Labrador owners

[barb1314]

Can someone please explain a hip score for a labrador.What is a good score and what is a bad? Also what is the eye test they must have when young? Many thanks for your help.

[showcatbenga]

Go here for the hip score leaflet.
http://www.bva.co.uk/public/chs/chs_hip.pdf
here for a list of sceenings that should be carried out.
http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/download/1100/ abshealthreqs.pdf
here for more info on eye tests.
http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/310

[lankeela]

The lower the hip score the better, i.e. 0 - 0 is perfect, and the worst possible score is 53 - 53 (total 106) but each hip is scored separately, so you could get an odd amount on each hip i.e., 3 - 19 (total 22). Each breed has an average score, above which you need to consider carefully whether it should be bred from. This varies depending on the number of dogs scored. There are many hundreds of Labs scored annually, so the average is a good guide. It is currently about 15 in total.
This site will give you a lot of information:

http://www.lab-health.co.uk/Tests/hips.htm

Eye testing is done at about 8 weeks and annually thereafter unless there is a particular problem in which case you might do it every six months or just before mating to make sure if it is something that can occur later in life or get progressively worse.

[lankeela]

This is the BVA list of average scores for all breeds scored:

http://www.bva.co.uk/public/chs/Breed_Mean_Sco res_-2008.pdf

[lankeela]

http://inpractice.bvapublications.com/cgi/repr int/30/1/2?ijkey=5.v6CrC2s49QI&keytype=ref&sit eid=bvajnls

For more info on eye diseases.

[barb1314]

What an amazing amount of info,thanks so much to you both showcatbenga and lankeela x

[lankeela]

Certainly is, and all done to prevent dogs suffering from diseases such as HD and eye problems, which is why puppy buyers should only buy from reputable breeders who carry out the necessary health checks. These tests are expensive and this is often reflected in the price of a puppy, basically you get what you pay for, i.e. buy a pedigree dog for �200 out of the free ads and the chances are either it or its parents will not have been tested. Pay a bit more, and be more likely to get a dog that lives a full and normal life. Things can still go wrong, but at least the breeder has tried to do their best to avoid any problems. Its like buying a car without registration and MOT, against buying one that has got MOT and been regularly serviced!