Can HD be prevented?

[fairlight]

A question and a debate between my husband and I came up the other night.

We had Orson at PetSmart and we were looking in on one of Orson's mastiff mates from our meet ups. We had not seen this mastiff in a few months but wow, had this dog GROWN! At 9 months he was already 173 pounds. The dog was sitting not in a proper sit but with both legs Waaaaay out like a birds wings. The dog went to turn around but did not even raise his behind off the floor and with his front legs just swiveled his whole body and legs in a 180 and sat like that with legs in a straddle position all over again.

This pups father is one of the most shown mastiffs in the US and I am assuming that his OFA's have been right on target. I do not know the pups mother but I do know you had better have an excellent bitch in order to even think of having your dog receive the males semen.

Dh brought up in the car...."That's just not right, that dog is going to have severe hip or joint problems later on in life if the owner of this pup does not correct this dogs sitting habits."

What is your opinion on this?

[rutylr]

They say HD is genetic,but it can also come by the way the person brings up the puppy.
To fat to thin,to much exercize (over normal puppy playing).
The diet also comes into factor.
Is the dog crated 24/7.
Sitting wrong I really don't think is one of the issues.

[FourIsCompany]

B'asia has perfect hips and sits like that (wings flopped out). I actually think it's a sign that the hips are good. There's lots of nice ball and socket and the femoral head can rotate in any direction. Cara, on the other hand, sits off to one side, her hips being too painful to flop her wing out or to even sit properly.

I agree with rutylr that genetics, weight, food and proper exercise all add to the equation of HD.

Why the mastiff turned around like that is a mystery. Maybe he was just tired? Or if he's overweight or was fed a "large breed puppy food", perhaps he grew too fast?

[fairlight]

Originally Posted by rutylr

They say HD is genetic,but it can also come by the way the person brings up the puppy.
To fat to thin,to much exercize (over normal puppy playing).
The diet also comes into factor.
Is the dog crated 24/7.
Sitting wrong I really don't think is one of the issues.

I don't know Ruty. I may have to dispute you on this one. Dh and I were looking at a certain breeders female for our next prospective pup. The breeders male came back with an Excellent on his OFA. (You don't see many excellents when it comes to big dogs). Her female came from champion stock. Both parents of this female were CH, had good OFA's yet when the breeder took this particular female in for her OFA, the dog failed. As of now she will not breed this particular female.

I know this breeder, I know her dogs. I know where these dogs eat, sleep, play and no, her females are only crated during heat and these are cages that are the size for a gorilla.(All custom made).

In this females case it could not have been genetics. Could it?

[alimel]

Is this how the pup was sitting? Have to wonder if this is bad too.

[fairlight]

Originally Posted by alimel

Is this how the pup was sitting? Have to wonder if this is bad too.

No, but good try! The pup was sitting with his legs in almost a straddle position. Have you ever taken ballet? The dogs legs looked like they were in the first position. Here is a pic of first position.......Imagine the feet on this dancer as the dogs legs.

[alimel]

Originally Posted by fairlight

No, but good try! The pup was sitting with his legs in almost a straddle position. Have you ever taken ballet? The dogs legs looked like they were in the first position. Here is a pic of first position.......Imagine the feet on this dancer as the dogs legs.

Oh geesz, how did he even get into that position?

[fairlight]

Originally Posted by alimel

Oh geesz, how did he even get into that position?

I don't know!!!! That is why DH turned to me and said what the hel.l??? hahahahahaha!

[FourIsCompany]

Originally Posted by alimel

Is this how the pup was sitting? Have to wonder if this is bad too.

That's how Cara sits. She has HD.

[rutylr]

Originally Posted by fairlight

I don't know Ruty. I may have to dispute you on this one. Dh and I were looking at a certain breeders female for our next prospective pup. The breeders male came back with an Excellent on his OFA. (You don't see many excellents when it comes to big dogs). Her female came from champion stock. Both parents of this female were CH, had good OFA's yet when the breeder took this particular female in for her OFA, the dog failed. As of now she will not breed this particular female.

I know this breeder, I know her dogs. I know where these dogs eat, sleep, play and no, her females are only crated during heat and these are cages that are the size for a gorilla.(All custom made).

In this females case it could not have been genetics. Could it?

Yes,We have not been testing hips since the begininng of time.
OFA started in the late 1960's with the help of a Rottweiler breeder.Rottweilers have been tested since the late 1960's and you can still breed an X to an X and get HD.
Until there is a marker for HD breeding will always be a c**p shoot...