Page 13 - K9News_Issue12_July2020

Figure 2 shows the
relationship between
dog’s hip scores and
the combined EBVs
of their parents for
year 2018. The overall
statistical trend (red
line) show that the
lower the combined
EBV of the parents the
lower are the progeny
hip scores. The effect
of using the best
parental minus EBVs
compared to using the
worst parental plus
EBVs was a reduction
in progeny hip score of
9 points from just over
16 to just over 7.

A Sequel
a greater propensity for joint disorders, and
My article in Issue 10 showed how the Tibetan because large numbers of these dogs have
Terriers breed has improved Hip Scores since been scored. The principles apply equally to
the scoring scheme was introduced. Since I other breeds, but the magnitude of any effect
wrote that article a significant peer-reviewed will be different for different breeds. The factors
scientific paper on hip improvement has been investigated were to establish if there were
published in the on-line journal ‘Frontiers in any discernible trends in hip score parameters
Veterinary Science’ (15 January 2020). The over the period 1990 to 2014, and to examine
paper is entitled “Effectiveness of Canine Hip whether the implementation of the hip scheme
Dysplasia and Elbow Dysplasia Improvement has had a positive influence on hip health.
Programs in Six UK Pedigree Breeds” and is
by H.K. James, F. McDonnell and Tom Lewis The study was a much more detailed and
of the Kennel Club and the University of comprehensive study, using substantially more
Nottingham School of Veterinary Medicine and data, and analysing more features, than I was
Science. I now want to have a detailed look at able to do on my tiny computer (by comparison
that paper, as it can be taken as the ‘official’ to the KC computer) for my earlier article. The
evaluation of whether hip and elbow screening hip score parameters that were analysed were
help to improve the health of hips and elbows. the mean (Breed Mean Score, BMS), median,
I am going to concentrate on the hip dysplasia standard deviation, 75 percentile (the lowest
(HD) aspects of the paper as a follow-up to my 75 per cent of scores) and Estimated Breeding
original article. Values (EBV), both in the overall population
of each breed and among breeding animals,
Six breeds were included in the study. These as well as the rate of participation in the hip
were Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, scheme. All these parameters were related to
German Shepherd Dog, Rottweiler, Bernese the year of birth of the dogs that had undergone
Mountain Dog and Newfoundland, chosen hip scoring.
because medium to heavy dog breeds have

13
K9 NEWS DIGITAL / JULY 2020