X-Ray - Hips

[otkayan]

When is the best age to X-ray hips? I am planning to take my 15 months old to vet to get her hips checked

[marianne]

The OFA foundation will not issue the DYSPLASIA CONTROL REGISTRY to any dog under 24 months. You could get a preminarly before. You might as well wait till the dog is 2 years old. I know many who spend that day with their vet getting x-rays. Your girl should not be around her heat cycle either. Something else to think about....has your vet done alot of OFA x-rays? There are some differences in how those x-rays should be taken. Just something to think about....do you think a drugged dog is really representated to show the true hips?

[otkayan]

Marianna,

"Do you think a drugged dog is really represented to show the true hips?" I did not understand what you meant by this sentence. Please be more specific. By the way thank you for your answer. I have also decided that there is no point to X ray hips if I am not gonna get hip certificate. It is better waiting 9 more months.

[marianne]

In respose to the drugged dog. Talk to your vet BEFORE the xrays are to be taken. Some vets will only take the x-ray to a dog that has been drugged! Check around to find a vet that has the experince to take the xray without using drugs!

[Nancy Estes]

In most cases it is easier to get a good x-ray if the dog is anesthetized. If a dog has been trained to lie on its back with its hind legs extended, or the vet is very accomplished at calming and correctly positioning a dog without anesthesia, you can have x-rays done without sedating the dog. Whichever route you chose, do use a vet who is accustomed to doing hip x-rays. Any vet should be able to take the x-ray but you want to find someone who is familiar with the correct positioning required by OFA.

Nancy

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von Dorow Rottweilers
doggo1@apex2000.net

[Alaskan]

I've been reading some iformation on the new pennhip method. It isn't yet acknowledged by the AKC but it is said to be more accurate than OFA and can be done at 15 or 18 months (not sure which offhand) and the x-rays are more detailed than the OFA. There are websites to look up which vets offer it in your area, cost, and further info on the proceadure itself. I've read that people have found their dogs failed the OFA but passed with flying colors the pennhip x-rays. The x-rays through pennhip give a better view of the sockets and fit within as well.
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[MARYDVM]

The PennHip procedure has been done as early as 4 months of age, but most vets prefer to wait to 6 months. Three shots are taken while the dog is under anesthesia. One is the standard OFA position, another is taken while pressure is applied on the inner thighs with a device that forces the femoral head outwards from the socket. The final shot is taken with pressure applied to compress the femoral head inwards. Measurements are taken that determine the distractability index (DI) basically how tight the hips are. The tighter the better. The dog is then rated as to how tight its hips are relative to all the other memmbers of its breed that have been evaluated. A good DI at an early age means the pup will not have HD if it is evaluated at 2 years. It helps breeders know if their puppy will be sound in the future. Although there are probably some dogs out there that have failed OFA and gotten a good PennHip rating, most of the time the reverse is true. PennHip seems to be a more rigorous test, some OFA certified dogs have high DIs (more hip laxity than reccomended)

[Bear103]

In our case, we just found on Thursday that our 5-month old Rot has hip dysplasia. The reason we had him X-rayed so early (and yes, he was drugged) was because he was running a high fever and had severe pain in his spine. We consulted with 2 different vets and although he has CHD, we were told to wait until he is about 2 years old before making any decisions regarding surgery in order to assess the severity of the disease.

Hopefully if we follow the preventative measures, he will not be in too much pain.

[otkayan]

Bear103,
I hope your five months old will get better.

In my case, parents have OFA good and OFA fair. I am very curious what I will end up with. I believe my vet is experienced taking hip X-Rays. I remember him saying that they do this very often. By the way what is the cost of taking hip X-Rays? How about elbows? Does elbows can be done with hip X-ray at the same time?

[DonnaJo]

By the way what is the cost of taking hip X-Rays? How about elbows? Does elbows can be done with hip X-ray at the same time? [/b]

Well I just had my boy done again, had him prelimmed as a puppy. The cost for both hips and elbows for us was $84.00 - xray - 3 views and $65.00 - referral to OFA

Oh and my vet does xrays without putting the dog under. I go in there everytime and help out. Kevlar was just fine. If you teach your dog from a young age to lay on there back and enjoy tummy rubs it makes it much easier for the vet to get a good clear shot of the hips and the dog is pretty relaxed. At least this has been the case with my dogs and my vet.

Hope this helps.