Okay, here's the scenario. Year old dog taken in for preliminaries. Both majors, great pedigree, Optigen clear, EIC clear, litter cleared at 8 weeks.

X-rays, not taken by specialist, are relatively straight but could be a touch straighter. Elbows look great (clean, congruity, etc); one hip looks decent - well set in the socket, maybe a smidge flatter than I'd prefer but ... the other hip looks about 50% out of the socket. No arthritic changes, shape of ball looks fine.

I was actually hoping to use him on my own bitch (wouldn't breed him to anyone outside until final OFAs ... my choice) but I'm not really comfortable with the idea now.

I doubt I'll hear back from OFA in time (what is the turnaround time anyhow) before I need to breed.

So, do I toss the baby or not?

Your situation sounds very familiar to mine. Same description of the hip joint. We got a score of moderate back from the OFA.

At what age did you do your x-ray? We did ours at eight months. The dogs breeder thinks it might improve but I have my doubts.

Since Dr. Keller does the prelim evaluations, you can call for the opinion as soon as the films have been processed (about 1 or 2 days after they are received). They are logged in and a digital image made (if it is a flat film) for actual evaluation. I have just gone through this on one we are planning to send to Australia and needed an opinion in order to start the paper work. Dr. Keller is really good to work with and will tell you his opinion as well as the reasoning for it.

Tough call. I don't know what I'd do but I think I'd wait at least until I got the "official" OFA results and if he's boarderline or mild AND has good hips behind him and your girl both, I might give it a shot if he's everything you want otherwise.

If I wasn't in love with the prelim x-rays even before the OFA opinion, I wouldn't use him. I'd wait and see what the permanent films look like.

I agree with Nancy... sorry
Since she is your girl, you can always do it on another season when you know for sure.

X-rays were couriered overnight today and they are digital on a disc.

If I were to call OFA to talk to Dr Keller when would you suggest I do this?

I've never bred a questionable dog in the past and I don't plan to in the future but I'm wondering where the scale tips. I'm one that believes in all available testing yet I'm told I'm not breeding a body part but rather the whole dog.

I would guess this question would be for those that don't do all available testing. Where do you make the moral decision to breed one dog and not another?

Please note I'm NOT trying to start an argument. I'm really suffering with this decision as I thought this boy was my future direction.

Thank you in advance for keeping emotions out of this discussion.

If they arrive at OFA tomorrow, they may not get into the system until Monday. I would call no earlier than Tuesday afternoon to see if they have been processed. I am sending another set (dog going to Thailand)tomorrow and figure I can get an opinion about Wednesday or Thursday.

Wouldn't you base your decision on the background, not just one OFA!

The other tricky part to your decison to breed your questionable boy to your girl is to figure out how to explain the breeding to all the families who you are interviewing for adoptions. I find many pet people have a hard time wrapping their minds around breeders breeding a dog who doesn't have official ofa hips and elbows no matter if you explain your reasons. Good luck on that one. I hope your boy passes his hips on his 24 month finals !!

You could try doing a PennHip right away. Some vets will tell you what they look like on the spot.

Also, if he is just 12 months - he could get a little better. Maybe try Cosequin tabs to try to build up what is there.

I don't think I would use him right away, without getting a verbal from OFA.

I would not use him without an official passing OFA reading. HOWEVER, I would also not throw him away just yet either.
I would wait for 24 month OFA results so long as there is no degenerative joint disease on his prelim eval (no matter what the grading) as DJD will not get better, subluxation may.
Good luck!

If you are using the boy on one of your own girls, then why not wait? She will come into season again...
I would wait and see what your final OFA reading is. Why breed a potentially bad problem...JMO.

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They shouldn't be. Since PennHIP is a calculated measurement it isn't something that is "eyeballed" at the vet office. PennHIP is very clear about this. ALL PennHIP films show some level of distraction- I cannot imagine how a vet is interpreting that without the measurements.

I for one don't see the rush in using a year old dog to begin with but if the prelims don't look great at that age no way i'd use him without any finals.