hip scores and heart tests??????

[newfie owner]

hi,
  over here in the UK we get the bitch and dog hip scored before mating,also get the dog heart tested,is that what happens over in other countries....j ust wondered.
 we were lucky with molly as both her parents have a combined hip score of just 5! whether or not mollys hip score will be low then we don't know.only time will tell.how important are these things in your countries?? 

regards debi and ste      

[mynameislola]

Our Newfie's parents were both heart and hip tested, as were their pups.  He arrived at ten weeks with rickets from not being fed correctly and developed bilateral luxated patellas, both grade three, from the deformity of his leg bones. 

His hips and heart are fine.

[newfie owner]

oh wot a shame,thanks for replying.we dont know much about that condition,is it serious?

[Sillygoose]

How to answer your question of: How important are these things in your countries?  They are very important for ethical, moral and upstanding breeders.  Unfortunately, they are a minority.  This country is dripping with back yard breeders and puppy mills, they crank out puppies like a production line.

That is so true. And the sad thing is these pups end up in shelters and or put down because they have serious health issues.

[newfie owner]

  l know what you mean,over here when you get a newfie from a breeder that is with kennel club,they put endorsements on the papers,which means they will only lift the ensorsment when a suitable mate is found,in other words if the male has a high hip score and other things wrong in the bloodline then they keep the endorsement on.plus if the bitch has a high hip score then you are not allowed to breed from her.

[sarnewfie]

hips scores, wow dont get me started on this.
i am of the opinion that it is well and good to score them, but, remember, it is still a crap shoot,
many will say things should be done X way
well in giant breeds i have yet to see any proof that only breeding cleared produces clear.
it doesnt and it is decieving to think that it will.
it is not fair to new owners to walk away thinking their dog will be healthy becouse the parents were.
We still do NOT know how polygenic and what is contributing to less than perfect hips.
and for that matter.
dogs that clear are never xrayed at six or seven.
how do we know that ALL dogs to some point will suffer degenerative joint disease just as us humans do
there is to much unknown for me to jump on the bandwagon of doing things and belieiving what everyone else does.
instead i educate my people that out of a litter of nine pups the AVERAGE is that half will ofa and the other half may not.
doesnt mean they are crippled.
it just means they wont be perfect.
and with the gluc chond that can be kept in check so it does not become worse.
i gotta git to work ......

[newfie owner]

okay,thanks.just wondered how it was done in other countries.love your newfies,think they are so bear like and cute hhaa