Having hips checked?

[Dignity]

I'm just looking to the future. I would like to have Denali and Loki's hips (and probably elbows) looked at for future to see if I should start saving up for hip replacement and treatment. I don't need them to get certified because I'm not showing/breeding them - I just want a general idea. Is a regular vet able to give me the low-down on my dogs hips? I'd probably wait until their checkup next May to have anything done - so this is almost a year to go. I guess these are all my current questions:

1) Is my regular vet able to tell me what shape the hips are in and if I can expect problems in the future from the x-rays? (I know nothing is a 100% for sure, but I'd rather know.)
2) I know my dogs would have to be sedated to have their hips checked - is it worth it?
3) Would it be worth it to just go forward and have the hips certified even though my dogs are not show dogs or going to be bred?
4) Any other helpful hints/words that will help me make my decision in the future?

[RedyreRotties]

Originally Posted by Dignity

I'm just looking to the future. I would like to have Denali and Loki's hips (and probably elbows) looked at for future to see if I should start saving up for hip replacement and treatment. I don't need them to get certified because I'm not showing/breeding them - I just want a general idea. Is a regular vet able to give me the low-down on my dogs hips? I'd probably wait until their checkup next May to have anything done - so this is almost a year to go. I guess these are all my current questions:

1) Is my regular vet able to tell me what shape the hips are in and if I can expect problems in the future from the x-rays? (I know nothing is a 100% for sure, but I'd rather know.)
2) I know my dogs would have to be sedated to have their hips checked - is it worth it?
3) Would it be worth it to just go forward and have the hips certified even though my dogs are not show dogs or going to be bred?
4) Any other helpful hints/words that will help me make my decision in the future?

1) Probably. However, I would look around for a vet who does a lot of films for the OFA if I were you. Experience with positioning makes for better films and easier and more accurate evaluation of hip status.

2) Actually, no they don't. I travel for a couple of hours to a vet who does hip and elbow films with NO anesthesia. Not only is it much safer (obviously), it's fast, no recovery time, and I have had very good results. Check around, talk to people who show dogs in your area, esp. breeds that ALWAYS do hips, like Rottweilers, GSDs, ACDs, etc.

3) yes, in my opinion, it is. It's easy to do elbows at the same time, and make sure you have it done in a manner so you can send to OFA for evaluation. Once you do this, your results are entered into the data base for whatever breed the dog is. In this way you contribute to the health the future of your breed whether you are breeding or not, because you put information out there for others to use when making breeding decisions.