Companion Animals

Companion Dog Hip Dysplasia Breeding Screening

Hip dysplasia screening programmes reduce the prevalence of this painful joint disease in predisposed breeds through selective breeding.

Key Facts

Hip dysplasia is heritable and among the most common causes of hindlimb lameness in large breeds
BVA/KC Hip Dysplasia Scheme provides breed-specific scores for breeding selection
Using only lower-scoring dogs for breeding reduces population prevalence over generations
Exercise management in puppyhood reduces environmental contribution to dysplasia development

Welfare Considerations

Hip dysplasia causes chronic progressive pain and mobility limitation. Breeding from unscreened dogs perpetuates preventable suffering. Population-level improvement through screening programmes protects future generations of dogs from this welfare-compromising condition.

What You Can Do

Only breed from dogs with hip scores below the breed mean
Ensure puppies from hip-dysplasia-prone breeds are purchased from health-tested parents
Manage puppy exercise carefully - avoid forced exercise before skeletal maturity