My girl just began her heat. Has anyone ever done X rays while in heat?
I see OFA says to wait but I just would like to get them out of the way.
Any input appreciated.
I know some bitches will show subluxation during or near a heat cycle. Not all do. I normally time radiographs 2 months before or after a heat cycle.
Only once I did a Final OFA Xray right before my bitch came in. She was a beautiful mover but you never know just by movement.
She came back an OFA Good but the vet in later years did some horrible radiographs for myself and other breeders, labrador and other breeds. Perhaps she would have been an OFA Exc had someone else done the placement for the films or she might have had very mild subluxation due to her coming in less then a week after the radiograph. Third option is that was her true rating at any time.
If you're prepared to re-xray if the rating is below what you would like to see then go for it. If not, I would wait especially because there is nothing that sounds pressing.
I have done it. The ones I've re-done (because they were not good or because they were prelims) came back tighter when taken at another time. Changes in the bone will look exactly the same. I also did one 3 weeks after weaning the puppies and they were way out. I re-did them and they came back good.
If you decide to do them and they don't look good, re-do them; do not take that as the final say on the hips of your girl.
The hips are NOT more lax when a bitch is in heat! There's a reason that the canine pregnancy test measures levels of RELAXIN in the blood, which is only present when the bitch is pregnant! This is the hormone that causes laxity in joints. My repro vet has no problems xraying a bitch in heat - I've done it several times - Excellent hips each time!
I have to agree with most posters here. My girl came in season a week after the x-rays were taken and she came back Excellent Hips and Normal Elbows. Of course, I had an x-ray tech who knows what she is doing :)
