Gresley is having the op soon so we certainly won't be breeding from him. A friend who breeds was telling me the other day that he even health tests the dogs he won't use for breeding. He said its to give him a picture of their future health.

Is it worth it to know if Gresley has good hip scores etc for knowing if he is likely to be affected when he is older?

__________________

If he has no problems now, I'd say it's not really worth you personally knowing, although it would be lovely information for the breed overall, so it would be more for the benefit of others than for you. If he did have a high hip score, but hasn't shown any outward signs, would that then worry you more than not knowing? If you see what I mean.......

I hadn't thought of it like that but yes if he did have high scores I suppose we would be constantly worrying about when or if it was going to start affecting Gresley's way of life and his health.

__________________

If it was something everyone did, then it would be informative - but TBH - in particular for the more popular breeds where numbers scored are already high - the score won't impact on the breed average and in breeds such as Goldies, GSD, Labs, BSD and a number of others will be representative of the wider breed.

The issue with testing hips and / or elbows if you are not breeding is that moderate or even severe problems can be asymptomatic and the dog may not display issues until it hits the age range when arthritis hits us all, dogs and humans.

It is also pointless having the hip plates done unless you know your vet is experienced at taking and submitting plates to the BVA - because it is very easy to make good hps look worse than they are - which benefit's no-one (and I know people this has happened to - someone used their own vet who diagnosed HD (even though the dog had no signs) - not something I am prone to doing, but we persuaded them not to submit the plates and go to a more experienced vet, - the dogs scores came back below 10 - she did lose a lot of stud business in the process, there was a lot of explaining to do with the insurance company - and yes, they dd take action again the vet - but it goes to show just how important it is to know the vet you are using is the right one.

__________________
What you need to know before buying a Labrador puppy

I often wish more pet owners would test, that way you get a better idea of the true extent of a problem within a breed. - But then its only breeders that would beneifit from that and someone isnt really going to spend X amount on doing something that really means little to them.

There are some people that will test to prepare themselves for things that could go wrong. - Theres also those that test with the aim to breed, yet neber go ahead because of the results, some people think about breeding, test but never go ahead.

I guess there is nothing to say someone not planning to breed cant test, but theres also nothing meaning they should.

we test for three eye diseases, and two of them I defo wouldnt test for if I didnt plan to breed - although I may find it within my dogs best interest to do a yearly PRA/prcd test - knowing the breed 'can' suffer from this.

In the GSD I recommend everyone have hip & elbows done this way you can decide what discipline to do and you can prevent further damage and/or slow down degeneration of the joints by use of supplements and the right type of exercise, Heamo testing in males to check clotting factors can prevent possible death due to accident or routine operations

If the tests posed no danger for the dog then I'd encourage pet owners to test. For instance in blood tests, or if a dog was having a GA for another issue ie neutering etc, then it would do no harm to xray hips and elbows for scoring.

However, I see no point in giving a GA for an xray purely for curiosity.

__________________

SOMETIMES YOUR KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOUR IS MERELY AN IDIOT WRAPPED IN TINFOIL

I knew by Flynns x rays that he had severe HD and only had him scored for breed records. I think if you have x rays for hip concerns it's always a good idea to have them sent off for scoring even though it does cost a little more. I wouldn't have an x ray for nothing though unless it could be done under sedation rather than a GA and I know of a vet in Essex who apparently does it this way that some on the Mal forum have used.

__________________

Flynn - Kali - Britches - Bruce - T-Bo - Marty



"For the strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the pack"

I would love more pet owners to do it, as it would give me more of an idea of whats going on in my own lines, but, like everything else, you cant force people.

__________________
Fere libenter hormines id quod volunt credunt

i'd like to encourage more pet owners to MDR1 test , come to think of it more breeders too

__________________
love me love the dogs