Spinone Italiano Hip Salad

by Melinda Cumming, DVM

Two terms, OFA and PennHip(TM), get tossed around with the fervor of a mixed green salad when dog owners get together and the subject of hips comes up. Dog hips, that is. While the end result is a flavorful discussion, sometimes it can be crisp and full of zest. And in our favorite breed the discussion may have a hint of Italian seasoning.

Two different methods are used in the USA and Canada to evaluate hip dysplasia; the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals and International Canine Genetics' PennHip(TM) methodologies. Presentations about both systems were made to the SCOA membership at the annual meeting in May 199, where a little Wisconsin cheese was added to the salad fixin's.   This brief recap is to assist Spinone breeders and owners in understanding the different information each method provides.

The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) provides a registry for a number of canine diseases including hip and elbow dysplasia. OFA uses a specific radiographic view to evaluate and grade hip conformation. Adult dogs who are at least 2 years old with normal hips (Excellent, Good, Fair) will be issued a registration number, and the data is made available through the search engine on the OFA web page. Dogs whose hip joint conformation is not normal or which show evidence of osteoarthritis are graded as dysplastic (Mild, Moderate, Severe) and are neither given a registration number nor entered into the public database.

Local veterinarians take the radiograph and submit it to OFA on the owner's behalf. It is between the owner and veterinarian (and the dog!) whether they prefer to shoot the radiograph in an awake or sedated dog. Nevertheless, the quality of the positioning will influence the accuracy of the evaluation and may downgrade an otherwise Excellent pair of hips. With the advent of reversible sedation such as medetomidine (DormitorR) many incidental procedures such as radiographs have become relatively quick and safe for young, healthy dogs.

Dogs can be preliminary screened by OFA anytime prior to 2 years, and the owner will receive a grade for the hip conformation. Most dogs which receive a Good or Excellent rating (normal) or a Moderate or Severe rating (dysplastic) prior to 2 years of age generally do not fall out of those categories when they are evaluated again at 2 years. Grades which are borderline such as Fair (normal) or Mild (dysplastic) prior to 2 years of age have less predictive ability.

The Italian Spinone, as a breed, currently has fewer than 200 OFA submissions. OFA produces statistics for a breed when 100 submissions are reached. Our breed currently ranks near the Golden Retriever, a breed rife with hip dysplasia,
and lower than most comparable hunting breeds.  However, the Italian Spinone has annually improved its ranking as breeders chose to use this kind of information to evaluate potential breeding pairs.

The second methodology known as PennHip(TM) was invented and piloted at the University of Pennsylvania in 1983 by Dr. Gail Smith. The database and procedure was recently sold to international Canine Genetics, Inc. and is being marketed worldwide as a method of predictive evaluation of hip joint conformation. Two differences from OFA are key to remember.

First, the goal of PennHip(TM) is to provide breed specific predictive information based on an evaluation of joint laxity. Evaluation age may be as early as 8 weeks. Predictive ability of these early data is currently being studied by veterinary   radiologists at the University of Wisconsin College of Veterinary Medicine.

Second, the grade, or Distraction Index is considered confidential medical information and is only reported to the referring veterinarian and the owner. Breeders can use the information to evaluate potential breeding stock at a variety of ages, and owners can use the information to accommodate lifestyle changes if the predictive index of joint laxity is high.

PennHip(TM) uses three radiographic positions or views to evaluate the hip joint. One view is identical to the one used by OFA. The two new positions use a device to force the head of the femur deep into the joint (compression), and the away from the socket (distraction). This produces a score of joint laxity referred to as the Distraction Index (Dl). Dogs must be sedated for these procedures.

DI's are given for each hip and range between 0 and 1. The closer to a score of 0, the tighter the hip indicating no joint laxity.  Currently, the number of Spinone which have been evaluated by the PennHip(TM) method is too low to provide a breed-specific scale, so any Dl's are currently reported against an all breed scale. A judgment of normal or dysplastic is not made.

If the breed has tight hips, like greyhounds, even a median score with PennHip is most likely predictive of normal hips, whereas a median score in a breed such as the bulldog (the number one dysplastic AKC breed) may be so close to 1 that dysplasia is inevitable. In the Italian Spinone it is still difficult to interpret a PennHip(TM) score unless it is exceptionally high or low.

Finding a veterinarian trained in PennHip(TM) technique is sometimes tricky. PennHip(TM) is still relatively new and requires certification by the parent company. Calling or e-mailing ICG will get you a list of veterinarians in your area that provide this service.

With a mixed OFA/PennHip(TM) salad available to breeders, improving the incidence of hip dysplasia in the Italian Spinone will be the first course in an excellent meal of keeping a superb hunting and family dog with the taste of Italy happy and healthy!

This page was added 11/8/97