Hip Xrays and Free Beer! - Page 2

Assuming that one is using "bone technique", one drops the calipers across the ilial crests (while the dog is still standing on the floor) for the best measurements--much better than trying to measure with the dog on its back. I learned this trick for an excellent veterinary xray technician.

The important thing about getting the patellae in their respective trochlear notches is to flex the hind limbs (while holding onto the hocks) towards the chest before extending (stretching) them while rotating the hocks medially.

boarder line with slight sub laxation or even mild dysplacia.the head is seated about 50-55% and not tight enough.r there any clinical things going on with this pup.hopefully i am wrong or maybe take a few different shot for a little better alignment.good luck .steve

In So Calif, we used to have Dr Whitecamp for OFA x-rays.  He was great.  On the x-ray days everyone would just line up, when you got to the front of the line you put the muzzle on the dog, handed him to one of his two assistants, Whitecamp measured, then the dog was hoisted on the table & x-rayed before he really knew what was going on.  That doctor had it down, he could x-ray any dog without anesthesia or sedative.  Unfortunately he has long since retired and his replacement who studied under him is good but not THAT good.  He had to lightly sedate my pup for prelims. 

that's impressive sueincc.

I've encountered very few dogs that we can do a hip rad on without sedation. At least not a very good hip rad.   Maybe it's my technique, but there are some that we can.    Sometimes on the smaller dogs we can get good ones. 

Most get at least light sedation.    Usually Domitor and/or Torbugesic with the Domitor.

Blitzen, I too was taught to "crank" as hard as we can to get the hip shot with turning the knees inward.  In most cases I end up taking my own dogs' xrays so I can repeat to get that perfect shot.  :)