Hip x_rays

[MAD MALLARD]

When is the best time to get hip X-rays done? I have an 18 month old, he has a 26 month guarantee. I understand that they can not be certified until the dog is 24 months, is this correct?

Opinions Please?

[Misty Marsh]

You can have pre-lims done prior to 24 months and that can give you a good idea of the Hip condition and what they are likely to rate at maturity, but for me a dog that is 18 months already, I'd wait another 6 months and have them done right at 24 months. FYI this time crunch is one reason that I prefer a 28 or 30 month guarruntee, but with that said any breeder worth thier salt will honour a pup slightly past the 26 month mark considering that they will not accept anything but an OFA past 24 months.

[3 black dogs]

Frank we get them done any time after 18 months. Rader was done at that age

Chris

[Misty Marsh]

They will not get an OFA number or certification untill 24 months and that is what I am assumming the breeder is looking for to fulfill the guaruntee?

[3 black dogs]

They will cert them OVC here in Canada at 18 months and there have been many problems with OFA certs where dogs are re xrayed and pass when resubmitted. 18 months is fine and OVC is just as good as OFA

[deb]

You can get them done at 18 months by OVC, but they only pass or fail. So if you want to have them graded you need to wait until s4 months to do OFA. If the gurantee is for 26 months I would think that would be from the time you picked up your puppy at approximately 2 months so that would give you until the puppy is 28 months to get them certified. Of course don't forget to allow for the slower turn over time with OFA. I think this winter it took me 5 weeks. I would think the breeder would still gurantee them as long as the exrays were taken prior to the gurantee time.
deb

[Lpgar]

I Penn hip X-rayed Karma at 5 months.....then waiting till 6 weeks after her heat after 24 months for her OFA.....It should be done either 6 weeks before or 6 weeks after a heat to be most accurate. OFA will allow another set submitted if the films were done inside the 6 week period but that adds to the cost. The Penn hip as much as ruled out displasia but does not give a recognized grading. She was purchased with just a 6 month Penn Hip no displasia guarentee.

Gar

[Misty Marsh]

Check with your breeder! You don't want to go with OVC for your breeder who obviously created thier guarruntee around a 24 month OFA cert to come back at you and say nice, but now go spend the money at OFA to fulfill your end of the conratct. Have always OFA'd, never had a problem although I have questioned thier findings from time to time, like the ability to get a grade than just a pass of fail, and OVC is not as widely used or recognised as OFA.

[crockett]

X2 on Misty Marsh's advice to check with the breeder. THe breeder where I got Ruby has VERY EXPLICIT requirements for exactly what X-rays and when, as well as who does them, so it would be a pity to waste your time and energy on the wrong thing and then have to do it all again later.
Cheers

[MAD MALLARD]

Thanks everyone,

I think I am a bit leary about what would happen if they came back poor anyways. Hard to argue that with a breeder that is on the other side of Canada. I think I am doing this more for my curiosity and to make myself feel better. One thing that I do know is I don't want him under sedation more than once.

[sterregold]

They do not need to be sedated to have their orthopaedic x-rays done. If you go to a vet who is experienced in taking evaluation x-rays they are able to get excellent positioning on the dog without it--probably better than your general practice vet can WITH sedation! Carol Graham in Hillsburgh does an excellent job, and is pretty darn good at predicting what the result will be as well--she has been bang on with every dog I have had done.

[waterfowler65]

They do not need to be sedated to have their orthopaedic x-rays done. If you go to a vet who is experienced in taking evaluation x-rays they are able to get excellent positioning on the dog without it--probably better than your general practice vet can WITH sedation! Carol Graham in Hillsburgh does an excellent job, and is pretty darn good at predicting what the result will be as well--she has been bang on with every dog I have had done.

I have to agree here with Shelly, Dr. Graham is realy good at her job...

Marc....

[Twentypaws]

Thanks everyone,

I think I am a bit leary about what would happen if they came back poor anyways. Hard to argue that with a breeder that is on the other side of Canada. I think I am doing this more for my curiosity and to make myself feel better. One thing that I do know is I don't want him under sedation more than once.

It appears you live in Niagara, only 1.5 hours away is Carol Graham at the Graham Animal Hospital; Dr. Graham will x ray your dog with NO sedation with your present and will almost immediately give you an idea of what the x rays are telling her then send them off to OFA on your behalf. Carol is one of the most experienced vets for this procedure. Phone number is 519 855 6439. Good luck.

[Twentypaws]

It appears you live in Niagara, only 1.5 hours away is Carol Graham at the Graham Animal Hospital; Dr. Graham will x ray your dog with NO sedation with your present and will almost immediately give you an idea of what the x rays are telling her then send them off to OFA on your behalf. Carol is one of the most experienced vets for this procedure. Phone number is 519 855 6439. Good luck.

Sorry, I should have said Dr Graham is in Hillsburgh, Ontario, about 20 kms north of Georgetown, on Trafalgar Road.

[Twentypaws]

I'm new to this so I may be repeating myself - with apologies.

You can get your dog x-rayed WITHOUT sedation at Dr. Carol Graham's Clinic in Hillsburgh, Ontario - about 20 kms north of Georgetown on Trafalgar Road.

Carol has a great deal of experience with this procedure and can tell you almost immediately what the dog's hips (and elbows for that matter) look like. The dog is never out of your sight; in fact you will be encouraged to participate in the procedure. She and her staff will send the x rays off to OFA on your behalf. I just had my dog x-rayed on 2nd April and I had the certificates from OFA by the end of the month.

Phone Number of Dr Graham's clinic is 519 855 6439.