I had my female's hips and elbows x-rayed today and the vet said he thinks they probably will not pass one of the elbows. Has anyone else had a vet say this yet the results proved different? I'm just prepared for the bad news, I guess. And by the way, how long does it take to get OFA reports back? Thanks

When I had one of my boys elbows done my vet said,
you see that one spot right there? It may not pass because of that. I thought oh great.
His elbows passed. I think it was his untrained eye.
He admitted he does more hips than elbows.

Good Luck,
Donna

yes, I have had my vet tell me not to bother sending the hip x-rays on one bitch as he didn't think they were that good, they came back excellent, have had the same thing happen with elbows as well. The vet I use is very good at what he does but he isn't an expert at reading x-rays.

I would recommend taking the films to a board certified radiologist for evaluation before submitting them to OFA.....JMO

Do you mean, by this advice, that you do not send x-rays in to be scored, to OFA, if the vet says they look bad or real bad?

Europe..

this might be the meaning, as many ppl DO NOT submit x-rays they think won't pass.

IF they did then the comparison/rating would change for everyone and those that are now considered border line or below might very well go a rating higher. Same with elbows, IMHO!!!

Does this make sense to anyone else out there?

I would go ahead and submit them anyway. I've had a board cert. radiologist do x-rays, tell me they didn't look good, and I sent them in anyways. OFA certified the dog.........

I have had my Vet call only one wrong in years. When he said I don't think the elbow will pass he was right and he like your vet is not the best with elbows. I would send them in just so you will know for sure. We do look to OFA for clearances. We also, all know that half are not sent in if we even think, they look like they won't pass. Think we all know this.

the vet said he thinks they probably will not pass one of the elbows. Has anyone else had a vet say this yet the results proved different?

Yep. I was told that my dog wouldn't pass hips or elbows and should be immediately neutered.

Thank doG I showed the films to my own vet as part of the pre-neuter consultation. The positioning and quality of the films were horrendous.

Everything turned out just fine.

Submit xrays before you put all your faith into what you are being told.

I had orthopedic specialists tell me that elbow xrays didn't look good and show the area of concern. Given all sorts of sympathy by the specialist and was convincing that surgery was required. When the xrays were submitted the dog certified.

Puppies limping from what turned out to be bad cases of pano, xrayed elbows, was told that it was elbow issue's, pointed out area's of concern on xrays and told surgery could help the problem. Submitted xrays and all passed.

I've had it go both ways. Dogs that board certified radiologists said looked perfect come back with a bad elbow from OFA and dogs that board certified radiologists say looked bad come back with a passing.

I'd go ahead and send it in.

Thanks for responses to my original post. After thinking overnite, the only thing that would really change if my girl didn't pass is that I would not breed her, but I can still show her and see if she can get her CH as she is half way there. Since I'm not a professional breeder anyway, perhaps it's for the best as I've never bred a litter but do enjoy the sport of dog shows. Just because I don't breed her doesn't mean she can't be in the breed ring--right?

If she has a Grade 1 elbow there is no reason why you cannot breed her. Look at the big picture. Once again, we do not breed hips and elbows, we breed dogs, and do not double up on the negative !

The puppy buying public is getting more knowledgeable about clearances and breeding healthy dogs. How do you explain to them why you used a phenotypically "unhealthy" dog to produce puppies?

I realize we'll never eradicate joint ailments from our breed but isn't the point of doing clearances, and thereby breeding clear dogs, one of our "jobs" as a breeder and, therefore, trustee of the breed?

I KNOW we don't just breed the joints but I still can't understand why the whole dog isn't taken into consideration for a breeding, not just how it looks.

Actually I am of the mindset that if you have a dog that fails OFA's and can't be bred that there is NO REASON to show, as showing is an evaluation of breeding stock. Yes, you can boost the numbers to make a major at shows, but it's really not fair to those who are trying to get points for their dogs with the intentions of proving THEIR breeding stock. If you still have the burning desire to compete, do Rally or OB, you can still title your dog, but it doesn't take away from those who have physically SOUND dogs.

I submitted hip and elbow x-rays for one of my dogs on Sept. 10 and the ratings came back on Oct. 4 and I got my certificates in the mail on Oct. 9 so it took about a month to get it all sorted out.

I had a deliver confirmation on the x-rays and it said they were delivered to OFA on Sept. 14. So it took a week for the x-rays to get to OFA once I mailed them.

My breeder had OFAs done on one of her dogs and it took a month to get those results as well.

Replying to taking away someone else's chance to put points on their soound dog that can be bred, that is an interesting point and one of the reaasons for people to post questions on the forum--to get points of view from lots of people. But one thing I always wonder about is why people keep putting a dog that already has a CH title in small all-breed shows when it would be fun for winners dog or bitch to have a better chance to go into the group ring. I can see specialty shows, but not the small all-breed shows. Is that a crazy thought?

Sounds like a statement coming directly from the owner of dog with bad elbows

I think you need to look at WHy it didn't pass, such as known injury.

No, I would not just go ahead and breed any dog with a bad elbow...depends on what's behind it.

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Replying to:

If she has a Grade 1 elbow there is no reason why you cannot breed her. Look at the big picture. Once again, we do not breed hips and elbows, we breed dogs, and do not double up on the negative !

You go right ahead and show her, especially since she is half way there. Just don't spay her till she's finished.
Let us know when you finish her.

Donna

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Replying to:

Thanks for responses to my original post. After thinking overnite, the only thing that would really change if my girl didn't pass is that I would not breed her, but I can still show her and see if she can get her CH as she is half way there. Since I'm not a professional breeder anyway, perhaps it's for the best as I've never bred a litter but do enjoy the sport of dog shows. Just because I don't breed her doesn't mean she can't be in the breed ring--right?

Well, boy, I must be real off base here.
I understand the breed ring is for breeding stock, but imagine, someone who really enjoys the sport of showing dogs. Not everyone in the ring should be expected to have a litter. I hate to think someone would think they would have to breed to be able to show.
JMO

Donna

I agree Donna. Show the dog if you want to. Not all dogs being shown should be bred and who cares what someone else is showing? If you enjoy showing, then show the dog.

I totally agree -- if you enjoy showing your dogs, then there is nothing wrong with it. I, personally, finish my dogs because I enjoy it - not because I'm big into breeding them. I breed one of my finished labs only when I want another one to show - and I don't feel the least bit guilty about it. I've been in this hobby for years, and there's a lot of champions out there that shouldn't be bred, and a lot of labs that never finished that should be bred.

Just enjoy your labs.