Companion Animal Welfare

Dog Hip Dysplasia: Breeding Reform Progress

How hip scoring programmes are reducing the prevalence of hip dysplasia in predisposed breeds.

Key Facts

Hip dysplasia causes chronic, painful osteoarthritis and is one of the most prevalent inherited conditions in dogs
BVA/KC Hip Scoring and similar schemes have reduced median hip scores in some breeds over decades
Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) for hips provide more accurate selection information than raw scores alone
Total hip replacement provides excellent welfare outcomes in severely affected dogs when owners can access it

Welfare Considerations

Hip dysplasia causes lifelong chronic pain for affected dogs, beginning often in the first two years of life. Breeding reform through rigorous, consistent hip scoring and EBV use can reduce disease prevalence - but only if breeders use data to select breeding stock, not as a box-ticking exercise.

What You Can Do

Only buy puppies from parents with hip scores below the breed median - ask for documentation
Support breed health surveys that track hip score trends over time
Advocate for mandatory hip scoring before KC registration of litters in high-risk breeds