Hip x-Ray Age - Page 1

I have a 3 almost 4 year old dog that I have been working with that has never been x-rayed. I am hoping to put a sch 1 on her but want to make sure she is sound. Nothing thus far in training has given me any indication of unsoundness but I have always x-rayed my dogs earlier. Can anyone share their experience with certifying the hips/elbows of a 3-4 year old dog versus a younger one?

kovey - if the certification body you are going to submit xrays to is OFA, know that the evaluation takes into account the age of the dog.

Hello Kovey- The dog VA1 NASS 2004 VA3 Sweeden Superioue's Zathan received OFA GOOD at 51 months. http://www.offa.org/display.html?appnum=1058002#animal So, not a problem. You get what you got. Martin

ditto - all of the above - If I didn't have to x-ray a bitch (wanting to know hip status prior to breeding) then I'd almost rather wait until older -- Then you know more about how they're holding up !! And, as stated -- the OFA at least factors in the age -- so sometimes a young dog (24 mos) that might have looked like a FAIR to them, but that didn't have further deterioration over the years might get a good at 7 or 8 years of age -- I always wanted to try that !! but never had the reason to or opportunity. So 4 years old seems a great time to get a good evaluation !! Just don't do it close to coming in - or while in, or on the way out of season -- Pick a time exactly half way between the last heat and the next expected one to be safe !! (Hormonal fluctuations and all that are thought by some to effect even such things as joint laxity.

You can get an A Stamp at 1 year of age and the OFA at 2 years of age but the sad truth is that this is no more than a picture of a point in time. That is to say, you dog may be fine at an early age and still develop displasia at a later age. The only real way to say a dog was not displastic is if it reaches old age without displasia. Hips like everything else tend to deterioriate in all animals over age. 4 years old, however, is hardly old age, rather the prime of life for GSDs. By all means get your dog x-rayed. If it has bad hips, so be it. Accept the fact and don't breed to it. If you get an OFA Excellent, Good or Fair--then congratulations, you can be fairly sure that your 4 year old will stay that way.