Hip Displaysia

There are many factors that can contribute to HD, but just as fortunate, there are many things that breeders and owners can do to help greatly diminish the risks – proving effective. Before we get into the things you can do to help prevent this disease, please know, we have spent many hours, days, weeks, months, and years researching HD. We have spoken with veterinarians, reputable breeders, and are not basing our “opinion” on just personal merit or biases. There is never a guarantee that a puppy won’t develop HD, that is just the cold hard truth – however, being proactive, appears to be the more logical and a real solution. Studies are now showing that early spay and neutering or “gonadectomy” can greatly impact the onset of HD. Unfortunately, there are also risks to that as well, especially with females, as they can develop what is called pyometra, a uterine infection. Keeping females clean during their season or “heats”, if left intact, is critical, and even then, can still pose some risks. So, if you do intend to keep your female intact until later in life, be sure to always have them checked regularly for any signs of infection. Hormones can also play a major role in temperament, so again, we urge you to do your own research and make the decision you feel is best for you and your fur baby.

Spay and Neuter Surgery’s Effects on Orthopedic Disease, Behavior, and General Health in Dogs

So, what do “we” do to be proactive breeders? Obviously, it’s not in the best interest of any breeder, whether hobbyist or large-scale, to damage their reputation by breeding dogs that have HD or produce genetic HD in their offspring. It makes no sense, however, there are unfortunately many breeders who simply don’t care. All they care about, is making that one time “sale”, and never seeing or hearing from their puppies or the people they have sold them too ever again.  We are not “those” kind of people. This is not just a business for us, it’s a part of our life, and the puppies our pack produces are family – forever. We do not want to see our precious babies going through that, nor the families who have opened their hearts and homes to them. Getting updates from our extended families is something we look forward to and cherish, and we want those updates to be positive and full of joy and happiness. We do not fill people up with a bunch of gimmicky guarantees or flash papers in front of people to gain their trust. We are open and honest about ALL THINGS, including the fact that there is NEVER any “guarantee” that a puppy can’t end up with some sort of health issue at some point in their lives.  There are many factors involved, many that are outside of our control once a puppy leaves our care. It would be negligent and irresponsible to not “keep it real” with people, even though our dogs are extremely healthy, and genetic disease not prevalent in our lines.

From a breeding perspective, we will not intentionally breed any dog that is either known to have, or produced a puppy, who developed genetic HD. The lines we have are relatively free from this genetic condition, however, it unfortunately will always be a risk factor. and there is no breeder in the world who should ever guarantee against HD – OFA “certified” or not.

Surprisingly, owners have an even GREATER influence on whether their dogs might develop HD. Keeping your dog healthy,not over exercised until 1 year, and “leaner” in the first couple years of life is greatly influential, providing non-slip surfaces so they don’t have to grip, avoid stairs until 1 years, and Avoid a hike or over-work your young pup until their joints are more developed. Make sure to not over or under feed, and only feed high quality nutritionally balanced foods.. Stay away from high fat diets and keep them ACTIVE! Spay and neuter only AFTER fully matured if possible and be responsible during that time to avoid accidental breeding or hormonal confrontations with other dogs.

We also believe that feeding codex food grade diatomaceous earth also helps to strengthen joints and provides an excellent source of other beneficial minerals. There is a lot of controversy suggesting there are no documented benefits of using food grade DE, however, there are many field reports and test results, not to mention individual reports from all over the world, including zoos and animal sanctuaries, who swear by its effectiveness. Our dogs and puppies get codex food grade diatomaceous earth for everything from parasite prevention/control, as well as nutritional supplementation for skin, coat, bones, joints, and teeth. The important thing to remember with any natural supplement is to use it appropriately and under direction of a qualified vet.

Disclaimer: This page is based on research and is for awareness only.