X-RAY for OFA / A Stamp - Page 1

I have been chasing titles with my female dog, she has titles, show ratings etc. Never went and got her X-rayed for OFA and A stamp, now she has been in for a day or so. Is it to late or still safe to x-ray. Also, which one is better to have? Martin

OFA rates only excellent/good/fair/fail Results must go into the data bank. check out: Orthopedic Foundation for Animals www.offa.org Penn Hip gives a right and left score for laxity, and an indication if degenerative joint disease (DJD) is present. Disclosure is voluntary. PennHIP - The University of Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program www.vet.upenn.edu/ResearchCenters/pennhip IMO easier to pass OFA, Penn hip is a better test if you want the truth. diane Hormones involved with esterus will cause laxity in the joints, not recommended to test 2 weeks prior to heat or several more weeks after lactation is finished.

You write "she has been in for a day or so" In what? Heat presumably. I would not have a female of mine x-rayed if she were pregnant. The only 2 hip certifications which are recognized by the SV, the GSDCA-WDA and the USCA are either OFA or A stamp. So even if, and I say if because the controversy still rages, Penn Hip is better, it is not recognized. I would say OFA is the far better indicator because it cannot be done before the dog is 24 months old whereas the A stamp can be obtained by a dog 12 months or older. Many dogs are still ok at 12 months and displastic at 2 years. It is also true that even dogs at 2 years become displastic at 4 years or later. No x-ray evaluation unfortunately is a guarantee that your dog will not at sometime later in its life become displasttic.