn't like to second guess the assessors but they did not look bad to him.  I'll let you know when we hear and I'm determined not to worry about it for the next six weeks!
Best wishes
Alex