Pet GSD hip / elbow scores?

I was just wondering whether you guys thought it was worth it for a pet gsd to have hip and elbow scores done if you have no intention of breeding?

Also how you go about it and at what sort of cost?

My girl is 6months now and a rescue, i dont know who bred her so I have no previous history or parental health checks to go on.

Id be interested to know but is it worth it? Its not going to change her health in the future should I just think 'well if it aint broke...'

Im presuming they have to be sedated for it too and as shes already neutered now so that would be another unnecessary risk to her health.

[Nash]

The growth plates close around 11-13 months age. We x-ray at 6-7 months then again at 12-14 months and sometimes again at 2+ years (the SV certifies at 12+month age, the OFA at 2+ year age). Breeding has nothing to do with it as it is just one factor (for breeding you need to consider temperament, drives and then joints), it is your personal decision. In my opinion it is good to know the hip/elbow condition of your dog, determines how you raise the pup and whether you need to limit certain activities.

[kita]

To be honest I would not want to put the dog through an unnecessary anaesthetic (let alone the cost to you). Plus you would have the mental trauma to her of going to the vets and going through the sedation etc.

If you knew her pedigree, then I might say do it for the breeders sake so that they know what they are producing, but seeing as you don't know her breeders that is not an option.

Even if you found out she had terrible hips on x-ray that still does not change much as regards treatment/rearing etc. Some dogs with really bad hips don't actually show any physical symptoms (I know I had one!) and they can live perfectly happily with the condition. My girl used to run flat out on the beach playing with my other two and go over pony jumps in the fields we walked. According to her x-ray she should not even be walking.

I would just treat her according to what you see - if she starts limping then go and get her checked out, if she is fine then go with that.

Like you say if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Sue

[wildmoor]

Mine are all what you term as 'pets' I score for my piece of mind, especialy ebows, it helps you to know what discipline you can do with your dogs, many with ED do not show any clinical signs but by not knowing then doing something like agility you can cause more damage as all the pressure goes onto the elbows. It also helps you with a management plan and you can prevent deterioration of joints, slow down the degenerative changes.
The BVA aslong as they are over 12 calander months (that can be as little as a couple of days) and you have some means of identification tattoo, chip or even the reg number at your vets the dog can be scored, it can be under sedation or GA.

[Chip Chesterfield III]

I don't see any upside, except maybe if you get really good results, you can boast about them.

But without the line info and scores for the ancestors it won't mean anything, just because a dog has good hips/elbows it's no guarantee it's offspring will have good hips etc.

Hell if all it's ancestors had great hips it's still no guarantee.

I wouldn't put him through the stress unless it was needed.

a