CANINE HIP DYSPLASIA STUDY:

Hip dysplasia in dogs is an inherited trait. Accurate diagnosis of hip dysplasia in young or immature dogs is difficult. Our research focuses on state-of-the-art molecular genetic technology in order to discover the genes and their mutations that cause hip dysplasia in dogs. To help us in this search, we need hip radiographs and DNA from dogs in order to precisely localize the chromosomal regions that harbor the contributing genes. The addition of your dog’s hip data and DNA to this data base is a private matter between you and Cornell, and you and your dog will not be identified by name in this data base.

Procedure: If you would like to schedule an appointment for either OFA radiographs or Penn Hip radiographs, please call the Cornell University Companion Animal Hospital at (607)253-3060 and ask to speak with Jill Egelhoff, the technician in charge of scheduling OFA’s. Jill will schedule your dog for an appointment. Your dog will be examined when it arrives to determine the safety of sedation for the radiographs. Assuming the dog is healthy, it will be sedated, the films will be taken and the dog will be recovered from its sedation. Generally, the owners will take a copy of the films to be sent to OFA or Penn Hip to be certified. Our clinicians can give a general opinion of the films, but it is not an official OFA reading.

Study Details: If you are interested in entering your dog in our study, we will draw a blood sample at the time of the radiographs to be used for DNA isolation. We will also make some measurements on the copy of the film that is kept in the hospital. The study will cover 50% of the cost of having the radiographs taken.


If you need more information, you may contact:

Jill S. Egelhoff, LVT
(607)253-3060
je56@cornell.edu

Rory J. Todhunter, BVSc, PhD
(607)253-3041
rjt2@cornell.edu

http://www.sheepdog.com/Todhunter/chd.html



Permission to reprint as submitted for educational purposes is given. 
Submitted by JP Yousha, Chair, H&W Committee, GDCA 2004.

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