Posted by Dave
on 11/5/2009, 11:14 pm
I am starting new thread on the subject of Hip Dysplasia. This thread is how to eliminate the undoubtably the biggest problem in the breed.
It is sad to me that a 50-60% hip dysplasia rate is acceptable. It is sad to me folks say such things hip dysplasia just happens. Yeah, hip dysplasia just happens, like gonorrhea just happens. Both are the direct consequence of ill-advised decisions. IMO both can be avoided with a little common sense and discretion. Living in Oregon I am sitting atop the hip dysplasia epicenter of the AB genepool: California. I don't how many ABs I have personally saw migrate up from California, usually descending from Sure-Grip blood, that are dysplastic. It is insane to me that very same blood is some of the most prolific in the breed. It is insane to me that breeders embrace the notion that because they breed off dogs with good hips, out of bloodlines that consistently throw a high percentage of bad ones, wishfully thinking that will make any positive impact on the overall percentage of hip dysplasia. So far it has not. I think the OFA percentage of dysplastic ABs was something like 57% fifteen years ago, and it something like 54% today. A modest improvement, that could easily be totally discounted by the fact that many AB breeders have become OFA savvy, and simply don't send in the x-rays when they are obviously bad. In any event, at that rate, it would take about a century to really make any noticeable improvement.
I have my own ideas how to erradicate the condition in the breed, but I am asking for others input. Any suggestions?
Please don't take offense that I mentioned Sure-Grip dogs, as some of it could be location. I also recognize that there are other probelms in the overall breed, and in my own strain of dogs as well that I am aware of, that need improvement. I am just addressing hip dysplasia because it is such debilitating and unfortunately defining breed characteristic.
Dave
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