From: janicki@gblaut.enet.dec.com (Victoria Janicki)
Subject: Re: OFA - Is it worth appealing?
Keywords: OFA hip dysplasia health x-ray
Reply-To: janicki@tuxedo.enet.dec.com
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation, Littleton,MA
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 18:24:40 GMT



In article <BzCyDz.2to1@austin.ibm.com>, lance@hartmann.austin.ibm.com (Lance Hartmann) writes:

|>I would like to hear from the experiences of others who have dealt
|>with the OFA (Orthopedic Foundation of Animals).  What follows is
|>our current situation.
|>
|>We have a beautiful, finished Standard Schnauzer bitch.  We were very
|>much looking forward to breeding her soon and as such had her hips
|>x-ray'd.  We then sent the x-rays to OFA for their approval.  I cannot
|>begin to express how surprised we were when we received failing results --
|>mildly dysplastic.
|>
|>After recovering from shock a few months later, we learned that we
|>could submit x-rays to OFA for a 2nd chance.  Recently, we once
|>again received bad news.
|>
|>"Gracie" is a beautiful dog.  One of the things judges always comment
|>on is her excellent MOVEMENT.  Watching her run and jump in the backyard
|>removes any speculation of possible dysplasia.  We've had two separate
|>veterinarians (both experienced with doing x-rays for OFA) from different
|>offices do the x-rays.  BOTH vets stated that her hips looked great!
|>BOTH vets also commented that the hips FELT great too when they moved
|>them around for the x-rays.  Gracie's breeder and other breeders who have
|>seen the x-rays are also confused as to the OFA's decision.
|>
|>Now I certainly am not going to claim any wonderful experience at
|>canine radiology, but I have seen several x-rays showing hip dysplasia
|>and none of them look ANYTHING like Gracie's.  Her x-rays look great;
|>the balls of her hip bones are nicely shaped and fit perfectly in the
|>sockets.
|>
|>I would like to state that my first and foremost concern is 
|>the health of Gracie.  I pray that she never becomes dysplastic.
|>Secondly, since Gracie is such a beautiful dog and excellent specimen
|>of the breed, we would like to continue her line.  Currently, however,
|>we have shelved all thoughts of breeding her.  We are very distressed.
|>
|>At least one of the vets who did the x-rays is going to call the OFA
|>and try to discuss with them their decisions.  Interestingly, both vets
|>have seen not-so-great hips which have passed!  We just may have to live
|>with OFA's decision, but we cannot leave their analysis unquestioned
|>since everyone else (here) seems to believe they look fine.  It may
|>very well turn out to be that our untrained eyes just aren't seeing
|>something which is a valid concern.  I pray that is not the case.
|>
|>I am very interested in hearing from anyone else out here who has
|>gone through anything similar, or who has any info, in general, about OFA.
|>Is it worth appealing to OFA?  Does the OFA consider themselves the be-all
|>of dogdom?  Does the OFA adopt an "attitude" for questioning them?  Or,
|>are they quite "humble" and open to discussion?
|>
|>Many thanks to all in advance!
|>Lance Hartmann (lance%hartmann.austin.ibm.com@ibmpa.awdpa.ibm.com)
|>               Yes, that IS a '%' (percent sign) in my network address.
|>------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|>All statements, comments, opinions, etc. herein reflect those of the author
|>and shall NOT be miscontrued as those of IBM or anyone else for that matter.
|>

Lance,

I sympathize with your situation. It is one everyone who gets into
breeding faces at one time or another. You have the beautiful dog and you
do all the right things including the medical clearances and -SMACK-
something doesn't come up quite right. 

The vet I have used for OFA xrays regularly calls the OFA and discusses
results - especially when the results come back very different from what
this vet expected. (Dr. Hank does alot of OFA xrays for breeders). Whenever
this happens the following points always seem to come up:

(1) The xrays are randomly assigned to 3 radiologists from a group of
(I think) 20 or so who have obtained their certification from the AVMA.
These vets know how to read xrays. The local vets (even Dr. Hank) do not
see the number of xrays these radiologists do. The fact that you appealed
and got the same result, most likely means that 6 radiologists looked at
the xrays. Each radiologists (independent of the others) returns a rating
and the ratings are averaged. In order to get a dysplastic rating, at
least 2 of the radiologists have say the hips looks dysplastic.

One of my dogs went OFA Good, yet when a orthopedic vet looked at some
xrays (because of a suspected back problem), he wouldn't even rate them
as "Fair". My other dog also went Good, but we only thought his xrays were
fair. My breeder had a dog that went Fair while the rest of the litter
went Good. She (and Dr. Hank) thought those dog's xrays were Excellent.

(2) The OFA looks at a number of variables when assessing X-Rays besides
how well-seated the ball joint is. They also look at how smooth the socket
is and how cup shaped it is as well as some angles of the bones.

(3) A number of factors can influence the xrays. Did you take the xrays
right before, after or during your dog's heat cycle? Many bitches get
very "loose" at this time which will show up as laxity in the xray.

(4) The xrays are compared to xrays of other members of a particular breed.
German Shepherd hips are not compared to Greyhound hips, but compared to
the breed as a whole. So even if you look at pictures from other breeds,
it is hard to tell what your individual dog would rate.

Many, many dogs that are rated "Borderline" or "Mild" never show any
sign of problems during their lives. Those that do, tend to have other
problems and/or are very sensitive to discomfort. I suspect that you will
never see a problem in your dog as long as she is kept a trim weight and
in good physical shape and that even if you didn't you'd never see a problem.
It is not common that substantial changes in hips occur after 2 years of
age. 

I just want to say that you should not be distressed about the quality of
your dog's life in the future. I believe you are correct in shelving
plans of breeding her until this is sorted out. A friend of mine had
a borderline bitch who has never had a problem with her hips (she's 8).
I have known many borderline and mild rated German Shepherds who have
not had any problems to date. Only the severe dysplastic dogs are facing
quality of life issues.




--
Victoria Janicki
Digital Equipment Corporation
Littleton,MA
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