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Recognising Hip Dysplasia in Gundogs

HIP Dysplasia is the most common cause of rear leg lameness in dogs. The highest incidence occurs in large-breed dogs, including St. Bernards, Newfoundlands, Rottweilers, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherd Dogs, Labrador Retrievers, and many others. Smaller breeds are also affected, but are less likely to show symptoms.

Hip dysplasia is a polygenic trait. That is, more than one gene controls the inheritance. Environmental factors such as diet are also involved. The hip is a ball-and-socket joint; the ball is the head of the femur and the socket is the acetabulum of the pelvis. In a dysplastic hip, the head of the femur fits loosely into a poorly developed, shallow acetabulum. Joint instability occurs as muscle development lags behind the rate of skeletal growth. As the stress of weight-bearing exceeds the strength limits of the supporting connective tissue and muscle, the joint becomes loose and unstable. This allows for free play of the femoral head in the acetabulum, which promotes abnormal wear and tear.

Feeding a very high-calorie diet to growing dogs can exacerbate a predisposition to hip dysplasia, because the rapid weight gain places increased stress on the hips. Being overweight supports the genetic potential for hip dysplasia, as well as other skeletal diseases. A diet with an imbalance of calcium and phosphorous is bad for bone development.

Another factor that can bring on the symptoms of hip dysplasia is inappropriate exercise during the period of rapid bone growth. Young dogs should be discouraged from jumping up and down from heights in situations where they land on their back legs (such as jumping up to catch a ball), and from standing up on their back legs (which dogs do when they stand up against a fence or window to get a better view). They should also avoid running on pavement.

Dogs with hip dysplasia are born with hips that appear normal but progressively undergo structural changes. The age of onset is 4 to 12 months. Affected puppies may show pain in the hip, walk with a limp or a swaying gait, bunny hop when running, and experience difficulty in the hindquarters when getting up. Pressing on the rump can cause the pelvis to drop. With the puppy on his back, the rear legs may not extend into the frog-leg position without causing pain.

An X-ray of the hips and pelvis is the only reliable way of determining whether a dog has hip dysplasia. Good X-rays require heavy sedation or anaesthesia. The standard view is taken with the dog lying on his back with his rear legs parallel and extended. The knees (stifles) are rotated internally. Care is taken to be sure the pelvis is not tilted.

Here at Working Gundogs we have all our Labrador Retriever breeding stock tested for Hip Dysplasia, the results can be found on the Kennel Club website under Health Checker.

FTCH Eastdale Harry x FTW Russlayne Bracken of Northglen

Labrador Retriever (working) Yellow and Black Pups

We have recently covered FTW Russlayne Bracken of Northglen (Poppy) with FTCH Eastdale Harry (Harry) and produced 7 Bitches and 3 Dogs ( 2 Yellow and 1 Black Dog, 2 Yellow and 5 Black Bitches), born 15th June 2014, will be ready 12th August 2014.

This is a repeat mating due the success back in June 2012, when she gave birth to 8 puppies.

For the benefit of future purchasers, we conducted a brief survey of all 8 purchasers back in June 2012, we received 7 out of 8 replies, which considering peoples attitudes to surveys, we thought was fantastic. The results can be found here (click to find survey results).

FTCH Eastdale Harry

FTCH Eastdale Harry is one of the best Retrievers in the UK, who has successfully qualified for the IGL retriever Championship on no less than 3 occasions, 2010, 2011 and 2012 gaining diploma's on 2 occasions in 2010 and 2012.

Post by Retriever Training.

FTW Russalyne Bracken of Northglen

FTW Russlayne Bracken of Northglen is a proven working Black Labrador Bitch with 14 Field Trial Awards to her credit winning 3 All Aged Field Trials and is also an Open Working Test Winner and is fully health tested. Details of Awards and health Test Results can be found here (Click for further information).

If you are interested in acquiring a well bred, highly intelligent, biddable Labrador Retriever Pup from fully health tested parents from an approved Kennel Club Assured Breeder, please complete the register via this link.

Scottish Field Trial Powers Revoked by Kennel Club

United Kingdom Kennel Club on the 11th June 2014, notified all Secretaries of Scottish Gundog Clubs and Field Trial Societies, that all future field trial draws will be conducted by the Kennel Club.

It has long been a discussion item north and south of the border, that Scottish field trial draws have been conducted under a different rules (or hidden rules), some may have been interfered with and some clubs make it public that if you Judge for a Scottish Club you will be guaranteed a run in the next season or a novice field trial.

Some Scottish Gundog Clubs and Societies/Associations will argue it is difficult to get Judges, if they do not guarantee a future run in a future field trial.

It's interesting this decision comes at a time when Scottish Independence will be decide upon later this year, and is bound to create a fury over social network sites as to why the Scottish have been single out for such treatment.

Officials presiding over such matters, have a difficult job during the shooting season, which is carried out on the minimal of expenses by volunteers, unfortunately their are a minority both north and south of the border who occupy these positions for their own personal benefit.

It is the writers view these issues will continue, until a better system of transparency is available for public examination.

The Kennel Club have invested heavily on reporting health information into the public domain, which has only come about because of a loss in integrity by those who are supposed to be acting in the best interest of the breed, lets hope its not too long before we all have access to all Judging Appointments and Awards granted throughout the field trial system.

More recently the Kennel Club announced its intention to create its own online Field Trial Management System, again this decision has only come about because private individuals are creating management and information systems, which were previously not available.