Hips and elbows - give your opinions! - Page 1

Had hips and elbows x-rayed today.  Intact male, 16 months.  Prelims at 6 months were normal.  Based on the parents the dog right now has a ZW of 81.  These are photographs taken of analog films taped to my plasma TV, the actual quality is better.  Also I realized my camera angle was off but didn't feel like setting it up again.  The text at the bottom right is what I add when I save these copies on my computer.  I was a little disappointed with the hips as far as the coverage in the socket, but the vet said "fair" or maybe "good".  I'm new at this OFA/a-stamp thing so maybe my expectations are too high?  These are for a-stamps.  I know you can't read the ID plate, the vet called the USCA office and they said she could include letterhead with her signature and the required info so all is good.




Elbows

Legs should be straighter/pulled down more. Heads are nice and round. I think if positioning was correct you'd be A-ok. Knees aren't super clear, but I'm betting that proper, slight rotation would also improve. I added a link; look at the positioning and envision how these would look if you moved the legs around. 

Here is good positioning:
http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/german_shepherd_dog/bulletins.read?mnr=428703&pagen=1

They look good, this is my girl Bonnie von Ryan she got ofa good,
your dog has nice round femoral heads, they show no wear what so ever,they are mostly looking at the top part of the ball touching the socket and that looks very snug, no need to worry.
  Good luck!

Thanks guys.  I agree they are not the best but I've seen worst (as far as positioning, not anatomy) submitted and do OK.  Since it was such a hassle I'm just sending these in.  I can always do OFAs at 2 years for another perspective, and my understanding is the USCA office wouldn't pass them on if there were major problems with the x-rays?  I'm kind of under a time crunch because I have a big event planned for both my dogs which includes ADs, show, trial, and breed survey so I need all the original documents for both dogs back in time.  I don't really care if they are perfect or get top ratings, just want something that's good for work and acceptable for breeding/breed survey.

Same dog, 6 months.



I don't know, should I go back and complain?  Then they have do to the whole thing over and charge me another $85?

$85 is all you have to pay for these x-rays? Beats the $700 I am faced with... Wow..

I would complain, tell them you need perfect or near-perfect positioning. Show them xrays of how it needs to look, explain what the need to do to improve the positioning (pulling legs straight, etc). I have been in an xray room with animals countless times - there is no excuse for not getting the right positioning on a sedated dog!

I think $85 is what they charge me for one hip film (like that is the purchase price of that piece of developed x-ray), probably more added on for the sedative and vet visit.  Yesterday's total was about $200.  They have good prices and usually do a really good job so I try to stay on the good side (last time, they didn't charge me for a tooth extraction since I was also getting an x-ray). 

I don't really understand how the x-rays are taken, I've only seen it done once and it didn't seem that big of a deal (and it was by a guy whose over 80 years old, positioning perfect).  Do they just not pull hard enough b/c they think they will hurt the dog?  I even specified on the note that the positioning had to be good and I wanted the knees in the picture.

Its really hard to tell by this x-ray; but if you send this particular x-ray in you will probably get a fair.  If it is redone and the knees are turned in and are facing directly forward they could very well be much better,  best of luck  Nan

PS:  don't read elbows.  The 6 month x-ray is much better and I would grade that as a good.  I would be really surprised in 10 months if they changed that much.  N

On the breeder's advice I am asking the vet clinic to re-do the hips.  Ugh, I'm such a non-confrontational person!  But it can't hurt to ask, right?  Now that we look back at the prelims they just look SO much better and the *only* difference is positioning.  Man I wish Mostosky were closer to me!  This would be a no-brainer.

well the hips look like A3 and elbows are A1 to me, that is what i see. hips dont look as nice but the elbows look really good. i do think they will pass.