Hip Displaysia Question

[amyg]

I've heard a lot about hip displaysia, and how important hip testing is to be sure that the dog you are getting has the best chance of not getting it if the parents are tested & have good results. However I've also heard that besides the genetic component, there is also an environmental component that can contribute to hip displaysia - and that owners need to be very careful during the first 2 years of the puppy's life to be sure that it does not partake in activities that could injure the hips while it is still growing.

I'd like your feedback on how much you feel that hip displaysia can be minimized or prevented in otherwise healthy puppies, whose parents have good test results, by making sure the puppy doesn't do too much running, jumping, other strenuous activities while they are still growing, and for how long an owner must be so careful. Also, is it true that even if both parents have been tested & have good hips, that their puppy may not end up with good hips also?

[MaxandMe]

Amyg.......genetics is predictable to a point as there is always the 'roulette" chance just like 2 brown eyed parents can have a blue eyed child

Testing tries to ensure the breeding stock/dogs are of good to excellent health and of great temperament

NOW when puppies are young they can run and play with each other as that is a more natural.

strenuous exercise, jumping, jogging etc in the 1st year can put damage on hips, ligaments, tendons and bones thereby causing health problems later on
an overweight dog in the 1st year can also aid in health problems if not put on a diet

SO using common sense, reading up on puppies, even doing SEARCHES on this forum is a 1st step to aiding your puppy towards proper and healthy growth.

Hip diplaysia can happen to any dog but we dog owners can contribute to it if not taking care of a puppy in 1st year especially

Put it this way: a 1 to 2 even 3 year old child usually doesn't jog 3mi a day nor do gymanstics or ballet for 4 to 6hours either. they body is developing. NOW two parents in excellent health, well a child can still inherit a particular problem or if not raised right like wearing shoes too small that child can develop foot problems

[Doodlesville]

Extremely well put AnneMarie, ty so much

[Lori2147]

Originally Posted by Doodlesville

Extremely well put AnneMarie, ty so much

DITTO

[amyg]

Thanks for all your great advice. I do have a vet I took my old dog to, who I recently lost, for over 16 years and have a very good comfort level with her treatment and advice.

I've read a lot about how important a low protein diet is, but what percentage is considered low protein? Also, some people say to start feeding them regular dog food at around 7-8 mos, which confuses me, since shouldn't they still be getting puppy food if they are still a puppy? Also, the dog I'm getting is going to be medium size, about 40 - 55 lbs. - so does it still need a large-breed food, if it may not really be considered large?

[Doodlesville]

Oh AnneMarie, thank you so much for making that point about the food,
food and Suppliments are so important,,i used Nuvet vitamins , https://www.nuvetlabs.com/order/default ... 0%20%20%20

I have to say, Dylan My Chocolate Standard 2007 got a EXCELLENT rating from OFA , but I raised Dylan with LIMITED Excersise, no jumping, no stress on the bones and joints while he was maturing, he was given NUVET vitamins, and TOP quality food,

I had a golden that passed testing 2 yrs in a row, (under 2) i finally got around to ofaing him and he didnt pass on his rite hip,,why,,because he was jumping up on the feeder, dog house looking over the top of a 6ft kennel, he was always jumping, putting stress on those bones and joints while he was maturing, was that genetic,,i think not, since i had great vet readings for 2yrs, we would have seen a problem
NOT to mention i had sent in 2 xray to ofa, which came back fair, well i KNEW it was better i saw them myself, soo i sent back in another name (dog and mine) and it came back a excellent, another i did the same it came back a good, after several hundred dollars and total frustration i have come to the conclusion that its all in how the radiologist mood on any given day,, in fact for 2yrs my vet read my xrays , then i started redoing and sending in, recently i got the excellent on Dylan, surprised the heck outta me, you all probably heard me screaming where YOU are,,LOL needless to say Dylans OFA certification is framed,,i probably wont see another one as long as i have to lie,,LOL

xrays are only as good as the vet giving them and the radiologist reading them, proper nutrition protection of bones and joints as the dog matures is the only way to have a chance of having a great hips as a adult,
until there is a genetic test that determines hips ,,breeders are just that ,,not god, we all do the best we can ,with what we have to work with,,

Did you know that alot of breeders get hips read early,well when they dont pass a breeder will spay them,
then after the dog matures more say at 2yrs old they will pass certification,,this also can go the other way,

Ok i have rambled on long enough,,
i tried so hard to NOT get into this convo cause these types of topics often get out of hand
but things really need to be said , hope this is helpful to someone and can learn from my 30yrs in the dog industry,,

[MaxandMe]

I appreciate your input nancy

i am going to post some links that discusses JUST that

OFA and Penn hip and YES it is sooooooo dependent on the WAY they take the xray and then read them......they can get 3 different ratings from 3 different radiologists

I myself wish they could run blood work/DNA test etc
to see if a dog is a carrier, affected , or clear with LOW possibility of passing a recessive gene into offspring

there is a DLS xray in progress now for this????? but i can't get to the info

[Doodlesville]

You and me Both!!

In a perfect world,,LOL

[MaxandMe]

amy

http://www.offa.org/diseaseinfo.html (OFA)
and
http://www.thepetcenter.com/xra/ph.html (penn hip)

no one can say 100% a dog will NOT get HD

even excellent results on both parents doesn't guarantee
100% no HD.......but it does Ensure breeders are trying their
best to say they're using BEST possible parents to minimize and hopefully eliminate HD

OFA does prelim testing before 2yrs of age
penn hip done as early as 4mos

a dog though may show up one result now and different in 2yrs from now

so Ask yourself, what are you really looking for????
ME? i go for TEMPERAMENT always then health
as if the dog doesn't have teh temperament i want, then what good
is really good health and testing?

and your vet will tell if you dog food at 22% is high or moderate and so on
each dog is different in size, digestion, structure and so on

[Doodlesville]

GOSH AnneMarie,,you certainly are a wealth of INFO today
Keep em coming,,LOL your on a roll woman!!!

[MaxandMe]

nancy i have friends that breed
and an uncle that bred collies his whole life

also having pedigrees in past i tried to keep up with it
we have had friends that breed dogs other than doodles too.

In the past I figured that since i am NOT a breeder i had to keep my yap shut and just read/listen to you and others talking about certain subjects. and not let on about anything.
and just stuck to jokes and general info.


anyway, i love READING in-depth alot and a bit of a GEEK
( doesn't my computer degree automatically make me one? hahhaa)
anyway, genetics, quantum physics, analysis and solving puzzles are what i love to do and/or read and chart during my spare time to relax. hahaha
shhhhhhhhhhhh tho
Lastly, and also have a few late night blonde moments as it gives y'all some good laughs

[Doodlesville]

Well Personally I dont want you to keep you YAP shut,,LOL
I know i have learned tons from you, and we all need to share as much as we think we know, that way we can all digest it and possibly learn from info others have, i know i have changed my mind on things i have learned from others in the past, no all breeders, common sense is Much more useful then book learnin in my opinion :O)

[Maureen]

hey Nancy, who's the 'dalmatian-doodle' in your avatar?
what a cutie!

[Doodlesville]

Dalmation Doodle???
Bite your tongue,,
That my friend is a Aussiedoodle!!!!

[Maureen]

there ya go!!
I had suspected ....I forgot to add a after my question.

what a doll!