From: sla54@cas.org ()
Subject: Re: Why choose a male dog? +help
Organization: Chemical Abstracts Service, Columbus, Ohio
Date: Fri, 31 Jul 1992 18:28:33 GMT

In article <1992Jul31.115700.16101@hemlock.cray.com> dadams@cray.com writes:
>
>
>There is no history of displasia in the lines.  I do not know which
>members have been certified OFA, but the bitch has not.  This is
>due to the philosopy of the owner.  Aparently to be x-rayed the
>dog needs to be sedated (something I never realized) and there
>is some risk involved.  I can respect this view, but x-raying for
>displasia is important to me.  I guess I just have to weigh this.
>I suppose I could ask to see the registration papers and note which
>ancestors are certified OFA.
>

I wonder how the breeder can claim that there is no history of dysplasia
when the mother of the puppies was never x-rayed?

I also disagree that sedation is required for hip x-rays. I've had four golden
retrievers x-rayed, and of these four retrievers, three of them required no
"chemical restraint" what so ever, and the fourth one only received a
short-acting muscle relaxant. I submitted x-rays of three of these dogs to OFA
and the rating was "Good", so obviously the quality of the x-rays was adequate
for evaluation! Many vets these days only use sedation for taking hip x-rays
of very hyper or aggresive dogs.

Your idea of checking the pedigree for OFA numbers is a good one. Dr. Corley
(the director of OFA) has given talks on hip dysplasia stressing that because
the mode of inheritance for hip dysplasia is a complicated one, its important to
know about the hip status of the relatives. A pedigree with grandparents, great
grandparents, etc. with OFA numbers is a good start. Additional useful
information would be the status of the hips of the littermates of the sire and
dam. For example, a dam with a rating of OFA "Fair" and having all littermates
with OFA-certifiable hips would be a better "risk" than a dam with an OFA rating
of "Excellent" and having all dysplastic littermates.


>The pups are female.  I know this poses no quandry to many dog owners,
>but personally I have a greater hesitation to have a female spayed than
>to have a male neutered.  Why you ask?
>
>This has to do with my philosophy about breeding:  (Warning philosophy
>follows)
>

I'm afraid that your breeding philosophy is a bit too much for my poor brain to
comprehend on a FRIDAY afternoon, but I would like to add that there are some
very good reasons to spay a beloved female companion dog: (1) spaying before
the first heat seems to drop the chances of one's bitch getting mammary gland
cancer to very, very low levels and (2) spaying elimates the possibility of
getting uterine or ovarian cancer. I don't doubt that your calculations are
based on logical assumptions, but for the average pet owner, cancer preventation
is more important than theoretical calculations.

Good luck with finding a really great puppy!

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Sandra Augustine   | Home of: Remington of North Woods CDX, WC
NORWOOD KENNELS    |          CH Laurell's Golden Gate CDX, WC (Reg. with TDI)
ems: sla54@cas.org |          CH Delmar's Trivial Pursuit CD, WC (Reg. with TDI)
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	       The above opinions are not those of my employer.
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