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“Hip dysplasia” is a disease which refers to a structural defect or
weakness in the joint where the “ball” on the end of the thigh bone fits
into the “socket” of the pelvis.
Ideally, there is a deep seated ball (femoral head) which fits tightly into a well-formed socket (acetabulum) with minimal joint space, resulting in almost complete coverage of the socket over the ball. Devitations from this ideal “fit” can result in pain, arthritis, crippling or early death, depending on the severity of the defect and other factors like environment, weight and exercise, and symptoms will vary widely among dogs. Testing for hip dysplasia has become a valuable tool for breeders to help reduce the incidence of hip dysplasia in the puppies they produce and in the breed overall. Hip evaluations should be performed on BOTH sire and dam prior to breeding. In the United States, two agencies are considered qualified to evaluate hips.
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Elbow Dysplasia is a general term used to identify an inherited
polygenic disease in the elbow of dogs.
The term “polygenic” means that many genes act together to cause the disease. Three specific defects are screened for on radiographs (x-rays) of elbows. As with hip dysplasia, the severity of symptoms will vary with environment, weight and exercise and individual dogs may or may not reflect actual severity of the defects themselves. Elbow evaluations should be performed on BOTH sire and dame prior to breeding.
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The
patella, or kneecap, is part of the stifle joint (knee). In patellar
luxation, the kneecap luxates, or pops out of place, either in a medial
or lateral position.
According to OFA, patellar luxation should be considered an inherited disease which can result in incorrect gait, degenerative joint disease and pain. Simple examination of the patella for luxation is performed by a veterinarian who reports findings to OFA which records results on its registry and issues a certificate to the dog’s owner. Patella exams should be performed on BOTH the sire and the dam prior to breeding.
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