Question:
For those of you who adopted your dog through a breeder, did the breeder offer a guarantee against hip dysplasia or is that something that can not be guaranteed?
Just curious.....


Answer:
Denise, there is a test that can be done on the dog, which will say whether or not they will get hip dysplasia. My last St. Bernard that I had had the tests done before I got her, as the first owners were going to breed her. I just wanted a pet, but that was nice knowing that she wouldn't have it, even though I was getting her spayed. I'm not sure if it is a 100% guarantee though, but she never had any hip problems.
I paid the extra for her tests though, since they had just had them done a couple of months before they were forced to sell her (the owner developed terminal cancer and couldn't keep her), so I offered the extra to compensate for the tests, they were quite pricey. I wish I had kept all of the paperwork after she passed though, as it had the amount, and the vets written comments on it too.


Answer:
I haven't bought from a breeder, but it is definatly something a reputable breeder could easily guarantee


Answer:
When we got our golden he was guaranteed against any hip problems...if you buy from a reputable breeder most dogs are guaranteed against health problems.


Answer:
Good breeders will always guarantee against hip dysplasia and congenital defects. Further, I would only buy from breeders whose dogs' hips were already graded by the OFA.


Answer:
Thanks for all the feedback. I remember when Dave and I visited the American Staffie breeder, he mentioned something about hips but I forgot exactly what he said. I thought a reputable breeder would guarantee against something like that but I wanted to make sure.


Answer:
pippin is guarnteed for his hips elbows and eyes, both his parents have an OFA number grading the hips. pippin can get checked when he is two years old ( they dont guarentee until they are fully developed) and even though we arent breeding pippin i still want to be sure his hips are great we signed a contract at the time of purchasing pippin


Answer:
I forgot to ask, what does OFA stand for?


Answer:
Orthopedic Foundation for Animals
http://www.offa.org/hipinfo.html