tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239047282330766117.post5969888165118608278..comments2022-11-07T23:16:24.689+11:00Comments on Downunder Assistance Dog: Assistance dog equipment plans progressing, and some car trainingLyssahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00287170057646655092noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239047282330766117.post-70041029742728633532012-06-06T09:55:12.120+10:002012-06-06T09:55:12.120+10:00OFA and PennHip are both US tests, although PennHi...OFA and PennHip are both US tests, although PennHip is offered in a few scattered clinics internationally. By a wild stroke of luck my own vet offers it, so it is an option for me. Australia uses the hip score system as developed by the British Veterinary Association, so you usually see the system called the BVA system. It rates 9 parts of the hip, giving the hip a score from 0 to 53, giving a total of 106. You'll see a score of like 0:2 in an excellent dog. Knightley's parents were both under 5, which I believe is OFA E, loosely translated. In fact, most of his grandparents, and great-grandparents were as low as that too. I was very picky in my choice. BVA is normally considered superior to the OFA system. <br /><br />I wasn't thinking of going ahead with x-rays until he was a year old as that is when BVA x-rays are usually done, unless the vet encourages it. I do like the PennHip system a lot but was going to only fork over the money for PennHip (even more expensive here as so very rare) if his results were middling, around the 10:8 (18) range, which is very slightly worse than average here in Aus for a GR.<br /><br />I just really hope there is nothing wrong. I just don't know what I would do if he was dysplastic. Sigh!Lyssahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00287170057646655092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5239047282330766117.post-55147408991060733822012-06-06T07:05:35.280+10:002012-06-06T07:05:35.280+10:00The best test for hip stability is the PennHip. I...The best test for hip stability is the PennHip. It is measures hip laxity which is the thing that has to do with hip instability."Hip joint laxity is the most important risk factor for the development of osteoarthritis. In other words, the amount of laxity or looseness in a hip joint is related to the chance that a hip will develop OA: the looser the hip, the greater the risk" It is reliable even for puppies as young as 16 weeks. It is more expensive, and lots of clinics don't offer it. OFA is less expensive, but after reading a lot about both tests--we chose the PennHip for Shai. I am a physical therapist, so the information on PennHip website made sense to use this type of a test for my best tool with Shai.<br /><br />http://research.vet.upenn.edu/Default.aspx?alias=research.vet.upenn.edu/pennhipPatty Aguirrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04594011115852527691noreply@blogger.com