From: jeffp@wsuaix.csc.wsu.edu (Jeff Parke;S10000)
Subject: Re: puppy mills (and hip dysplasia, HD)
Organization: Washington State University
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 93 23:38:01 GMT

In article <1783@stake.DaytonOH.NCR.COM> mjohnson@stake.DaytonOH.NCR.COM (Marget Johnson) writes:
>
>In article <16B537440.CBARNES@tamvm1.tamu.edu> CBARNES@tamvm1.tamu.edu (Chris
>Barnes) writes:
>>In article <C0I99s.H9w@austin.ibm.com>
>>   repass@austin.ibm.com (Jim Repass) writes:
>>>As a responsible Newfoundland breeder I only guarantee puppies to be free
>>>from crippling hip displaysia for 1 year. Crippling means that the dog can't
>>>function. The OFA certification at 2 years is NOT part of the guarantee.
>>>The dog can fail the OFA and still be a happy, functioning animal. Of
>course,
>>>we don't breed dogs that don't get their OFA. To my knowledge, no one
>>>guarantees their puppies to be FREE from hip displaysia.
>> 
>Chris Barnes replies: 
>>I DO.  And everyone that I associate with that breeds does.  I think
>>you need to redefine what you think is a "responsible" breeder.  I
>>sure wouldn't buy a puppy from you with that kind of garantee.
>
>And Marget says:
>Then don't plan to buy a Newfoundland, Chris. I don't know of any Newf breeder
>that guarantees OFA certification (the only way to be assured that a dog is
>free of hip dysplasia) of a Newfoundland, when it is sold as a puppy. 
>....
>Of course, I'm sure Jim, like the rest of us, guarantees against crippling 
>hip dysplasia. And if the puppy was purchased for breeding potential, a 
>refund or replacement may be due. And of course there are the congenital heart
>problems that Newfs are plagued with we must   guarantee against. 

As a devoted Newf owner, I feel compelled to add that, IMO, hip dysplasia
is a disease that presents as signs of lameness, pain and rear-end
dysfunctionality.  Radiographs will usually confirm HD, but OFA certification
does *not* assure that even the given animal will be free of HD throughout
its life.  We only believe so strongly in OFA certification because,
imperfect as it is in telling us about the genetic makeup, it is the best
phenotypic measure of genotype we currently have.  Hopefully someone will
ssomeday get around to mapping all the genes involved with HD, but don't look
for that to happen soon.

Certainly a dog that is OFA excellent is less likely to have HD in its
life than one rated "good".  But paradoxically, some animals that cannot pass
OFA could enjoy a HD-free life if conditions were right.

HD is more likely in dogs that are physically stressed as puppies (and as
adults), and in dogs that are overweight.  Unfortunately, a lot of Newf
owners find it difficult or even undesirable to be able to feel their
dog's ribs easily. IMO, if just weight reduction were religiously
practiced, there'd be less clinical HD in the breed. 

Anyway, just wanted to say that OFA is a tool to improve breeds with
respect to HD, not a diagnostic laboratory.

-Jeff
---------------------
Jeff Parke <jeffp@vcs10.vetmed.wsu.edu>
also:   jeffp@WSUVM1.bitnet   AOL: JeffParke
Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine class of 1994
Pullman, WA  99164-7012

Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs