Opinion on these hip x-ray - Page 2

Here, I've taken mouland's x-ray and have sharpened it:

Regarding mouland xray, positioning is bad.  Hip on right side of image significantly too close to xray film (pekvis rotated along axis of spine.  Legs not perfectly parallel to each other and spine/pelvis (leg on right side of image has the worst positioning).  Exposure and clarity of xray not good.  Because the joints are not at the deep end of the spectrum, no better than OFA fair, but could be xrayed to be an OFA fair with optimal positioning.  In my view, this female will live out a normal life with no disabling HD if he is kept in good condition, fed properly and supplemented a few times a week with glucosamine/chondroitin.

Actually, I beg to differ with Preston because the left hip joint (the right hand side of the image) is further from (rather than too close to) the film because the pelvis and spine are rotated slightly to the dog's right (the left hand side of the image).

These changes in magnification result from the inverse-square law which states that doubling the distance between the light source and the subject results in one quarter of the light hitting the subject. IOW,

Louise, now that I think about it you are right as to which side is "enlarged".  The head farthest from the film will cast the largest "shadow" on the film.   I had that reversed.   Thanks for pointing this out.  Therefore, the largest socket will have the advantage for apparent depth of insertion of the ball.

I know from my experience, and I am certain that any rotation changes the degree of apparent insertion of the ball into a shallow socket (except for exceedingly deep sockets as in an OFA excellent) changes level of apparent insertion of the ball into the socket.  If one ball is larger than the other and there are other signs of roation along the spine as an axis, the xray is not positioned properly, and that is what I see in the first xray.  Plus the legs are not straight parallel to each other and the spine. I know from experience that I could position a dog with shallow sockets and fairly good balls to xray as an apparent OFA fair or worse depending on how well or poorly I positioned the dog.  I believe that either KV or the exposure time is off on that first xray, too.  Very good positioning actually helps a dog xray at its best in my experience.

Proper positioning of the first  xray would likely make the hip on the right side of the image look a bit less inserted, however that difference would disappear if the leg on the right side was made parallel to the spine and pelvis centerline.

My vet always used a foot pedal to activate the xray unit and we would use three people to position and hold the dogs without anesthesia.  Usually a few xrays had to be taken to get the hips positioned perfectly.

This dog has normal --not displastic hips.  The positioning is POOR and is making it look as though the dog has some subluxation.  Even with the poor positioning there is still decent joint coverage, and no bony changes apparent.  Redo again when the dog is old enough for OFA certification...and make sure it's not within 45 days of a heat cycle. 

QUESTION FOR THE EXPERTS

When would a potential laxity of hips for a female END after her heat season?  (ie how soon would you want an Xray taken?)

http://www.offa.org/hipproc.html: 

Hope I don't get anyone upset at this but I would not give either of these girls better then a Fair.  The first x ray is more then far enough from her heat that her hips should have been back.  Even after sharpening they didn't look better.  I would watch her gait... her left might start shifting on her as she matures more.  Both hip and knee.

Louise, one more thing.  You are one smart lady when it comes to GSDs !

I've personally seen  GSD hip xrays with more laxity than these receive fairs and goods.  There is little consistency with OFA ratings. The SV might do a more consistent job, I'm not sure. Louise and Preston would most likely have the answer to that one.

I'd be shocked if this dog ever shows any lameness issues until she's a elderly dog if then.  HD is usually expressed at 2 times in a dog's life - either as a puppy, called juvenile expressed, or as an elderly dog when most dogs with or without OFA numbers have formed some arthritis in most of their joints anyway, including the hips. The reason why evaluating a hip xray on an older dog, say 8 years or older, can be tricky. Some of the best moving dogs I've seen in many breeds do not have normal hips while some of the worst are OFA goods and excellents. One breeder told me that  she found her dogs that walked with the stiffest gaits had the better hips on xrays. Hip status and movement rarely seem to coorelate as far as I can see unless you are talking about a dog that is severely effected..  

An OFA fair is still considered a normal hip and suitable for breeding. I image few would think about breeding a fair to another fair or to an NZ.