GRADING OF HIP DYSPLASIA IN SOUTH AFRICA

Grade 0 : No signs of hip dysplasia.
Grade I : Mild shallowing of acetabulum and flattening of femoral head.
Grade II : Moderate changes.
Grade III : Severe changes.
Grade IV : Very severe changes

Breeding from HD free dogs will not necessarily guarantee that their offspring will be HD free. An HD control programme in Sweden showed that:

Normal to Normal matings produced 18% dysplastic offspring.

Normal to Dysplastic matings produced 59% dysplastic offspring.

Dysplastic to Dysplastic matings produced 87% dysplastic offspring.

CONCLUSION

Since HD is caused by the genetic make-up of the parents, the only way to minimise the incidence of HD in puppies is to use breeding stock that is as HD-free as possible. Even this will not eliminate the incidence of HD, but can only reduce it. The owner of the puppy can, in turn, minimise the incidence of aggravating factors that would make things worse, especially during the pup's first year of growth.