Everyone's Opinions on getting Hip x-ray's - Page 1

I have been curious on everyone elses opinions on if they prefer to have the dog under anthesia for hip/elbow x-ray's, or with no anthesia?

I would also like to here why they prefer one or the other? Which one is best to do, etc?

All opinions welcomed. Thanks in advance!!

My vet says doing them w/o anesthesia can give a false negative, meaning the hips can look tighter than they are. There might be something on the ofa site about this.

Kelly M Shaw,  Our vet does our xrays under a Tranq rather than anesthesia.   rollingstones I've never heard of anesthesia not being allowed but good suggestion made with checking out what OFA has to say about it...  Good Luck Kelly M Shaw

I have one vet that rather have them under anesthesia and one that prefers not to, so I was just curious what people on this forum prefer(with or without).

Thanks

Kel

Most vets prefer top anesthetize simply because it's easier for them, since the dog will not offer any resistance. Additionally, the anesthetized dog's hips will be easier for them to manipulate into the positions they're required to torque them to for OFA.  It takes a strong set of hands to do that, and it's easier for them to get them under deep.  I do know vets and breeders who will do thewm without putting them under.  The only thing this method will affect is laxity - it will not change the actual shape of the femoral head, the depth of the socket or thickening of the necks.  As I really don't like to anesthetize a dog unless I absolutely HAVE TO, I prefer doing it without, and have acutally had dogs that would cooperate with the procedure without as much as a tranquilizer.

When doing pre-lims...I don' t want my dogs put under if at all  possible...But when doing x-rays for hip certifications the SV says you must put them under a local...and I'm sure OFA says the same thing...I have never done hip certifications without...

~Bob~

No, OFA definitely does not require general anesthesia. There boxes on the OFA application form for checking anesthesia, tranquilization,etc.  No matter what the SV may say that it requires, all of my xrays for "a" stamps in the United States sent to the SV have been done with out benefit of anesthesia. As I've posted elsewhere, even the Radiology Department at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (where there is a staff excellent licensed Rad Techs and Board Certified Veterinary Radiologists).

IMO, this statement is invalid: My vet says doing them w/o anesthesia can give a false negative, meaning the hips can look tighter than they are. Your vet would rather charge you $350-500 for both OFA hip/elbow radiographs instead of $150 (including office visit).

For further discussion, please see my post here: http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/bulletins_read/123446.html#124103

I just had xrays done today no anesthesia.  It cost me 125.00 they look great. My vet says he has to use anesthesia 1 out of 100. He takes his time with the dog and has experienced techs.

I've xrayed about 30 of my own dogs for OFA and other breeds as well. Most of mine were not tranqed or anesthesized because they were cooperative and I was on the head end during the procedure. One of mine looked as if her  hips were not as tight as they should be, so she was anesthesized and re-xrayed and it did make a difference. The second xray showed even more joint space than the first.  Her hips were definitely not what I wanted for a brood bitch. Although she passed OFA with a fair, I didn't think she should have received a number at all and she was never bred.  The few that did not cooperate needed to be sedated. I've seen a few dogs of other breeds that looked "iffy" when xrayed without being sedated. In that case we always did a second xray with the dog sedated. I'd guess it was about a 50/50 split as to how many of those dogs looked the same when sedated vs those that showed more joint space.

My recommendation would be to do it without if your dog is cooperative. If there is any question whatsoever, sedate that dog and re-xray. OFA does not require sedation, but they do recommend it. They say that on their website. I would be especially mindful of the dog that just squeaks by with a fair. If that dog has not been sedated, I would probably re-do that xray using sedation. I doubt it is necessary to tranq most dogs for elbow xrays.

Don't know where you live, Kelly M Shaw. I'll bet, if you would tells us roughly where you are located, some of our reputable, experienced members of this board could offer you names of vets in your area who do not require anesthesia.

You want a vet (not a solo practice) with reasonable fees, with a bustling practice that does not have to make up for a slower and more pricey business, one that takes lots of OFA radiographs for many breeders, one that actually likes GSD's (many don't), and one with modern equipment (preferably digital--as this does not involve wasting x-ray film if additional shots are necessary for optimal positoning).

Many vets will let you don a lead xray apron so that you may be present in the xray room to comfort/ assist in handling your dog and to get his cooperation.

Often, when you call for prices, veterinary staff may be required by their employer to give you the worst possible scenario (involving the cost of anesthesia).