Dog Orthopedic Breeding Reforms: Reducing Inherited Joint Disease Through Genetics

Hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and other inherited orthopedic conditions cause widespread suffering in pedigree dogs. Breeding programmes informed by health screening can dramatically reduce prevalence.

Key Facts

Hip dysplasia affects an estimated 15 to 20 per cent of Labrador retrievers and German shepherds in some populations
Elbow dysplasia causes lameness in young dogs and is the most common cause of forelimb lameness in large breeds
Hip and elbow scoring schemes have been operated by kennel clubs and veterinary organisations for decades
Breeders who select above-breed-average scoring parents have progressively reduced hip dysplasia prevalence in some breeds
Whole genome sequencing approaches are enabling identification of specific genetic variants associated with orthopedic risk
Breeding regulations mandating minimum health screening scores before registration are in place in some countries
The economic and welfare costs of orthopedic disease are enormous, with complex surgery costing thousands of pounds per affected dog

Welfare Considerations

Inherited orthopedic conditions cause chronic, often severe pain that significantly impairs quality of life from a young age in affected dogs. The welfare tragedy is that these conditions are substantially heritable and therefore preventable through informed breeding decisions. Hip and elbow scoring schemes have demonstrated that consistent selection for improved scores progressively reduces disease prevalence within breeds, but progress requires participation rates among breeders high enough to create selection pressure. Mandatory health testing requirements before kennel club registration represent the most effective policy tool for ensuring minimum standards, but voluntary compliance and educated consumer demand for health-tested puppies also drive improvement. Genetic testing advances that identify high-risk breeding combinations before puppies are conceived represent the next frontier in preventing this widespread welfare harm.

What You Can Do

Purchase puppies only from breeders who health screen for breed-appropriate orthopedic conditions
Ask to see both parents' hip and elbow scores before purchasing from breeds at risk
Support kennel club policies that require minimum health scores for registration of breeding stock
Advocate for mandatory health screening requirements in your country's dog breeding legislation
Support research into genomic markers for orthopedic disease to enable more precise breeding decisions