OFA hips and elbows testing

[Cheryl]

Would you explain how these tests are done in your area?

Our local vet says he will not do testing for OFA because they want too much, too picky so I'll be taking Boris to Fairbanks to have his done.

I saw how our local vet does it, he just moves their legs around and says if they are good or not If he thinks there is a problem he will xray, if not, he won't.

Do your dogs have to be sedated? From what I've read on line, it says heavily sedated, at least here in the US..

At what age? Are they sore afterward? Anything else I should know?

[marjolein]

We can't score them untill they're at least a year old. I always do mine shortly after they've turned one. Mine are quite obedient and used to live in the practice so don't need a sedation. So it depends a bit on the character of the dog. To make x-rays, he has to lie still on the table for a couple of seconds with his hind legs stretched to the max and his knees have to be in line with his back so usually the legs have to be turned inwards a bit.
I don't know enough about OFA to comment on the differences.

[Rachel]

I live in the UK and my vet sedates my dogs. They can not be done until they are 12 months of age, and they have to be kennel club registered. I go in and hold the dog until it goes to sleep, they put it on the table, and lay them out. I have to leave the room obviously, and they take an xray. In the UK its called hip scoring. Then 20 minutes later they show me the xray's and bring the dog around and I go home. They seem to do a good job. It costs me £150 including BVA cheque. This has risen a lot because the last one at the same vets cost is £98 including BVA cheque, so he has upped his prices. But I still go there as I have had good results.
The BVA (British Veterinary Association) are sent the xray's and they look at them and give the score.

Rachel

[tasha]

I was told ideally to wait until the dog is 18 months so that the bones has settled and completed development. Mine was slightly different to rachels because I got to hold bonnie (wore one of those lovely lead coats) dog is sedated and then placed between your legs in a rub tummy position (something we practised alot to get her comfy for the whole process) her legs were then positioned and held in place whilst the xray is taken.

The plates were then looked at to make sure that they were good and if not were taken again mine were perfect and she got a good score of 4:4 that I am happy with as its below the average for the breed here.

[Rachel]

I forgot to add that I have always been told if it is a bitch to wait half way between seasons. So do not have it done near her season. When a bitch comes into season I am told the ligaments relax and a bitch can often have a higher hip score near or just after a season. How true is that, I do not know, but I always do it mid way of a season just in case.

Bonnie had a good hip score Tasha :-)

Rachel

[anne]

Cheryl,

I know you are limited as far as vets, but I know a lot of people in the US who get OFA done without sedation. My dogs were not sedated. I think it's important to get a vet who has done a lot of these x-rays and knows how to position the dog properly. My vet breeds, shows and also does hunt tests with her Chessies, so has many breeder clients, so she knows what she's doing. Finding a vet like that would be ideal.

Anne
and
Riley OFA ex
Indy OFA ex

:-)

[Cheryl]

Boris will be 1 yr on Dec 21st so I have time to talk to vets in Fairbanks and Anchorage. It seemed to take at least a month if not longer to send a piece of mail to The Netherlands. I'm anticipating maybe two months for the results to get there.

Mar, will a copy of the x ray need to be sent with the result to Dolf?

[tasha]

Bonnie matched her sires hips so I was pleased although her mum had a slightly better score. Best thing was that they were even.

I didn't know about the being between seasons bonnie had just come out of hers but at that point she was having four a year which i have to say was driving me up the wall. She seems to have settled down now into three a year which is better although at the moment the two I wish she'd change fall the week of crufts and mid august, she's later this time and has only just come in now.... which is a right royal pain in the as*e as we are going to Holland and everywhere we are going there is a male who'll be driven bonkers! I don't want to leave her at home but at the same point don't want to be mean to the others either.....aggghhhh!!

[marjolein]

Cheryl, I think if you scan the results and send it through e-mail should do.