BE AWARE -
- Any reputable breeder should be able to answer your question
about canine hip dysplasia and other genetic disesases and if
they can't or won't take the time to find out then you might be
better off buying elsewhere.
Do take into consideration that most all large
breed dogs are
susceptible to this disease!
Many breeders state that their puppies are guaranteed to not
have CHD (Canine hip dysplasia). YOU need to understand these
Facts.
- FACT ONE - - Breeders can have their adults
tested through diagnostic methods of the Orthopedic Foundation
for Animals (OFA) only when the dog reaches an age
of 24 months (2 years) are they certified free from this disease
if they pass the test!
NEW RELEASED INFO - Preliminary Evaluations
A recent publication* compared the reliability of the
preliminary evaluation hip grade phenotype with the 2 year old
evaluation in dogs and there was 100% reliability for a preliminary
grade of excellent being normal at 2 years of age (excellent,
good, or fair). There was 97.9% reliability for a preliminary
grade of good being normal at 2 years of age, and 76.9% reliability
for a preliminary grade of fair being normal at 2 years of age.
Reliability of preliminary evaluations increased as age at the
time of preliminary evaluation increased, regardless of whether
dogs received a preliminary evaluation of normal hip conformation
or HD. For normal hip conformations, the reliability was 89.6%
at 3-6 months, 93.8% at 7-12 months, and 95.2% at 13-18 months.
These results suggest that preliminary evaluations of hip joint
status in dogs are generally reliable. However, dogs that receive
a preliminary evaluation of fair or mild hip joint conformation
should be reevaluated at an older age (24 months).
- FACT TWO -- There is no guarantee that the
adult will not pass on the genetic disease through its offspring.
The best guarantee is that the breeder gives you a 1-2 year
health guarantee. Meaning if your puppy develops this disease
or any other genetic disease they'll replace your puppy with
a new one.
I know its a fact that breeders use this guarantee as a credibility
ploy, fact is they have to by law comply with this, with any breed!
This is called the Lemon Law
- FACT THREE -- Radiologists were asked to
grade hips based on the OFA rating system (excellent, good,
fair, borderline CHD, mild CHD, moderate CHD or severe CHD),
non-OFA readers agreed with an OFA reader in fewer than 50%
of the cases. The most disturbing revelation was that when each
radiologist was asked to rate certain cases a second time, each
radiologist gave the same rating that he had given the first
time on less than half the radiographs.
If the testing is not a reliable source for determining the facts
then how much better off are we to have gone through it?
- FACT FOUR -- Studies conducted with Labrador
Retrievers and German Shepherd Dogs it was found that restricting
calories and limiting food consumption resulted in lower incidence
of CHD compared to dogs who were fed high-calorie diets or were
allowed to eat as often as they chose. Even in groups of dogs
genetically predisposed to CHD (offspring of CHD afflicted parents),
restrictive diets yielded a lower incidence of CHD.
Can environment or food cause hip dysplasia?
No, hip dysplasia is a multiple gene, inherited disease. Environmental
factors, like high caloric diet during the rapid growth phase,
may exacerbate changes in dysplastic hips but will not create
hip dysplasia. There also is no evidence in the scientific literature
that supplements (i.e Vitamin C) will prevent hip dysplasia. Reduced
caloric intake and glucosamine products in immature animals genetically
predisposed for hip dysplasia may lessen the pathologic changes
associated with hip dysplasia.
We certainly do not have all the answers, but will try to answer
any questions you have about any genetic disease.
REFERENCES for my statements can be found online
here:
Wing
and Wave Labradors
Listing of Genttic Diseases
Orthopedic
Foundation of Animals
Canine
Health Information Center
Please feel free to call us about our dogs and puppies. We
take pride in raising a few litters a year for our enjoyment
and yours.
Richard and Beth Siess
You
can view our adults and read their OFA Ratings here.
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