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Hip Dysplasia Scheme

Hip Dysplasia (HD) is a term which encompasses a number of specific developmental and other abnormalities involving the hip joint. Developmental changes come first and being related mainly to growth are known as primary changes. Others come later; these are related to wear and tear from usage and are termed secondary changes. The end result is that one or a pair of joints becomes mechanically unsound and therefore does not function properly. An unsound joint is usually a painful one and lameness will result. In extreme cases the dog may find movement very difficult and much suffering will be involved.

BVA/KC Hip Dysplasia Scheme

The current BVA/KC scoring scheme for hip dysplasia (HD) has been in operation since 1984 and since then over 250,000 X-rays have been assessed. Dysplasia means abnormal development, and the degree of hip dysplasia present is indicated by a score assigned to each hip. The hip score is the sum of the points awarded for each of nine aspects of the X-rays of both hip joints. The minimum hip score is 0 and the maximum is 106 (53 for each hip). The lower the score the less the degree of hip dysplasia present. An average (or mean) score is calculated for all breeds scored under the scheme, as is the median (or middle) score. Advice for breeders is to use only breeding stock with scores well below the breed mean score and ideally below the median.

The minimum age for hip scoring is one year, and each dog is only ever scored once under the scheme.

Breed Specific Statistics

The Breed Specific Statistics are the Breed Median (BM), Breed Mean Score (BMS) and rolling five year mean, which are calculated from the scoring records of each breed to give a representative overview of the HD status of the dogs scored in that breed. At the time the certificate is returned to the submitting veterinary surgeon, a copy of the current Breed Specific Statistics will be enclosed so that the veterinary surgeon may best advise his/her client regarding the dog’s suitability for breeding. The Breed Specific Statistics are also available on the BVA and Kennel Club websites

A link to the BVA site which will give you more details on how,why and what they are looking for:-  https://www.bva.co.uk/Canine-Health-Schemes/Hip-scheme/

Breed Information Taken from the KC Site :-

Dog Health Group report 2016

HIP SCORES BY BREED

Data Calculated to 01/01/17

The following is an annual summary that is now prepared for the BVA, covering all breeds, using data from the current approximated breeding population (data from dogs scored in the last 15 years only). By representing dogs scored in the last 15 years, a more accurate reflection of each breed’s current state of health and improvement is given. The 5-year median here refers to dogs scored between 1st January 2012 and 31st December 2016.

Previously mean has been denoted as Breed Mean Score (BMS), however to be in keeping with the most up to date BVA recommendations and reduce confusion, Mean and Median are now used.

By going onto the KC Site  you can type in any KC registered Field Spaniel and the  BVA Tests Results for that dog will appear  - you have to type the name exactly as the KC has it, this is a very useful tool and is ideal when choosing a Stud or Dam for a forthcoming litter or indeed for prospective puppy owners to check the parents BVA Scores.

Remember the Field Spaniel Mean (average ) is now 11.6 based on the current data and the Median (middle) is 10 - so you are ideally looking for dogs that are within these ranges or as near as possible to these.  It is also heartening to see that the Mean (average) has come down over the last few years from 14.3 to 11.6 so shows that we are indeed going in the right direction and doing the best for the breed!

Health Schemes