Who has had their dogs certified for Hips/Elbows/Heart/Eyes

[TrishB]

This question is for everyone - not just breeders.

How many of you have had Hips / Heart / Elbows and / or Eyes certifed? Why?

If you're a breeder, it's pretty obvious. ;) But how many dogs? What have your results been?

If you're an owner with a single / few dog(s) - why would / did you do it?

I'm curious to see how common it is and the why's people have for doing so. Also, if you've chosen not to - why not?

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I only have Parker. He is my show dog. He's my boy! :D I'm having him done for a few reasons:

#1 is peace of mind. I want to know that he's got good hips, heart, elbows and eyes. If he doesn't, I want to know now, before they become a problem so I can make things easier for us both and start early treatment.

#2 if a COE breeder wants to use him in their program and he's attained at least his CH and a CD - I might consider it. But only if he passes. I'm up in the air on that one and I don't intend to let just anyone use him. I believe that I have just as much responsibility for those pups as the bitch owner. So it will have to be a very carefully weighed decision.

#3 I discussed with and agreed with my breeder that I would do so - as I feel it's important to know as much about the dogs you produce and own as possible.

#4 I love my dog and I want to know he's healthy in every way that I can.

[spidey]

I haven't yet because Rakki's only six months old. I'll be getting hips, heart and eyes done at least when he's two (I'll be doing PennHIP as well as OFA). I'll be doing it because:
- I want to know (in case there are things I need to look out for or do something about)
- my breed club is building a genetics database and the more information we have the better
- PennHIP needs more data from Vallhunds to improve their accuracy with this breed
- it's not impossible that I'll consider breeding him eventually (of course depending on how he turns out when he's grown, and how the title acquisition efforts go, and all that), and health checks are part of that decision-making process
- my breeder would want to know (I don't have to do it contractually, and Vallhunds don't have the same frequency of problems that Rotties do, but my breeder would want to know anyway, for her own records)

[excellrott]

Neither one of mine is old enough yet, but I will be doing if for my AKC and for my backyard bitch just because I love them and want to be prepared for their needs.

[Mick Trainer]

All of mine are done even though most will never be bred off. Just good to know who is throwing what.

Mick.

[Luvs]

Originally posted by TrishB


#1 is peace of mind. I want to know that he's got good hips, heart, elbows and eyes. If he doesn't, I want to know now, before they become a problem so I can make things easier for us both and start early treatment.


#4 I love my dog and I want to know he's healthy in every way that I can.

Those two reasons are why we are going to get Akasha and Keil done.

[Goniella]

I have had both of my guys eyes CERF'd, and they both will have their cardiacs done, and both will have hips and elbows done when they are old enough. I have no plans to breed either of them, its all for my piece of mind, I did the eye CERF now because my female had some littermates who came up with entropian... so I wanted to get her checked ASAP.

[Judi W]

Two of my three have CHIC registrations, the third had one elbow that did not pass.

[spiccers]

Mine isnt old enough yet, but I will be having it done just because i love her and for my piece of mind.

[fbkeays]

I have had all three of my dogs x-rayed for hips and elbows and submitted to the OFA. All three have had CERF exams. All three have regular blood panels done, including thyroid, but only my youngest has OFA thyroid done. Only my youngest has an echocardiograph done and certified normal by OFA.
My oldest came from a byb and was spayed at 9 months. My second, was bought for show and OFA was by contract. He was neutered at 3 without ever being bred. My youngest is 2 1/2 and I will only breed to get a replacement pup so I will be very selective if and when he is bred.
I do the health checks for my own knowledge first, for the betterment of the breed second.

[chivas]

Im not a breeder or show dog person, but I had Chivas' hips done just because I was worried. Had her elbows xrayed and looked at by an ortho vet after it was mentioned to me (when she was 10) that her elbows seemed to bow out slightly but the ortho vet said not to worry and it never bothered her. BTW, Chivas's hips were excellent!

[MicheleMarie]

I never thought about having Duchess done since she's kind of a pocket rotti. At what age would you have a female checked?

[Grisu]

Tassilo will get done after x-mas. Just to know what exactly awaits us and what to plan for....

[Carina43]

Cooper's hips were xrayed at the same time his elbows were done (he does have ED.) This is the only time I've ever had a dog's hips done. I never saw a reason to because I never saw any indication of a problem. And because I've never bred anything. It's never really occured to me to get any of these things checked, honestly.
I do get regular blood panels done on each dog, annually at the same time as their heartworm test.

[spoteet]

Sajan has his heart certified and I had his elbows and hips prelim done, he was clear on elbows and excellent on hips. He will be 2 in Jan and I will have his certification done on his hips and elbows. I need to get him to a show to do his eyes. I have had his thyroid checked but not certified, it was good.

I did his elbows, hips and heart because of the plans I have for him as far as his activity goes. I knew I intended to do stuff that is very strenuous for him and I wanted to make sure he was structurely sound and his heart was going to take it.

[damp]

All my dogs from back in the eighties and till today had there hips x – rayed. My last 2 dogs also had their elbows done. None have ever been breed and I have never had any intention of that, but all dogs had been trained for SchH, and that’s why I want to know about the hips and elbows.

It’s not uncommon here, that some breeders refund you money, if you had the dog x-rayed. It’s important information for the breeder and the next generations of dogs.