Interesting Hip Dysplasia website - Page 1

I'm studying about the canine Hip Dysplasia and I manage to stumple onto this page that is very informational.

http://www.lbah.com/canine/hip_dysplasia.htm

Brittany, I would have hoped that in all your time on this and other boards you would have learned more. Not sure what is interesting about the above site other than the many many gross mistatements and errors.

Just a few right out  of the box..."Hip dysplasia is a congenital disease that affects mostly large breed dogs."  Wrong it affects ALL mammals including cats, humans and guinea pigs.  "It causes weakness and lameness to the rear quarters, and eventually leads to painful arthritis. ."   Again wrong - it can but doesn't necessarily in fact most dogs do fine and experience neither of these.  "This disease is so prevalent, and so debilitating, that a special veterinary organization called The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) was organized."  What can I say. Wrong about the debilitating Wrong about the organization. It was GSD BREEDERS that funded the start of the OFA.  "Hip Dysplasia is diagnosed based on a history of weakness or lameness to the rear legs, especially after exercise or when first getting up after resting. Some young dogs will bunny hop when running, and might lie down on their stomachs with their legs stretched behind them."  Can't tell you the number of dogs I've known that were  extremely athletic and agile and going in the vet said this one won't be a problem and walla the xrays said something different. The bunny hopping and frog legs thing is also false. Known more dogs with good/excellent hips that have done that than vice versa. "The breeding of dogs that already have hip dysplasia is one of the primary reasons the disease is still present." I'm sure this little nugget would be a surprise to the many many breeders who have 6,8,10 gnerations of xrayed and certified free dogs.  Apparently this guy forget to take the genetics 101 course in vet school or skipped the lecture on multifactored genetic traits.

I could go on but see no point. It seems to be this website is slanted towards pushing the "surgical solution" - which many vets use indiscriminately to enrich their bottom line. And gee golly gee this is a veterinary hospital website. Hmmm.

VKFGSD, nicely picked up on! Have you checked out the set of  "normal" hips in the first pic?

Brittany, go to the BVA (British Veterinary Association) website, or your local equivalent, or wander over to Videx website for some correct, unbiased information. Or, if you want to read up on the genetics of HD, check out Dr Malcolm Willis book, which is a genetic history of the GSD, both informative and fascinating, and easy to digest.

Hope this is of some help to you.

This site is obviously a blatant advertsement/scare tactic for hip surgery on all dogs that do not have normal hips - in their estimation. The AVMA should take a look and act accordingly. The author should be tarred and feathered.