Hip Dysplasia
Canine Hip Dysplasia is the dislocation of the hip joint, it occurs when the head of the femur (thigh bone) does not properly fit into the cup socket at the base of the hip bone known as the acetabulum, which has formed too shallow. CHD can either be congenital or caused by contusion. The poor fit eventually results in the deterioration of the joint, with painful and possibly crippling results.

A licenced veterinarian should x-ray the hips on all breeding stock and submit the results to the Orthopedic foundation for Animals ( OFA), or PennHIP.

For best x-ray results and for the safety of all dogs, it is best to have the x-ray performed without anesthetics. Please seek out a veterinarian who is experienced in providing x-rays for this purpose. 

OFA radiographs require your dog be at least 2 years old to receive perminent certification.

PennHIP may be performed on dogs as young as 4 months but must be completed by a PennHIP trained orthopedic veterinarian.

CHD is inherited polygenically, the best prevention for this is to only breed dogs who have been certified free of CHD.  
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