[jjk454ss]

I see people talking about hip x-rays. Is this something people check for breeding purposes? If they see something when a dog is still young is there something you can do? I'm just wondering why people are getting it done when there is no sign of an issue?

 

[Castlemaid]

Some people just get them done for peace of mind, or to be able to plan ahead if there are signs of trouble. People who plan on breeding should get them done of course, and some people just do them out of curiousity.

Also, many people have it in their contract from the breeder that the dog will be OFA'd at age two, for the breeder to have the data to make future breeding decisions, and have a good idea of where their breeding program is going hip-wise.

 

[jjk454ss]

Thanks, I figured that was it. But I thought if there was something to be done early if the X-rays come back showing something, then maybe I should look into it.

 

[TxQuax]

I had also been wondering the same and had been thinking the reasons were for peace of mind, etc. We have an 11wk pup....we need to take one of our other doggies in for a post surgical check up in a little over a week from now. Thinking of taking GSD pup along for x-rays of hips....is this too young for x-rays?

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[gagsd]

For performance dogs or "just to know" I think 6 months is a pretty good age.

 

[wyominggrandma]

I had my girl done just recently because she was limping on a back leg one day and I was worried.( My first GSD had the same symptom one day, took her in at just under a year and she was severely dysplastic and up until that day had not shown one sign of HD.)
Holly's xrays were gorgeous and I no longer will worry about her hips. She will be 3 in October. She is spayed, so I didn't do it for breeding purposes, which of course anyone who is planning to breed their dog, male or female, should certainly do.
Peace of mind is nice to have, so xrays are done for that reason.
Your puppy is young, usually they are not done that early unless you are seeing issues/concerns. I have xrayed as early as three months and seen horrible hips, but the puppy was showing signs and in pain. I would probably wait until 5 or 6 months, but the choice is yours.
Peace of mind means a lot.

 

[TxQuax]

Thank you so much for the responses. My main thoughts are as we live in a rural area, we do not have a wide selection of vets that specialize in small breeds only....every time we have had an out of the normal issue, we have been referred to specialists anywhere from 1 to 1 1/2 hours away for diagnosis or emergencies. As our post surgical follow up on our other doggie is at a well regarded surgical/specialist who also diagnosed our beloved GSD with DM, we thought we would take pup as they are 1 1/2 hours away. Is the actual X-ray potentially harmful on a puppy this young and if at this age the possibilities if seeing anything conclusive, then I'm thinking there is no reason to do at this time if potentially harmful?

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[jjk454ss]

What's an average X-ray like this cost?

 

[TxQuax]

I am not sure on cost. I realized in my last post I stated a selection of vets that specialize in small breeds....meant to say small animal verses large animal i.e. livestock. Y'all probably figured that out but wanted to clarify.

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[jjk454ss]

I am not sure on cost. I realized in my last post I stated a selection of vets that specialize in small breeds....meant to say small animal verses large animal i.e. livestock. Y'all probably figured that out but wanted to clarify.

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I had to call my vet for something else, so I asked about X-rays. The person who answered the phone said it varies, but X-rays are generally between $75 and $125.

And about the small animal vet, I thought you had one of those designer breed, mini shepherds, the ones the celebrities carry around in a purse. But I guess that's not the case after all.

 

[Castlemaid]

There was a thread a while ago about the cost of hip x-rays - they seemed to range from 100$ to 1000$, depending on the vet clinic, with the average being around 150 - 300 doallars. So your vet is pretty good.

Often, people get the x-rays done when they bring their dogs in for a neuter or spay. Don't need a separate appointment, dog is already under, and usually between 6 mo to 2 years old at the time, which is a good age for x-rays. If you want official OFA X-rays, they do need to be at least two years old.

 

[TxQuax]

And about the small animal vet, I thought you had one of those designer breed, mini shepherds, the ones the celebrities carry around in a purse. But I guess that's not the case after all.[/QUOTE]

HaHa....funny!!

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[TxQuax]

Often, people get the x-rays done when they bring their dogs in for a neuter or spay. Don't need a separate appointment, dog is already under, and usually between 6 mo to 2 years old at the time, which is a good age for x-rays. If you want official OFA X-rays, they do need to be at least two years old.

Thank you!



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[Chris Wild]

It's also important to point out though that not all vets are competent at taking and evaluating hip x-rays. Incorrect positioning on the x-ray can render it a waste of time and money, and even worse can make a problem seem to be there when there really isn't one and it is the positioning that is off, not the joints. I'd inquire with your vet how experienced and skilled he is with doing OFA x-rays, and be ready to find another vet for the x-rays if needed. Many an owner has been sent into a complete panic attack over poorly positioned x-rays and a (perhaps well meaning) ignorant, doomsaying vet when in fact the hips were fine once the x-rays were redone by a vet skilled in this speciality.

Also educate yourself on how the x-rays should be properly done and positioned (lots of info on the OFA website about that) so that you know what to look for yourself and don't get scammed into paying for a bad, useless x-ray.

The "Show me the hips" section of this board has lots of different threads on this, including many examples of bad and good x-rays and bad and good hips so you can learn what to look for.

 

[hunterisgreat]

Thanks, I figured that was it. But I thought if there was something to be done early if the X-rays come back showing something, then maybe I should look into it.

You can PennHIP at 16 weeks, and if there is poor socket coverage they can eliminate one growth plate and make the hips get better coverage of the ball by adulthood... hard to explain

 

[TxQuax]

It's also important to point out though that not all vets are competent at taking and evaluating hip x-rays. Incorrect positioning on the x-ray can render it a waste of time and money, and even worse can make a problem seem to be there when there really isn't one and it is the positioning that is off, not the joints. I'd inquire with your vet how experienced and skilled he is with doing OFA x-rays, and be ready to find another vet for the x-rays if needed. Many an owner has been sent into a complete panic attack over poorly positioned x-rays and a (perhaps well meaning) ignorant, doomsaying vet when in fact the hips were fine once the x-rays were redone by a vet skilled in this speciality.

Also educate yourself on how the x-rays should be properly done and positioned (lots of info on the OFA website about that) so that you know what to look for yourself and don't get scammed into paying for a bad, useless x-ray.

The "Show me the hips" section of this board has lots of different threads on this, including many examples of bad and good x-rays and bad and good hips so you can learn what to look for.

Thank you!

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[jafo220]

Personal opinon here, I like to get x-rays done every few years just to keep up on in there. Sometimes dogs hide things well or we don't pick up on the subtle ques they give us that something is wrong. My dogs have been and will be athletic and active and play hard. I feel better knowing when I take a dog on a long difficult walk or we play fetch or what ever that his or her hips are in good order.

I'm going out on a limb here because I don't like starting controversy, but my vet did a preventative surgery on Cruz's hips not because he had problems but as a precaution. It has a name but can't recall it right now. So far he has done exellent and shows no signs of problems but he is only 7 months. He'll get another unscheduled x-ray maybe around one or two yrs. But keep in mind this surgery is by no means a guarentee against HD. I looked at it like a preventative measure. I've went to this vet for along time and trust him to be honest and not do something we don't need. He suggested it so we did it. So far so good.

 

[Chris Wild]

I have never, ever heard of a preventative surgery for HD. Or any surgery performed on the hips of a young pup where there wasn't severe HD present.

What is the name of this procedure and what did it entail?

 

[ugavet2012]

I have never, ever heard of a preventative surgery for HD. Or any surgery performed on the hips of a young pup where there wasn't severe HD present.

What is the name of this procedure and what did it entail?

Me either and was wondering the same thing?

 

[Castlemaid]

I'm going out on a limb here because I don't like starting controversy, but my vet did a preventative surgery on Cruz's hips not because he had problems but as a precaution. It has a name but can't recall it right now. So far he has done exellent and shows no signs of problems but he is only 7 months. He'll get another unscheduled x-ray maybe around one or two yrs. But keep in mind this surgery is by no means a guarentee against HD. I looked at it like a preventative measure. I've went to this vet for along time and trust him to be honest and not do something we don't need. He suggested it so we did it. So far so good.

Can you post before and after X-rays? Not sure I understand the reasoning behind this? If a pup is born with good hips, and is developing normally, chances are, hips will be good for most of their life, with maybe some arthritis in advanced old age.

It does sound very controversial -