Could anyone tell me what hip scoring is and how to use this as a guide if purchasing a pup.
From what i can gather it is the parents that should have been hip scored. What age should they have this done at? What is a good score and a bad score and how can you verify? should the breeder/owner have a certificate or something. thanks.

Go to BVAHip Scheme to learn more about hip scoring and tothe BVA table to see average scores for each breed.
Both parents should be tested before they are bred from and, ideally the scores of both should be below the breed average. Owners get a certificate from the BVA/KC showing the scores in detail.
HTH

Well done for finding out before going to see puppies - all pups are lovely whether they are healthy or not!!
If you join - it's free - and tell what breed you are looking for, maybe other members can give more precise information and talk about breed specific scores.

Hi! hip scoreing is a way of ascessing how tight the hips are in the sockets. the looser they are the higher the score & so the potential for lameness etc.
both parents should have scores lower than the average for the breed. also (speaking from personal experince) its advisable to have 3 generations of good scores.
-that said oddities do still turn up!

your dog should be scored (in UK) between 1yr & 18months to get the best result.

what breed are you thinking of?

if the score isnt on the dogs reg papers , the owner will have a score sheet from the BVA. there will be 3 numbers,
ie, 2-3=5.   which is the score for each hip & the total score.
the highest possible score is 104(i think) that would be a terrible score of course!

Folks thanks for your replies.  I have checked the BVAs chart for the breed I am interested in (Yorkie) but they are not listed on the chart.

JohnJo,

I'm no expert but some breeds don't get hipscored as there's no real problems with hips in the breed.  I have a dachshund and they're not hip scored as a matter of routine.  Certain breeds like German Shepherds and Labradors have a lot of hip problems so should be checked beofre breeding but you Yorkie might not need it.

Joe :)

When members of these no problem breeds are actually scored, they are found to be similar to other breeds, with acceptable scores and some bad ones too, but the effect on the toy breeds of a high score may be less due to the light weight.

Saw some awful scores for Beagles in a recent Breeds Record suppolement, and they are a breed where very few are scoring.  I think all dogs to be bred from should be sored so that an eye can be kept on the situation to ensure that it soesn't get bad.

Hi

Having just had x-rays done of my girls hips (because of an operation) could I send these away to be scored? She is only 10mnths old so would they still be able to score them? Its just out of curiosity that I would be interested in what the score is as I already have the x-rays.

Nikki

She would have to be over 12 months to be scored I believe ;) The vet sends them off for you.

youll need to have them done again for scoring when shes at least a year,its a extra 25quid to have them sent off. there may still be some changes if they arent fully grown.

I completely agree with you on this. How can anyone say there are no problems in a breed when tests aren't taken - because they assume there are no problems in the breed :)

i was told NOT to send flynns off because they were too bad!!!????
i wonder how many breed averages are effected by doing this!!!
p.s. i did send them off!!

I was also told not to send my GSD's x-rays off for scoring as they were bad, wondering whether I should now
just to know what the score is?

i would. i think its irresponsible for vets to advise not too,or how will anybody know how big the prob is within any breed.?

A friend of mine has just had her dogs hipscored, the vet took 3 x-rays.  The vet said re. one that boy that's a bad one I can't send that mustn't of had him positioned right, and looked at the other two which he said looked miles better.  How do you know then that the dog has been properly positioned etc ?  I'm really worried about this as i'm having my lad done in a weeks time and I'm worrie dthat it may not be done properly and his score could turn out worse than it should be!! 

As you can tell never had this done before so this has made me very concerned!!

If the dog isn't positioned properly, the xrays will be rejected and not scored. Most vets take a pride in sending correctly positioned xrays which is why your vet wouldn't send that plate off.
Since most dogs are anaethisized (sp?), it is best to make sure the xrays are up to standard before sending the dog home - bit humiliating to have to tell the owner they need the dog back again because they didn't do a proper job first time round!

yes everything must be perfect or the bva send them back

Unfortunately the BVA WILL score a plate if it is at all possible. They can only score what they can see so with a thin plate or a misaligned hips, providing the error is not so great as to prevent scoring, they will score even though the score could be affected by the errors in the plate. Add to that the fact that the rules only allow you to resubmit the original plate in the event of a protest, not a new plate, and you can see the importance of a correctly positioned, correctly exposed plate.

Regards, John

I know of two people with GSD's who were told not to send their's off- this was only in Jan- they've came back 12 and 16- considering the average is 19 that's not bad.  The one that the vet said send cause it was better than one of the other dogs (one with a 12 score)- came back at 13.  I think you should always send them off- let the BVA get their measurements it might surprise you and at the same time making a true breed average.

Stacey x x x

Hi,

When you get your dogs hipscored,hopefully your vets are well skilled in positioning etc
for the BVA panel to score BUT its down to the owner NOT your vet to go ahead and ask them to be sent  off,your vet  can advise, but at the end of the day the xrays are yours.I personally think all hipscores should be submitted provided the vet doing them is skilled in doing them (alot that isn't) little is gained if they are not sent off because if people hold back ie xrays  get done but local vets advise against sending on for scoring the mean scores will not present what is really happening in the breeds it becomes useless.

Briony:-)