Questions about taking xrays for OFA - Page 1

Will age affect an OFA rating, or do they take age into consideration in evaluating?  I have a 3 year old female, am trying to get everything lined up for her to get X rayed.. My vet said he could do it, but he is a country large and small animal vet, not sure how much experience he has doing GSD xrays.. Also, what about heat cycles and exercising? She is from dogs that have normal (a1) hips, going a ways back.. I just am a little concerned because I was reading some articles about heat cycles, diet, exercise can affect hip ratings.. I have been taking her on long trail rides, can be up to 10 miles since she was young, could I have messed her hips up? She is really active, has never been lame or off on her gaits, and jumps in bed of truck just fine, no mobility problems.. But I notice she looks kind of lazy when she walks, sometimes dragging her nails, but then can trot along for miles behind the horse?  Thank you for any input..

Thanks for asking these questions, as I share a few of them.

Re the vet, perhaps optimal to seek one experienced with proper positioning technique to begin with, and avert having do it a second time if positioning was off.

I'm debating having my one year old, uncut girl done for OFA prelim. No hint of lameness, but she is super physical/energetic and I've put some good miles on her on land to date, and some more in water. I'd like to think her diet is superior and lean body mass helpful, but like you, want the knowledge of potential hip/elbow trends.
 

Erin.....What a pretty girl you have there :)
I would ask Hexe (or one of the other more experienced folks) to be sure....but it is my understanding that yes OFA takes age into consideration when reading the x-rays. However, I'm not sure if it makes a difference in the final evaluation. IMO we coddle this breed way to much when it comes to letting them do the things a dog loves to do....like run and jump up, down and over things. One things for sure, it sounds like your girl is very fit and that will help. Don't be quick to judge whether a vet is capable to take a proper x-ray. IMO if you like your vet and have a good working relationship with him, then talk to him. Does he take digital or filmed x-rays. Digital x-rays are much easier to re-take until they get the positioning right. Also, wait while they take them....ask to view them and if your not happy then have them take them again. 

For the record...my vet is also a large and small animal vet and he takes great x-rays. He and I have a wonderful working relationship and I can talk to him about anything animal related...he is very open minded.

Good Luck....keep us posted :)
 

I love my vet, he is awesome with my animals and is very reasonable.. On the down side, it's a very rural area, he said it's been forever since he has done an OFA, he doesn't get requests for them.. Maybe I can find some articles on positioning to print out and take with us.. He doesn't have the digital equipment, it's the old school machine..  Mine are the only GSDs he has as clients right now. Most people out here have hunting dogs, cattle dogs, mutts and of course pit types..
  Thank you for the compliments on her, clc29! It's funny I get a lot of questions about her, people asking if she has chow in her because of her coat and color, I even had a guy argue with me when I told him she was German Showline, AKC.. He said I got ripped off because he knows shepherds, and she wasn't one.. LoL.. 

Go to an experienced vet who does them often.
Or waste your money, it's not cheap.

Age three is fine, I do mine at two, go between heat cycles, and no you didn't hurt anything by giving her an active life, it's genetic.
You sure that's a GSD ?
 

I just x-rayed a female that had just turned 5 yrs old, she got good hips & normal elbows.
Your girl will probably pass as you have kept her active, just make sure your vet takes a nice even picture,
there are instructions on the ofa web-site for your vet, if that's who you have to go to then that's it.

Like I tell my vet, I wouldn't be in here doing x-rays if I had my own x-ray machine;)

 Good luck
 

Normal hips at 24 months will still be normal hips at 5, 6 years. Oldest dog I have had certified was 10 - OFA good, a working sled dog most of her adult  life, but that's not why she had good  hips. She was genetically predisposed for normal hips and no amount of exercise could  have changed that one way or the other. OFA knows the difference between the normal aging process and changes due to HD.

To the person who disliked my last post and Mirasmom's: How about telling us why you disagree? Have you had experience that's convinced you otherwise?

Great response

I noticed that,too. Someone is just going around disliking everything, it appears. Most of the other xray threads posts had dislikes, too.