Yes. This is a breed prone to joint issues. If you compete, it can be useful information. I am glad I had my boys done.
I just learned yesterday that the hardcore performance folks (not hardcore as in semi-famous or even trainers, but those whose ultimate goal is to get all the obedience titles with perfect titles, and then some!) x-rays for their dogs -- I think I was told just the prelims -- for hips and elbows and probably other things. I do not recall the exact words. I'm also not sure what they do if the dog comes back with issues. Surgery? PT? Retirement? I suppose it depends on the severity?
So, that got me to thinking about my own performance dog. I actually was thinking of him anyway while looking at my budget and how much money I spend per month on lessons, classes, shows, matches, and seminars, as I was wondering if people insure their dogs like they do their performance horses? Anyway, this also go me to thinking if I should get prelims on him?
But, what would I do differently if we saw signs of dysplasia or something else? Obviously, if he were a great candidate for surgery, we'd look at those options. But if he wasn't then what? Would I stop putting time and money into him, retire him, and get a new performance dog? That's not really an option for me (or him, rather) because if I stopped working with him, he'd be a wreck and probably eat his feet off. And, he's not even two, so what would he do for the rest of his life? Also, two dogs is my limit (though I will take on three temporarily) as I don't have the time, space, or hands to deal with three large dogs long-term.
I guess if it was severe that would be another story... And, if I were a breeder this would be a different conversation on several levels.
I'm already aware that the likelihood of this dog performing into his teens is probably low. As a larger dog, I imagine he will age faster. Darn it.
So, if you had or have a performance dog in whatever area, and it's a hobby, albeit one you are very serious about (i.e., lots of time and money and passion) but not the way in which you earn a living and you're not a breeder, would you do it?
Yes. This is a breed prone to joint issues. If you compete, it can be useful information. I am glad I had my boys done.
Charlotte K. (03-22-2015)
We've thought about doing x-ray for Emma. We don't plan to do any high level stuff, but we do hike with her a lot and we started agility this year and she's loving it. IMO the cost is worth the peace of mind, that we have a solid foundation, and better find out when they're young to plan for the future if they have bad hips/elbows. .
Charlotte K. (03-22-2015)
I don't know if I would xray a non-breeding dog just because of dog sports, but then again, I don't do agility. Obedience, rally and hunting, and the jumps the dogs have to do aren't big and repetitive.
I also don't prelim any of my dogs because it doesn't help me to know any of that ahead of time. Naturally if the dog was showing signs of problems early on, I would seek a diagnosis and care for them accordingly (like our Maddy ended up with ED at 14 months, but got all her obedience and etc. titles after that). We keep the dogs no matter what, so if a show dog that I might want to breed later didn't pass OFA's at 2, I would just not breed them, and still have fun with them no matter what.
Jen
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It can help you target sports that might be preferable for the structural strengths and weaknesses of your dog. You can build up weak areas with targeted exercise, not just surgery. It can help you plan and know what is a physical weakness, not just a training issue.
Given how expensive training and trialing are, I do not see why one would NOT check, especially if one can do it without anesthesia OR at spay/ neuter time.
A friend adopted one of our rescue litter a few years ago. He is aging and knocking bars in agility. She knows he is mildly dysplastic in one hip. She has done physical therapy with him. She is considering dropping him to a preferred jump height so that he can safely go play agility longer. If she did not know his weakness, she might push on to no good result. The hip issue also makes sit stays bother him; she will stop at a UD, most likely. She will not go for a UDX, as he would have all those Open sit stays. This is a dog who needs a job, so she is tailoring his fun to his structure.
Both Mulder and Chloe were x-rayed at two, but that was because we knew we might want to breed them. If I had a dog where breeding wasn't a possibility, I'm not sure I would unless of course they were showing signs of a problem. I make a point of keeping my dogs lean and well-conditioned, so I'm not sure what else I could do if I suspected they *might* someday have an issue. Now, I have always gotten my dogs from reputable breeders who clear their breeding stock. If I were dealing with a dog of unknown background, like a rescue, where there might be a higher chance of a problem, I might consider it.
Annette
Cookie (HIT HC Jamrah's Legally Blonde, UDX, OM2, BN) 6/4/2015
Sassy (HIT Jamrah's Blonde Ambition, UDX, OM2, BN) 6/4/2015
Chloe (HIT HC OTCH Windsong's Femme Fatale, UDX4, OM6, RE) 6/7/2009
And remembering:
Scully (HC Coventry's Truth Is Out There, UD, TD, RN) 4/14/1996 - 6/30/2011
Mulder (Coventry's I Want To Believe, UD, RN, WC) 5/26/1999 - 4/22/2015
And our foster Jolie (Windsong's Genuine Risk, CDX) 5/26/1999 - 3/16/2014
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Keep them lean. Use a ramp to exit the bed of the truck or SUV. Swim the heck out them when at all possible. And did I mention, keep them lean?
I had a lab with significant dysplasia, who become a MH. As long as his back end was muscular from swimming, he was fine. He was a big guy but we always wanted to see that last rib. I think that's why he made it to 13 and had a pretty good working career.
I tend to agree with TuMicks. I do have a Lab with joint issues who is fairly active (not doing dog sports, but walking a decent mileage, fetching, etc). He is very lean and all muscle, and muscle is very important IMO. And my dog is almost 9.
Unless the dog has severe joint issues (and is in significant pain) I wouldn't give up a sport, especially if it's for a hobby.
Cookie Black Snowflake
July 12th, 2006. - May 25th, 2023.
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Annette47 (03-23-2015)
I went threw and did Hips and Elbows on Gage on his 2nd birthday and CERF (eyes) and EIC/CNM when he was younger. that was because I wanted to make sure he could handle all the stress of hunting and title work( field/hunt) plus I wanted to stud him out in the future but wanted to make sure he was a truely healthy betterment to
the breed.
My next pup will have his EIC/CNM clear threw parentage and CERF done at a young age. That way I know the pup will be ready and able for all the hunting and hunt tests I want to do.
Big one I do to keep him at his best and most limber, is feed him good quality food with salmon oil and supplements( hip/ joint).
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