Why PennHIP over OFA?
The purchase of a retriever from CPR, or any other reputable and ethical breeder, is a serious, and expensive endeavor. This is not a decisions that should be made without deliberation and forethought.
When one asks the question, “Why do we do it this way?” And the answer provided is, “Because we have always done it that way.” One should be concerned!
OFA was the “go-to” standard in the middle of last century. But in the 1990’s, the University of Pennsylvania, Veterinary School developed a more accurate, and less subjective examination and certification for the identification of the probability of future hip dysplasia in canines. This new examination is known as PennHIP (The University of Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program).
A prospective purchaser of a puppy should identify and request a consultation with a Veterinarian that conducts both the Orthopedic Foundation of America (OFA) and PennHIP examinations, in an effort to obtain an unbiased opinion as to the reliability and effectiveness of the both of the examination. Then, armed with that information, make the determination as to which test you would want utilized on the parents of the puppy you are about to purchase for a lifelong addition to your family.
Below are links to peer reviewed, published, scientific studies. These studies are prepared by some of the finest names in Veterinarian Medicine research.
Please click on the associated underlined link to review the information contained in these studies.
PennHIP, The Objective Measure: Why do we use PennHIP?
The PennHIP method is an objective measure while OFA hip test is subjective (a radiologist’s opinion in the moment).
Evaluation of the relationship between Orthopedic Foundation for Animals' hip joint scores and PennHIP distraction index values in dogs.
Dogs judged as phenotypically normal by the OFA harbored clinically important passive hip joint laxity as determined via distraction radiography. Results suggested that OFA scoring of HE radiographs underestimated susceptibility to osteoarthritis in dogs, which may impede progress in reducing or eliminating hip dysplasia through breeding.
Genetic Control of Canine Hip Dysplasia
What About Spaying Or Neutering?
When do we suggest you spay or neuter your puppy? We encourage our puppy families to read scientific studies to educate themselves and make the best decision for their family. We do not require our families to spay or neuter their dog. The study revealed that, for all five diseases analyzed, the disease rates were significantly higher in both males and females that were neutered either early or late compared with intact (non-neutered) dogs."
Understanding the Coefficient of Inbreeding:
If you have ever seen references to the Coefficient of Inbreeding (COI), and wondered what was this all about? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions.
The Dog Owner’s Guide - The PennHip method of diagnosing hip dysplasia
In 1983, Dr. Gail Smith, an orthopedic surgeon at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, began researching early diagnosis of CHD. Through his work, he has created the PennHip method for measuring joint laxity (looseness) the primary cause of degenerative joint disease.
PennHIP more than “complementary” to FCI hip screening method:
All EMDs in the FCI grade “A” grouping were shown to have hip laxity by PennHIP distraction index to be greater than 0·3, the biological threshold above which hips are at risk for later development of osteoarthritis (OA) of CHD. We found similar results in our study of OFA hip scoring in the USA. Of the dogs given the best hip score, “OFA Excellent”, 56 per cent were found to have hip laxity greater than 0·3 and thus at risk for OA (Fordyce and others 2000).
Dysplasia and Osteoarthritis in Dog Elbows Graded 0 and 1
The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) screens elbow radiographs, and assigns grades 0-3… The incidence of dysplasia based on CT was 62% in grade 0, and 75% in grade 1 elbows, all of which had medial coronoid disease.
Genetic improvement of hip-extended scores in 3 breeds of guide dogs using estimated breeding values: Notable progress but more improvement is needed
Seeing Eye Dog Involved In >10,000 Dog Pennhip Study. “Among 116 GRs evaluated in generation 8, mean DI decreased to 0.40.” Compare this to the international mean of 0.54.
The purchase of a retriever from CPR, or any other reputable and ethical breeder, is a serious, and expensive endeavor. This is not a decisions that should be made without deliberation and forethought.
When one asks the question, “Why do we do it this way?” And the answer provided is, “Because we have always done it that way.” One should be concerned!
OFA was the “go-to” standard in the middle of last century. But in the 1990’s, the University of Pennsylvania, Veterinary School developed a more accurate, and less subjective examination and certification for the identification of the probability of future hip dysplasia in canines. This new examination is known as PennHIP (The University of Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program).
A prospective purchaser of a puppy should identify and request a consultation with a Veterinarian that conducts both the Orthopedic Foundation of America (OFA) and PennHIP examinations, in an effort to obtain an unbiased opinion as to the reliability and effectiveness of the both of the examination. Then, armed with that information, make the determination as to which test you would want utilized on the parents of the puppy you are about to purchase for a lifelong addition to your family.
Below are links to peer reviewed, published, scientific studies. These studies are prepared by some of the finest names in Veterinarian Medicine research.
Please click on the associated underlined link to review the information contained in these studies.
PennHIP, The Objective Measure: Why do we use PennHIP?
The PennHIP method is an objective measure while OFA hip test is subjective (a radiologist’s opinion in the moment).
Evaluation of the relationship between Orthopedic Foundation for Animals' hip joint scores and PennHIP distraction index values in dogs.
Dogs judged as phenotypically normal by the OFA harbored clinically important passive hip joint laxity as determined via distraction radiography. Results suggested that OFA scoring of HE radiographs underestimated susceptibility to osteoarthritis in dogs, which may impede progress in reducing or eliminating hip dysplasia through breeding.
Genetic Control of Canine Hip Dysplasia
- Presently, breeding animals are chosen based on individual animals (mass selection), leading to slow genetic change.
- To effectively reduce the incidence of canine hip dysplasia, the hip phenotype screening test must have heritability values that are significant enough to lead to genetic change when applied.
- A moderate selection process for tight hips should be chosen by breeders to avoid the problems of inbreeding and extreme selection.
What About Spaying Or Neutering?
When do we suggest you spay or neuter your puppy? We encourage our puppy families to read scientific studies to educate themselves and make the best decision for their family. We do not require our families to spay or neuter their dog. The study revealed that, for all five diseases analyzed, the disease rates were significantly higher in both males and females that were neutered either early or late compared with intact (non-neutered) dogs."
Understanding the Coefficient of Inbreeding:
If you have ever seen references to the Coefficient of Inbreeding (COI), and wondered what was this all about? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions.
The Dog Owner’s Guide - The PennHip method of diagnosing hip dysplasia
In 1983, Dr. Gail Smith, an orthopedic surgeon at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, began researching early diagnosis of CHD. Through his work, he has created the PennHip method for measuring joint laxity (looseness) the primary cause of degenerative joint disease.
PennHIP more than “complementary” to FCI hip screening method:
All EMDs in the FCI grade “A” grouping were shown to have hip laxity by PennHIP distraction index to be greater than 0·3, the biological threshold above which hips are at risk for later development of osteoarthritis (OA) of CHD. We found similar results in our study of OFA hip scoring in the USA. Of the dogs given the best hip score, “OFA Excellent”, 56 per cent were found to have hip laxity greater than 0·3 and thus at risk for OA (Fordyce and others 2000).
Dysplasia and Osteoarthritis in Dog Elbows Graded 0 and 1
The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) screens elbow radiographs, and assigns grades 0-3… The incidence of dysplasia based on CT was 62% in grade 0, and 75% in grade 1 elbows, all of which had medial coronoid disease.
Genetic improvement of hip-extended scores in 3 breeds of guide dogs using estimated breeding values: Notable progress but more improvement is needed
Seeing Eye Dog Involved In >10,000 Dog Pennhip Study. “Among 116 GRs evaluated in generation 8, mean DI decreased to 0.40.” Compare this to the international mean of 0.54.