I know of a vet in Florence, but do y'all know of any other vet offices across the state that can certify labs hips/elbows? I live in Columbia.
I know of a vet in Florence, but do y'all know of any other vet offices across the state that can certify labs hips/elbows? I live in Columbia.
Law don't go round here Lawdog
Andy Suber should be able to.
HRCH DOC'S LIL LEGACY MH
Hell they all should be able to if they have an x-ray machine.
It taint rocket surgery.
Charles Hewitt in Florence is very good and will fill out all the paper work for you to send in.
.
80-20 Genaration
Rosemary Branson, Blythewood Animal Hosp. 7358004
BOB
It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.
Does beating your dog make you feel good about being a poor trainer?
ROFL @ Glenn
Any vet can do it (even Glenn). As long as the x-rays have proper exposure, good placement of the joints, you'll be fine. The vets themselves don't certify them, only take the x-rays which must then be submitted to OFA www.offa.org to be reviewed by 3 (I think) orthopedic specialists.You can also have the x-rays returned for about $5 more if you requst them back (if the vet doesn't have digital x-rays). I did for future reference before my vet got the digital.
Some vets will do them without sedation, but it's also noted on the submission forms of the sedation type or lack there of. I've been told that they take that into consideration when reviewing the x-rays. I had one that I went to prelim, did the first shot w/o sedation and the hips looked good, sedated to get "the shot" and they didn't look so good...the balls moved out of socket a good bit, def would NOT be a pass. My girl with excellent hips was so tight even with sedation that the vet said there was no way she could have even gotten her into proper position without it. She said that was the tightest hips she'd ever seen. This was at 5 years old when we had them done.
www.cedarswampretrievers.com
Labrador Retriever Puppies and Retriever Training
Standing at stud:
Cedar Swamp's Born to Boogie QAA (yellow)
Young's Trump Card at Cedar Swamp QAA (black carries chocolate)
Some of the "ladies":
Cedar Swamp's Linden JH
Cedar Swamp's Holy Terror SH
Claude Shumpert at Dutch Fork Animal did mine and they were fine.
HRCH Werts's Rusty Explorer "Drake" MH
What's the ideal age to have the hips checked?
24 months or older. Like to stay within the 24-36 month range.
Go to a vet that does the X-rays without sedation! I went to Florence to have my chessie hips done which is 1.5 hours from where I live bc the vet did not use sedation. You get a better picture that way as MsCedarSwampRetrievers mentioned. I believe a dog has to be atleast 24 months old to get a certification from the OFA . . . if xrays are done before then you don't get the actual certification you get a pre-lim review.
About 9 or so years ago, I think I actually had x-rays done and sent them to Dr. Hewitt in Florence to review.
All of mine have been done with sedation. IMO easier on the dogs and vets to get sood shots and positioning. IMO the one that looked "good" w/o would have been a false "good" due to the laxticity that was truely there. Moot point now since he's gone, but I'd rathe have a bad report and not breed them than a "good" report and throw bad hips.
www.cedarswampretrievers.com
Labrador Retriever Puppies and Retriever Training
Standing at stud:
Cedar Swamp's Born to Boogie QAA (yellow)
Young's Trump Card at Cedar Swamp QAA (black carries chocolate)
Some of the "ladies":
Cedar Swamp's Linden JH
Cedar Swamp's Holy Terror SH
Correct. I recommend sedation to get the best pictures possible. The positioning required by OFA is extremely uncomfortable and most dogs are not going to be still long enough in that position to get accurate films.
I've done them without sedation when the owner requested. But they paid for every film that had to be reshot because the dog flinched. That being said, with the right dog it is possible to get good films without it.
What you don't want is for the films to be kicked back for bad technique and poor positioning or for being blurry.
Last edited by Glenn; 03-31-2011 at 02:44 PM.
Make the trip to Florence. It's worth the extra mileage.
Professor
Carolina American Water Spaniels
UH HR GCH CH Carolina's Wild March Hare MH JHR RAE OA OAJ AF WDS CGC TDI (Bunny)
UH HRCH Carolina's Duck Gumbo MHA SHR RN WDS CGC TDI (Gumbo) HRC 1500 Point Club (RIP)
BISS HR GCH Carolina's Running With the Hare JHR SH WDX CGC TDI (Blew)
HRCH GCH CH Carolina's Tale of the Hare SH MHR WDX (Bea)
Carolina's Three Duck Limit (Rio)
Alright so we got the hip xrays for our female today. I showed up this morning and told the vet that she started her heat cycle last night. He said it would be fine and took the shots. Got home after work today and looked at the ofa website and they recommend not taking the xrays within a month of the heat cycle. The films look like her ball and socket are good but allowing for subluxation. This is the alleged concern with heat cycles. Should I send them in or wait and take them in a couple of months? Thanks for the help. I have them on the computer if it would help to see them.
Last edited by Island Hunter; 08-19-2011 at 10:07 PM.
As has been said, any vet can take the pictures, but Chuck Hewitt, in Florence (West Side Veterinary Clinic) is much less expensive than anyone else I've found. He generally does not have to put the dog under and still gets a good x-ray. Chuck has probably done more hip x-rays than anyone else in the State (maybe the Southeast....I know lot's of people from out of State who go to him).
Professor
Carolina American Water Spaniels
UH HR GCH CH Carolina's Wild March Hare MH JHR RAE OA OAJ AF WDS CGC TDI (Bunny)
UH HRCH Carolina's Duck Gumbo MHA SHR RN WDS CGC TDI (Gumbo) HRC 1500 Point Club (RIP)
BISS HR GCH Carolina's Running With the Hare JHR SH WDX CGC TDI (Blew)
HRCH GCH CH Carolina's Tale of the Hare SH MHR WDX (Bea)
Carolina's Three Duck Limit (Rio)
I know of two females that rated Excellent right at the start of their cycle, one of them mine. My big yellow female had just gone in when I had hers done as well, they're Good. As long as they look good, send them, have vet make a note just to be on the safe side should you need to resubmit if they're borderline and want to reshoot.
www.cedarswampretrievers.com
Labrador Retriever Puppies and Retriever Training
Standing at stud:
Cedar Swamp's Born to Boogie QAA (yellow)
Young's Trump Card at Cedar Swamp QAA (black carries chocolate)
Some of the "ladies":
Cedar Swamp's Linden JH
Cedar Swamp's Holy Terror SH
ps all of mine have been done with sedation. The vet said that the hips were so tight on the one that rated excellent that without the sedation she would have never been able to get her into position...it was hard enough with the sedation.
www.cedarswampretrievers.com
Labrador Retriever Puppies and Retriever Training
Standing at stud:
Cedar Swamp's Born to Boogie QAA (yellow)
Young's Trump Card at Cedar Swamp QAA (black carries chocolate)
Some of the "ladies":
Cedar Swamp's Linden JH
Cedar Swamp's Holy Terror SH
Best shot the vet gave us
Last edited by Island Hunter; 08-21-2011 at 08:56 PM.
Just can't find anything good or bad that looks like that shot.
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