The incident rate in Siberians is fairly low – only around 2%, I believe. I’ve only ever had one case pop up in a dog we produced about 7 or 8 years ago, and I was more than surprised to see it, considering all of the relatives were either good or excellent. I wasn’t entirely convinced that the dysplasia wasn’t due to pulling too early, or very rough play with the dog’s companion (an older Siberian). I’d seen photos of the bigger dog dragging the affected dog around as a puppy by her hind legs. But, according to the owner, their vet claimed that it was hereditary. And it IS in the breed. I don’t have those lines, anymore. And I’ll admit – I still don’t worry about it a whole lot. I eventually get them all in for the OFA, but am not as diligent as I am with the eyes. Those get done annually, and sometimes twice a year.
The term hip dysplasia is common in many medium to large breed dogs. Basically, the ball of the hip does not fit properly into the socket. Early detection can occur between 4-9 months of age if noticeably irregular gait begins to occur. The OFA will rate X-rays obtained by a veterinarian on a scale ranging from Excellent to Dysplastic. Only dogs that have received a rating of Excellent or Good should be used for breeding. Environmental factors, such as injury and a lack of proper nutrition can affect this defect. The incidence rate in Siberians is relatively low comparatively, especially for those dogs descending from lines where hip screenings have been performed over generations. Surgeries are available for affected dogs, but with proper care, he may lead a complete and full life.
If you’ve got any background or experience with this defect, I’d love to know your thoughts on how it can be treated.
Thanks!