Elbow Dysplaysia
In the USA, dogs are tested for Elbow
Dysplasia by the OFA. There is a scheme in the UK too which is run by the
KC/BVA, but to date, no ASD’s have been tested on this scheme. Again, it
involves the dog being sedated, and three x-rays taken, one of the ‘extended
lateral’ (side view), one of the ‘flexed lateral’ (side view) and one of
the cranio-caudal’ (front view). The x-ray plates are then submitted in the
same way as the hip x-rays, and scored by a panel of BVA/KC Elbow Dysplasia
Scrutineers. The scoring is
slightly different, with grades of 0 to 3 given for each elbow, as with hips,
the lower the score the better, with 0 being excellent, and 3 being poor. A certificate with the full results is returned to the owner,
and the results recorded on the dogs registration records permanently.
Again, the KC/BVA recommend that breeders select their breeding stock, dogs and bitches, with the lowest possible scores. Hopefully, ASD’s owners and breeders in the U.K will begin to take advantage of this scheme, not only to ensure they are breeding from their healthiest stock, but also, to gather as much information on the health of our breed, and to further the genetic research into hereditary diseases in our breed.
