in january my wife and brought a chocolate lab from a breeder in bolton.he came with all his kennel club papers so we thought we were getting a fit and healthy dog . at 16 weeks old we started to hear a clicking noise comming from one of his back legs.the vet x-rayed him and told us he has severe hip dysplasia. this is something we had never heard of.looking at the papers we had, a friend pointed out that the parents had not been hip scored or eye tested.our young and beautiful dog is now going through painful surgery to have his legs sorted out.if you are thinking of buying a puppy please dont make the same mistake as us. also, how do the kennel club get away with registering dogs that have not been hip scored.there is at the moment nothing stopping me from breeding off my dog and selling them with k.c. papers to you. best wishes jonathan and wendy mcanulty

Sadly except for, I believe, Setters with CLAD, there is at present no enforcement by the KC for any breed to be health tested. Breeding from low hip scored parents does not guarantee a dysplasia free pup but it must, in the long run, help.

I am sorry to hear that your pup is going though this operation and hope he fully recovers ( I understand hydrotherapy helps during the recovery period).

Please let the KC know that your dog is having to have this operation even if you have to apply for a "permission to show" form to get them to listen to you and your vet

Christine

Sorry to hear about your pup it may be best to advise the Kennel Club of the situation in any event. They may (or may not) take it up with the breeders. I am surprised, though, that you have purchased a labrador puppy without actually knowing that they need to be hipscored. What research did you do prior to getting your pup?

bec, thanks for responding to my story on hip dysplasia.my wife and i realise we made a mistake and do take part responsability for our situation. we have been intouch with the kennel club twice and were told to write them a letter which we have done.

Welcome to the Forum Jonathan and Wendy. :-) Leigh

hi. I'm so sorry you have got this problem with your labradorI think we may be both in the same area ie Lancashire anyway if you would like to email me ( click on my name)I will try to advise you on your rights as these days breeders can be held responsible for the dogs they produce and if more people knew their right these people would not be producing these poor dogs from unscreened parents.You have a trying time ahead but as suggested hydrotheraphy is very good and there is a pool in Preston with a knowledgeble Labrador owner.Best wishes

Unfortunately labradors are one of the breeds quite widely affected with HD, is this because they are so commercially exploited, the responsible breeders statistics just get swamped among the rubbish. Those who screen are to be applauded, but there is no compulsion, the schemes are voluntary, also when they are screened it is up to the breeders judgement how high a score is used for breeding. Most responsible breeders will aim to not use a dog scoring higher than the breed average, or if a worthy animal is a little higher scoring will mate it to a low scoring partner. The average total score for Labradors is 16. The scoring scheme has a range from 0 (perfect) to 106 (total displasia). It is generally agreed that a dog with a score of below 20 will in all practical respects be normal!

In actual fact Labradors hip are not as bad as most breeds of that size. When you think that Goldens are about 20 and of the retrievers, only Flatcoats are below 10, Labradors are very much around the middle of the field. The click is very worrying although I’m a little surprised a vet would pronounce on a 16 week old puppy! At that age the hips are little more than cartilage and would not show much detail on an x-ray! This is not meant to condone bad breeding but bad veterinary advice in not to be condoned either and that is not as unknown as it may seem!

Regards, John

I agree John, I am surprised that a Veterinary Surgeon feels that he can diagnose hip dysplasia at 16 weeks. There is still so much growing to be done, both muscular/skeletal and soft tissue. I think that I would ask for a second opinion (not from the same practice) or better still, be referred to one of the Veterinary Colleges, before I accepted and medication or treatment for one so young.
For the owner - I do hope that you have been told of the importance of limiting your puppy's exercise, no long walks and not allowing him to go up or down stairs, or jump on or off of furniture etc.

Just what I was going to say, Val. People just don't realise tthe damage that they can unwittingly do to young soft bones by allowing too much exercise/ rough play. I still don't think the vet can make a really informed judgement at this age.

Jo and the Casblaidd Flatcoats

I agree with John, as soon as I read the original posting, warning bell rung. I have had several clicking pups in my breed...but after 8 months or so they stop. Incidentalyy I always get them hip scored before I consider breeding & have never had anything over 6/4 and I think the vet is wrong to be doing surgery at this stage, Find an orthopeadic veterinary specialist....if you are in the westcountry I can give you details of 2 good ones..........get a second opinion before your pup is cut up!

If you are in the North West, there are probably specialists there. But both Shirley and I have had dogs under the care of Mr Ferguson from the Neuk of Fife. He used to be at the Veterninary College at Edinburgh Uni and is a top orthopaedic specialist.

As I can testify, the first diagnosis isn't always right.

And don't talk to me about hip scores . . . . . .

Sorry 9thM, but on the subject of hip scores, does anyone know of a vet in the south east who will x-ray without a general anesthetic? I think this has been mntioned in Dog World breed notes fairly recently.
Thanks, Joy.

Hi Joy,

My vet will do it under sedation. If you would like their details please
contact me privately

Christine
kerioakdobes@btinternet.com

Marilyn Baker is around the Southampton area. Tel : 01329 230052.

Hi Jonathon and Wendy,
I can fully sympathise with your situation.
Has the Vet/Orthopaedic Surgeon recommended a TPO?
The best piece of advice we were given by a breeder was to get a second opinion before you commit to this major sugery, whether you own vet likes it or not.
We were in a very similar position with our Chocolate Labrador puppy (who had vg h/s parents) when he was about 5 months old last year.
Apparently, the operation has to be done before they are one year old, but our puppy was monitored every two weeks with Xrays to see how he was growing. After two months, it was once a month, until at about 10 months it was decided he would not need the operation!
If you would like to talk from a personal point of view, please feel free to email me.
Best wishes,
Sally.

I really should add that I did have a lot of helpful advice from the 'old' Champdogs Message Board users, who I imagine use the new one now - and I mean old as in previous, not old as in age, I think!
I don't know if this edit button is a good idea or not!!