BVS has developed a mobile radiology facility designed to offer services at dog show venues. This has eliminated the need for clients to drive great distances to locate a veterinarian taking OFA x-rays without anesthesia or sedation. We are also certified to take Penn Hip x-rays and provide this service at dog shows as well. The latter requires general anesthesia so they are always taken at the end of the day after all OFA x-rays are finished. This allows us to give our full attention to anesthetized patients.
Hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, Legg-Calve-Perthes disease and Osteochondritis Dissicans (OCD) are common genetic problems that require xrays to diagnose. Certification by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) or Penn Hip are routine procedures. The great majority of veterinarians require general anesthesia to take these x-rays. Although it is required for Penn Hip films, and it may help with positioning for OFA films allowing less radiation exposure of the staff, it is not required by the OFA. It is not uncommon for animals to appear to have hip joint laxity (one of the hallmarks and early signs of hip dysplasia) under anesthesia and tight hips without it. In our practice it is common to have patients come to us after having been told their pet’s hips were dysplastic when taken with anesthesia and when retaken without are found to have normal hip conformation that pass OFA certification.
Contrary to some opinions, we are not finding that the incidence of clinical and radiographic signs of hip dysplasia when taken without sedation is any higher than the incidence in the population that pass OFA with the use of anesthesia. Clients will often drive great distances to find veterinarians who are willing to perform this simple procedure without having to leave their pets at the veterinary hospital for a full day. Although modern anesthesia is very safe, it has it’s own set of risks, and costs.
Most veterinarians prefer not having the pet’s owner present during the procedure. It is our belief that pets are easier to position when their owners are in the room to calm and support them. It is rare for a complete set of high quality hip and elbow xrays to require more than 10 minutes to complete.
With direct digital technology, there is no film. The image appears within 6 seconds of exposure while the pet is still positioned on the table. It takes no more than a glance at a monitor next to the table to know what is needed to correct positioning and retake the image.
A-Stamp/SV/WUSV/GSDCA/USCA:
How to go about getting SV certification can be confusing. For a detailed history of the companies that provide this, click on the following links:
WUSV history
USCA history
GSDCA history (this one is an email string describing these entities)
BVS offers SV certification (A-stamp) xrays via 2 different methods. USCA and GSDCA. These are distinct entities with different requirements and prices. You must decide which club (USCA or GSDCA) you want and enter this choice into our appointment request form. You will also be required to submit paperwork to the GSDCA or USCA by using the links below.
We submit GSDCA/SV images through VetXl. It requires 3 images for Hip dysplasia, Elbow dysplasia and LUW (LTV lumbar transitional vertebra). If elbow OCD certification is requested, 2 additional views are needed. For instructions of how to submit paperwork for these xrays to GSDCA/SV, CLICK HERE. THEN CLICK ON XRAY GUIDELINES NEW 011923
USCA submission is done directly with the USCA. It requires 6 images for Hip dysplasia, Elbow dysplasia, and LUW(LTV). No additional views are needed for elbow OCD. Because there are more xrays needed, the cost is higher than it is for GSDCA/VetsXl. For instructions on how to contact the USCA to submit paperwork to the USCA for these xrays, CLICK HERE
For more information about Canine Hip Dysplasia, Elbow Dysplasia, Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease and Osteochondritis Dissicans go to www.offa.org.
