how do i get my golden retriever hip certified?

Question

is there a certain age they have to be and where would I go to get it done?

Answer 1

You can get x-rays on hips and elbows of your lab at any time. If the dog is before the age of 24 months you can send them off to the OFA for evaluation. They will send you a preliminary evaluation report on them. You will need to re= x-ray hips and elbows at the age of 24 months and send those off to OFA for final certification with them. The OFA sends the x-rays to 3 different radiologists across the country and they all come up with the final rating on the dogs hips and elbows. Look on the OFA page here about it. http://www.offa.org/

Answer 2

When the dog is 24 months, you go to the vet and have hip and elbow x-rays taken. You pay the vet and give them a check made out to OFA for their fee. The vet sends them off, and in about 2 weeks, you get the results in the mail. You either get a passing rating...fair,good,or excellent..and get a number. Or you get an evaluation of what degree of dysplasia the dog has or any other problems. The elbows either pass and are "normal", or they fail and they will tell you what they found to be wrong with them.

You can get the pre-lims done..anytime from 12 months on, and they are only read by the one vet and given a rating. You still have to have them done again at 24 months though. The fee for pre-lims is slightly less, but the vet probably charges the same since the same x-rays are taken. Anesthesia is also required.
Most ANY vet does OFA x-rays. Did you know that Goldens should also have their thyroid cleared through OFA also. That requires a blood test sent out. Goldens have a lot of thyroid problems. There is a heart problem in Goldens that is cleared also.....by a board certified Cardiologist.

Here is the data on Goldens..
http://www.offa.org/stats.html#breed

There is a LOT to do to clear the health of a dog!!!!

I have SEVERAL OFA excellent and also PennHip 90-96% cleared Newfoundlands. If it can be done in Newfs...it can be done in Labs!!!!! vivib does not have a clue.

Answer 3

They can be certified two ways in the US. Most common(and oldest) is OFA . The dog must be 24 months before certified with OFA, and most vet clinics are equiped to take the x-rays.
The other method is PennHip which can be done as early as16 weeks. It is a little more difficult to find a vet that is certified to do PennHip.

Oh,,, and my LAB is OFA excellent, and PennHip 90%
so vivib, you really have no idea about what you say.

Answer 4

If you are doing OFA certification then the dog needs to be 2 years old in order to be certified, if doing PennHip then the dog can be as young as 16 weeks. Most vets can do the x-rays that need to be sent in to OFA for reading and certification, only specially trained and certified vets can do the PennHip x-rays.
You need to contact your vet to see if they do OFA or PennHip if not you will need to check around for a vet that does.

Answer 5

At the age of 2, have your vet xray your dog's hips. Send the xrays with your application and the appropriate fee to OFA. They will rate your dog's hips and send you a certificate. Anyone can look up any dog's hip certification on OFA's web site.

Answer 6

If I'm not mistaken you have to pay a visit to your Vet. They will take x-rays and exam the dog. When in doubt call the Vet. or breeder where you got the dog.

Answer 7

Call a vet, I think it takes an x ray.

Answer 8

I wouldn't think any legit breeder or vet would give a lab a hip certification. Labs are known for hip problems as they age. No one can predict, no matter how purely bred your dog is that it will not have hip problems in the future. As far as I am concerned it is just a piece of paper that means diddly.