Hip dysplasia (HD) is well known among breeders and owners of larger dogs but surprisingly is quite common in smaller breeds. For many years the Kennel Club and British Veterinary Association (BVA) have run a scheme to improve the conformation of dogs' hips and elbows, by examining x-rays and having them scored by experts for quality. Ideally, all dogs intended for breeding should have a low hip score (less than 10 combining left and right hips) and 0 or 1 for elbows (hips and elbows are scored differently).
All dogs will need sedation for the x-rays to be taken safely but rarely light general anaesthesia is necessary. At Swan House we try to keep the x-ray room quiet, dark and warm and owners can stay with their dogs until the button is pressed to take the radiograph. The x-ray films are then sent away to the BVA and the numerical score is sent back a few weeks later.
All dogs must be at least 1 year old and microchipped; some unscrupulous people have been known to "borrow" hip scores from other dogs. Thankfully microchips have made this form of fraud much more difficult, in addition to proving your ownership and reuniting you with a lost animal.
The last (but not least important) check for a potential dog parent is an eye check to screen for inherited problems. This must be performed every year, unlike the x-rays which last a lifetime.
So with Spring around the corner, if you have designs on puppies this year, contact your veterinary surgery soon and make sure the next generation is given the best start in life.
