We provide radiological services to assess the health of breeding animals. The two tests that we can perform are OFA and PennHIP.
OFA
The orthopedic foundation for animals provides various gradings and databases on the different systems in a dog. There are also multiple DNA tests that they can perform to determine if genes for certain genetic diseases are present. These grades and tests help to determine the health of a dog for breeding purposes. While there are several different tests and gradings that are provided by OFA, there are only a few that we offer, and the remaining ones, we recommend visiting a specialist for evaluation and submission.
The diseases that we can perform the diagnostics for screenings are hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, basic cardiac screening, and thyroid testing. Per OFA guidelines, Hip and Elbow screenings are done at 2 years of age or older, and the basic cardiac and thyroid test is done at 1 year of age or older. Screenings can be done prior to these ages, but are considered preliminary, and are not given an OFA registration number until they have reached the appropriate age and the test has been completed again at that age.
As OFA grades can change as the dog ages, it is recommended that the dog be screened multiple times throughout its life. OFA hip and elbow results are reported as Excellent, Good, Fair, Poor, or Dysplastic.
PennHip
PennHIP is a radiological diagnostic tool for evaluating hips in dogs and determining the likelihood they will develop hip dysplasia in the future. PennHIP testing is accurate in puppies as young as 16 weeks of age. It gives an estimate of the risk for painful osteoarthritis of canine hip dysplasia later in life. For breeding dogs, early detection of at-risk hips can allow the breeder to make early, informed decisions as to which dogs to keep in breeding programs. PenHIPP results are reported as a percentile of the distraction index compared to all other dogs of the same breed that have been tested.
PennHIP requires special training of veterinarians to be able to perform the radiographs that are required to submit for the testing. Dr. Lewis is certified to perform and submit PennHIP images.
The PennHIP scoring system does not change through the life of the pet, and therefore only needs to be performed a single time in the life of the pet. While OFA does not require sedation, unless the pet is not being still enough to get the quality of images required, PennHIP does require sedation.
If you would like more information about either of these testing procedures, please call our office at 918-481-1693.
If you want to schedule an appointment, you can also call the office or click on the button below to request an appointment.
You can also refer to the websites of each service for more detailed information.
Following are links to the forms that are required prior to completing the imaging or testing.
For the OFA testing, to register in the database, you will have to provide credit card information at the bottom of each form. This is paid for by the owner of the pet, and not by the veterinary hospital. Please be sure to add this information, or we can not submit the paperwork for registration.
OFA Paperwork
OFA Hip and/or Elbow
OFA Thyroid
OFA Basic Cardiac
Sedation Release Form – Sedation is not required for OFA, but sometimes needed to get the best radiographs for submission, we will call you before we sedate should it be needed, but please still fill out the form in case it is needed.
PennHIP Paperwork
PennHIP Form
Sedation Release Form – Sedation is required to complete the proper radiographs for PennHIP submission.