Hi Guys,

I'm new here so be gentle!!  What is the youngest age you can have your bitch/ Dog Hip Tested?  Is there any rule/ regulation which has a guideline.  I am not breeding any dogs but heard mention at a show that there bitch was gioing to be Hip Scored at 1 year old.  I thought that sound too young and maybe I'm wrong.. Can anyone shed any light.  Is there different guidelines for different breeds?

Any advice comments gratefully appreciated.

Thanks in anticipation  Arnie.

in uk it is a year old. obvisly with slow maturing breeds it might be better to wait. in the US its 2yrs.

Thanks Michelled,

Is there any website or book where I can read into this further?

Arnie

Hi Arnie
Try the BVA site - www.bva.co.uk.  Go to the section on Canine Health Schemes and opt for Hip Scheme.  There is a helpful guide in there for dog owners.  Sorry, I haven't worked out how to do links yet but hope this helps.
Best wishes
Alex

Hello Arnie look here :)

at the top of these pages there is a search button where it says your user name,if you do a search on hip dysplasia im sure youll get loads of past disscussions up, as its been a popular topic on here!!!!!

im not sure anyone vets included are 100% about the how & whys of hips, so everything you read on here at least is based on peoples own experinces.

what breed are you particlary interested in?
in  border collies,you  wouldnt think HD would be a big problem- the average score is around 15, & they are a athletic type of breed. but i think there is a problem in the breed & vets by encourageing only the better looking xrays to be sent off for scoring, makes a total mockery of the whole system.

Thank you very much ladies,

I am very keen on the German Shorthaired Pointers have done some extensive research, but am learning more about this breed daily.  Looking to buy a pup in 2005 so still plenty of time for me and I want to do it the right way.  I'm very keen to meet the right people as I would also like to show later on.  In this breed I am of the understanding that the breed average is 10.

Arnie

Only me again,

Is ther different methods of hip scoring?

Arnie

In the UK hip scoring is the domain of the BVA/KC and the dogs are scored out of a total of 106, (53 per hip) low good high bad.

Best wishes, John

Thanks John,

I understand the scoring, but mu question still stands is there more than 1 method of Hip Scoring.  i.e. asleep awake, standing or laid out.  My description is poor I know but I can't think of any other way of asking. 

Arnie.

Hi Arnold
we have 6 GSps and 2 GWPs. We have just had 2 hip scored (at 2 years  and 21 months) without any problem. They were given light anaethetics and recovered without problem. The vet showed me the x rays and they are taken with dogs on their back and legs apart. Both were fine after although the 'livelier' one woke up much quicker. I have heard of some vets doing it under just sedation but suppose it depends on how co-operative the dog is.
Sue

Thanks alot Sue,

Your information interesting.  I've visited your website before now and while your here it's excellent and very informative.  I liked your book shop.

Thanks again

Arnie.

Oh!

P.S Chloe, I tried your link and got nothing.  Unless its my end.

Arnie

chloes link worked for me!!!! strange!

Thanks Arnie. Its actually my 18 year old Adam who created the site. He has just txted me to say he got BOB at the St patricks Day show in Ireland with his dog, Gaby. they are a great breed but can be total lunatics.:)

Just had a quick look at your site and it's brilliant.  Well done to your son too on gaining BOB.

Hi sue,

Your son must be very gifted, the website was real good quality.  I can barely manage a keyboard!:-)

Arnie

Thanks both.He is a bright lad and enjoys his dogs. He puts any cash from ads etc to GSP rescue.He has also done some websites for others.

Hi there,
           I had my dog hip scored last year with no anaesthetic just light sedation. Worked really well especially bearing in mind that my bitch does everything at a million miles an hour! :-)

Hi Jeff

Where did you take your dog to get the scoring done with light sedation?

Karen

Hi Arnie

In this country there is only one scheme for hip scoring althogh you could have you dog either anaesthised  (?sp) or  sedated to do it - I would prefer anaesthetic as it is reversable.

In the US they also have the Penn hip method, some people think this is better and some don't (I gather it depends on the score).