Hip Dysplasia Evaluation

Hip Arthritis

Standard radiographs of the hips will diagnose the presence and extent of hip dysplasia. At Conrad Weiser Animal Hospital we can test your dog’s susceptibility to hip dysplasia, before it occurs, using the radiographic techniques developed by Penn HIP® and OFA®.

Penn HIP®

Pennhip Compression View

Studies have shown that dogs with looser hips (excessive hip laxity) are at a higher risk to develop hip dysplasia than dogs with tighter hips (minimal hip laxity). The Penn HIP® method is the “gold standard” for measuring hip laxity. Under heavy sedation, three radiographic views of the hips are taken. A routine extended leg view, a knees up with femoral heads into the sockets compression view, and a knees up with femoral heads distracted away from the sockets compression view.

Pennhip Distraction View

The radiographic films are sent to the Penn HIP® analysis center where a distraction index (DI) is calculated. The distraction index is an objective measure of hip laxity and this value can be used to help predict the susceptibility of your dog to developing future hip dysplasia.

Only certified veterinarians, who have passed a stringent training and testing regimen, are allowed to send radiographs to the Penn HIP® analysis center. At Conrad Weiser Animal Hospital, Dr. Mike Comalli is proud to be Penn Hip certified.

OFA®

Hip Extended Leg View

The Orthopedic Foundation of America® (OFA®) is a private non-profit foundation which formed a voluntary dysplasia control data-base in 1966. Your dog may or may not need to be sedated for this procedure. One radiographic view, with an extended leg version, is taken and sent to the OFA® for evaluation. Once there, a panel of board certified veterinary radiologists view the x-ray and assign a subjective classification of hip conformation.

The OFA® will either pass (no arthritis seen) or fail (arthritis seen) the hips. If the hips pass, they are assigned a conformational rating of excellent, good, fair, or borderline. An excellent rated hip should have a lower risk of developing hip dysplasia than a borderline rated hip. All veterinarians are allowed to submit a hip radiograph to the OFA®.

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