OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) Certification:
OFA uses x-rays of your dog’s hips to screen for hip dysplasia at 2 years of age. These x-rays are reviewed by board-certified radiologists at OFA who will evaluate and grade your dog’s hips for certification. Correct positioning of your dog is essential for proper radiographic evaluation. Therefore, sedation is typically required to make the procedure less stressful and allow for better positioning.
PennHIP:
This method uses a series of x-rays of your dog’s hips using a specific method for evaluating hip dysplasia in dogs. This can be done as early as 16 weeks of age, which is earlier than OFA, and is more sensitive as well. It does require general anesthesia to allow for proper positioning to measure how loose the joints are and determine the presence or likelihood of osteoarthritis. If you are a breeder, this test can help you select better breeding candidates at a younger age and decrease the prevalence of hip dysplasia.
Please call us with any questions or for pricing.