Final OFA films on Thursday

[RedyreRotties]

Penny goes in for her 24 months OFA evaluation on Thursday. I'll be having hips and elbows done.

At 12 months she had normal (Good) hips, and one elbow Grade 1 DJD. I expect no change at 24 months.

It's still a stressful and anxious time while you are waiting for official results to return from OFA.

Good thoughts appreciated.

[BabyElephant]

Sorry if I missed this somewhere - are you going to be breeding Penny? What happens when they do OFA (ie do they sedate the dog)? How long will it take for you to get the results back? What will happen if the results aren't as you expect? I'm just curious as to how it all works!

Anyway I hope it goes well for Penny on Thursday.

[RedyreRotties]

Originally Posted by BabyElephant

Sorry if I missed this somewhere - are you going to be breeding Penny? What happens when they do OFA (ie do they sedate the dog)? How long will it take for you to get the results back? What will happen if the results aren't as you expect? I'm just curious as to how it all works!

Anyway I hope it goes well for Penny on Thursday.

See this thread under breeding about my plans for her.

http://www.prodoggroomingsupplies.co...ad.php?t=21516

There will be no sedation. I travel several hours to get to this vet who does a great job with no anesthesia.

Results should be available in about 3 weeks. It might take them longer to get it up on OFA's website.

http://www.offa.org/display.html?appnum=1176411#animal

If she falls to grade 2 in elbows, or does not receive a normal hip rating I will not breed her.

She is also due for another eye screening, and I will do thyroid screening as well before she goes to the stud dog, perhaps in November.

[BabyElephant]

OK, thanks for the link to the thread & OFA website

Now I have a question on the eye screening? What do they test for and how do they carry out the test? Is that something that is done at the vets as well?

Do you ask the stud dog owner for copies of his health tests and do you send copies of Penny's test to him?

I think the whole issue of test for dogs that are going to be bred is very interesting - there are so many people who don't even bother. I met somebody the other day who really didn't have a clue and was just going to breed for the money

[RedyreRotties]

Originally Posted by BabyElephant

OK, thanks for the link to the thread & OFA website

Now I have a question on the eye screening? What do they test for and how do they carry out the test? Is that something that is done at the vets as well?

Do you ask the stud dog owner for copies of his health tests and do you send copies of Penny's test to him?

I think the whole issue of test for dogs that are going to be bred is very interesting - there are so many people who don't even bother. I met somebody the other day who really didn't have a clue and was just going to breed for the money

The eye test can be done at the vets office, but often I run across clinics at dogs shows where the same tests are done at a reduced rate. I think the last test I had done was about $30.00, and it was at a dog show.

They use a magnifier to look at the lens, and a split lamp to view the retina. They check for any inherited abnormalities of the eye, from the exterior conformation of the eye lids, to the cornea, lens, and retina.

One of the means of selection I used for stud dogs was what health testing they have had done that is on record at the OFA. I would not consider any dog who did not have verified testing and results on hips, elbows, eyes, and heart.

Most stud dog owners want the same from the girls that come to their dogs.

[ESlover]

well I hope it goes well. My girl is almost 2 so time to do hips and elbows on her as well. gotta get the money together and find a great vet for exrays.

ok here is where I need to research. what are the different levels on the elbows?

[RedyreRotties]

ESL, there is one grade for normal. It's just normal.

Abnormal elbows can be grade 1, 2, or 3. They can be Degenerative Joint Disease, or there can be other anomalies noted such as Osteochondritis Dessicans, Fragmented Coronoid Process, or Ununited Anconeal Process.

I did a MOUNTAIN of research on ED, particularly the statistics in my breed, when Penny came back with one elbow Grade 1 on her prelims. With the current average percentage dogs who appear affected on radiographs submitted to the OFA for screening approaching 40% in Rottweilers, most experts in Orthopedics and pedigree stats agree that arbitrarily eliminating ALL these animals from the gene pool may not be prudent.

At this time, no breeding organization worldwide excludes Rottweilers with Grade 1 elbows from their breeding programs. Not even countries that RIGOROUSLY control breeding, such as Germany and Sweden for example.

You can find more information about ED and the OFA's thoughts on it here, on their website.

http://www.offa.org/edanswers.html

[ESlover]

wow great info. Thanks. good luck, once again. I hope all goes well. I know it's nerve racking.

[RedyreRotties]

ESL, you can find a bit more on my thought processes on using a bitch who will almost certainly be graded with one elbow DJD grade on in the thread under breeding titled Planning a Breeding.

My primary goal in this breeding is to get a bitch with normal elbows to continue with.

[BabyElephant]

Redyre - thanks for the info on the tests - I guess it's just like the sort of eye test that we humans have!

Hopefully the worry will all be over this time next month