Terminology Question

[Kathy]

Twice today I've seen some terms used when discussing hip dysplasia in the larger dog breeds. One post here and one post on HT.
Can anyone explain what these terms mean; what do they do to the dogs to check for this condition?

PeNNHIPP or OFA certs

Thanks,

[bbird]

I don't know the difference. We got a OFA certificate today. That pretty much means a vet xrayed the hip and elbows and there was no sign of dysplasia.

I do know working with malamutes, ACD's that some vet's will give you a paper at 3 months but not a certificate. Could the paper be the other one you mentioned? I don't know, lol.

[starfire]

I don't know what PeNNHIPP or OFA certs means. I know I have a Boston Terrier, a small dog, and she has hip dysplasia. She take a 1/2 a pill for it everyday. When I take her for her yearly checkup the vet watches her walk. He will also take her leg and move it around so he can watch her hips move.

She is 9 now. She has had it since she was a puppy, that is why I had to train her not to jump esp. on people. Sometimes when she jumps on the couch or bed she would fall back on her hips and her leg would go out from under her. Now I have the pet steps and that is so much better on her. The steps is pricy but worth it to me because of her.

But, I didn't answer your question either.

[Deleted]

They are two different schools for the samer thing.

www.offa.org/

www.doindogs.com/pennhip2.shtml Is a good article on the comparison of the 2.

PennHIPP can be done earlier as it's a different test.

OFA has to be done after 2 yrs. If done earlier than that it means nothing as the joints are still growing and can still become diplastyc .

Both tests are done more regularly on large and giant breeds. Some breeders of smaller dogs use them when the breed tends to have joint problems.