Tilly was hip scored when she was spayed. Because I wanted to compete in agility.

I have heard lots of horrible stories about dogs that have been competing in agility, they suddenly go lame and are diagnosed with severe HD. I would always have a dog hip scored if I was going to compete in any jumping activity.

__________________


Interested in Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers? www.thetollerclub.org.uk

************************************************** *

I had Rex's hips checked but not scored when he was de-sexed. I wish I'd thought to have him scored just out of sheer curiosity. At the time I just wanted to be sure he was fit for normal activity.

Rex is 3/4 GSD 1/4 border collie. Two of his litter sisters have HD and his mother had a shocking hip score although I can't remember what it was, now. Swarthy tells me both parents would have had dodgy hips (not her words, she was more scientific). His father was the cross breed and certainly had no symptoms that his owner noticed.

Could ask the vet if he kept the plates but he would have had no reason to do that.

I think if you own a dog with such problems in the breed - or worse still in the ancestry - it's worth knowing, even if you never intend to breed.

I'm a fan of testing even with no intention of breeding. In some cases it can give worthwhile info to the owner (particularly if its something the dogs parents weren't tested for) but mostly for the benefit to the breed as a whole.
You can't get a particularly accurate idea of how much a problem any given disorder is in a breed if a large number of carrier or even affected dogs are never diagnosed.
And with things like hip scoring I'm not convinced that the breed averages are very accurate either when such a tiny proportion of the population have been scored.

Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't suggest we try to force owners to health test - but I would certainly encourage it.

__________________
"For all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams it is still a beautiful world"

Gresleys parents hip scores were pretty low. I can't remember exactly off the top of my head though.

__________________

The vet I had Kite hipscored at doesn't use a GA, just a sedative. I haven't decided yet if I'll breed her or not, still have other tests to do, and homes lined up for the pups I don't keep. I'm glad I had it done, even if it goes no further. I was a bit concerned about the way she'd lie down after running about, though it might just be to cool herself but worried it could be bad hips - she got a very good score 3l 3r.

If the dog gets a bad score, you can start giving joint supplements and/or hydrotherapy early, and possibly by doing that avoid the problems that normally develop later. Better to know and be forewarned.