Hip Dysplasia Reply
Question:
Dear Ann;
I commend you for your excellent newsletter, but I must take issue with your statement that “Hip dysplasia is rampant in most purebred dogs”. ABSOLUTELY UNTRUE. Many breeds have little or no incidence (Greyhounds, whippets, and sighthounds in general, as well as many toy breeds). To say that the condition is “rampant” is not born out by the facts, and I would strongly suggest you contact Mr. Dennis Sprung, president of the AKC, to receive the true picture.
Most responsible breeders who own breeds prone to the condition X-ray their stock and receive OFA #s and certification documenting the freedom from dysplasia. I was a professional handler for many years, with as many as 70 purebred show dogs in my kennel at any one time. I NEVER encountered a breeder in one of those breeds who did not REQUIRE prospective bitches to be certified free of dysplasia. I myself bred purebred dogs for many generations, and every one of my breeding stock was certified free of hip dysplasia, PRA, and Von Willebrand’s disease. Responsible breeders perform
these tests on their breeding stock, and AKC-affiliated Parent Breed Clubs strongly urge their members to comply. For this reason, many puppies from responsible purebred breeders are more expensive than puppy mill or backyard “purebreds”.
Many mixed breeds that end up in the shelter have had no genetic screening at all in any previous generations. There are frequent incidences of dysplasia, blindness, epilepsy, etc.in these unfortunate abandoned dogs. Hybrid vigor only applies to the ones that live, and no shelter in the world X-rays or tests their pets before they place them.
While OFA Excellent or Good dogs can still produce an afflicted puppy (the condition exists in the general canine population in the same way medical anomalies occur in the general human population), any dog afflicted with a very mild case of dysplasia will likely never suffer discomfort, and the responsible breeder will stand behind the health of the dog.
OFA X-rays and certification takes place at two years of age to allow all bones to form to maturity, and to expose even mild grades of dysplasia which will never present clinically. A German Shepherd puppy such as the reader describes, which exhibits severe clinical discomfort at 7 months of age, likely has a completely flattened acetabulum, and thus the most severe grade of dysplasia.
Please urge your readers to purchase purebreds from responsible breeders who go to the time, trouble, and expense of testing their stock for generations, and who will freely provide the information and guarantees. Responsible breeders also may require references to ensure the new owner will properly care for the puppy. Repsonsible breeders often require the new owner to sign a contract which requires them to return the puppy to the breeder if they are unable to keep it. They also often issue “non-breeding” AKC papers to any puppy they do not deem ideal to reproduce. There are literally thousands of responsible breeders, many of which can be found at a dog show on any given weekend across the US, or by referral through an AKC-designated
Breed Parent Club.
Many people do not want to take the time to research for a responsible breeder, to wait what may be months for a planned litter, or to provide the references and assurances the good breeder requires. The result is often a puppy such as your reader describes, which will break the hearts of its owners and suffer for life.
Responsible Show breeders, because of their visibility, are often targeted by anti-breeder legislation which is better aimed at backyard breeders and puppy mills. In fact, the responsible and visible breeders are the very people who ensure that many generations of mentally and physically sound dogs will be available as loving, healthy pets.
Thank you
S. Lackey
ANSWER:
Thank you, Ms Lackey for your well-informed and well-written comment – I love hearing from people within the industry who have something truly important to add to the blog!
I am sorry I used the word ‘rampant’ as it obviously stuck a chord with you. How about I speak in facts instead? It is estimated that over 50% of popular large breed dogs suffer from canine hip dysplasia. However, there are several breeds that are clear or almost clear of this debilitating condition – thank goodness! Unfortunately, the most popular breeds in North America such as the Labrador retriever, Golden retriever and German Shepherd dog are all too inflicted. I have not looked at the stats recently but I do think that the awareness and genetic testing of breeding stock is beginning to improve the percentage of pups born with hip dysplasia.
And you are correct, responsible breeders would never knowingly breed a dog that has less then Good or Excellent OFA rated hips. This is one of my more common rants from the soapbox as far too many animals are bred to earn the breeder a living, not for the benefit and improvement of the breed.
To take this discussion on step farther, there is one more step purebred puppy buyers could insist upon that would see the incidence of hip dysplasia decrease even more would be to insist on PennHIP testing be performed on potential breeding stock AND their siblings. PennHIP is a newer form of testing then OFA and is proving to be more accurate.
In a nutshell, PennHIP testing judges the formation of the hip much like OFA but also measures the luxation within the joint. Unfortunately, a perfectly well formed hip joint can develop degenerative joint disease (DJD), leading to many of the same symptoms as hip dysplasia. Veterinarians that are certified for PennHIP testing undergo rigorous training and are often breeders themselves, or have a large clientele of breeders among their patients so they are well-motivated to see an overall improvement in the health of their breeding stock.
For more information on PennHIP testing, visit the University of Pennsylvania website.
For anyone looking to purchase a purebred dog, one last safe guard would be to always ask whether the breeding stock was sedated or put under a general anesthetic when they had their OFA shots taken. Although many breeders will disagree with me, you would be surprised the difference in what a hip joint looks like when the same dog is x-rayed awake and when they are relaxed or unconscious. When the dog is awake, they naturally pull back and resist the pressure the vet is applying, making the hip joint look tighter then in reality. This can give a false reading on the formation of the hip joint that can lead to problems down the line.
Thanks again for your comment and the opportunity to talk hip health!
Ann
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