Quote:
Originally posted by westernpa
i have been looking into this because my dam has just had a litter of puppies and i want to know exactly what to do to have the healthiest puppies possible. |
In my opinion, you're too late. You've already bred and have had pups!
:(
Genetics is the leading factor, by far, in hip dysplasia. Sure - an unbalanced diet, working on uneven ground, too hard work at too young of an age, etc. are factors. But GENETICS are #1 (more than the others combined).
To your comment that 2 OFA Excellent parents can have a dysplastic pup - sure - but the chances are low.
BUT! The key is not to only look at the parents ratings, but also THEIR parents ratings and Grandparents ratings. You want to line breed good hips - not just take the parents on face value. This is the key to responsibly breeding (great breeders take months and sometimes YEARS to find the perfect genetic match).
I wouldn't focus too much on the other variables to hip dysplasia - as they won't add up anywhere near to the impact of genetics. Once you HAVE researched and bred for genetics, then you can look at the rest of the factors to see if you can improve your chances.