Yesterday I took Kaleb to have his hips x-rayed. Kaleb has not shown any signs of being displastic, but I was just getting the x-ray for precautionary reasons...I am ready to up his training a bit and wanted to make sure that he was very sound. (My last akita was horribly displastic.)

Anyway, Since I was not able to get in with my normal vet, I went to the vet at the university in our town. They were nice enough, but when the vet brought the x-ray films for me to view, he did not give my any good information to go on. He said that both the right and left femoral head had "75% coverage." I have not got a clue what this means. In addition, he added, "You need to have him rechecked at 2." Then he began singing the woes of my reeding raw..."Science Diet is a MUCH better food..." <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> I politely told him that I was not there for a lecture on food, but only to get the x-rays completed. He said that it was his responsibility to tell me that I was going to cause all kinds of problems and probably kill him with "salmonella posioning." GRR!

What in the world does "75% coverage of the femoral head" mean exactly....bad hips, good hips, displastic, not displastic??

In my head I compared Kalebs x-rays with my first akita's x-rays...Kalebs femoral heads were very smooth and round. They were tightly in the socket and the there was no gap to speak of between the ball and socket joint. There were no bumps, no flattening of the ball, no thickening of the neck... (Other akita had a 1 centemeter plus gap between the ball and socket with the head flattening out and spurs growing in the joints on both hips.)

In addition, I asked for the x-rays so that I could take them to my trainer. I was told that the x-rays were "legal documents" and that I would have to pay for a copy. I don't mind paying, but LEGAL DOCS?!? Give me a break!

75% coverage is good. If you knew enough to look at the shape of the head, space between the femoral head and acetabulum, etc, why didn't you just ask the vet for his opinion on each of those aspects? And my vets have always told me that if I want to keep a copy, I should tell them up front so they can put an extra copy in there for me and yes, I pay for it. If it's a vet I have an established relationship with, he will let me "borrow" it and bring it back.

 Quote:

I was told that the x-rays were "legal documents"

Well, that's interesting. What is "legal" about an xray for which you have paid? Is the vet sending this film to OFA? (the dog's not 2 yet, right?) If he's not sending it in, and why would you if the dog is not yet 2 yrs old, then what does he do with it? Perhaps you are unknowingly contributing to a University study?

Plus, what you feed your dog is your business...unless the animal is obviously underfed and malnourished. (My vet also sells Science Diet and makes $$ on every bag sold. But at least he doesn't "push" it on his clients.)
And "salmonella posioning"? Good grief! Dogs eat garbage all the time: they have a relatively short digestive tract that allows them to eat road kill without a problem...

Sorry you had such a bad experience <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> . I guess the lesson here is to make sure the vet who takes the next set of 'rays is one that routinely does OFA work and you have an upfront understanding on the cost/disposition of that film.

Just for comparison, I was given the option to let the vet send the 2 yr xray to OFA and include that cost in with the procedure, or I could do it myself and send a separate check to OFA. In any case I pay for the vets' services, drugs AND the film. Now, if I had wanted the vet to send the film to OFA, AND wanted another copy for myself, then I would have had to pay extra.

 Quote:

You can send x-rays any time after the dog is 4 months old for a prelminiary report. If you suspect a severe joint deformity, your breeder may want a document from other than your personal vet.

Agreed.... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

But I read this was not a case of needing to prove a suspected case of HD:
"Kaleb has not shown any signs of being displastic, but I was just getting the x-ray for precautionary reasons..."

If the xrays were simply being taken for personal reasons, then whether to send them to OFA is a personal decision, not one for the vet to make.
(BTW, I'm not arguing that this is correct: I abhor the practice of trashing film that show bad results just so breeders don't have to devulge bad hips. But that's the way the system has been set up. As far as I know, OFAing is still voluntary.)

I had him x-rayed just as a precaution. I am not concerned with OFA certs as he is neutered. But I was wondering if he was having hip pain because of slow sits or if he was just being stubborn. Sometimes he will take up to 3 seconds to sit. I want faster sits and did not want to push the issue if he was in pain.

Lee -- I did ask him...He said, "You just need to have him rechecked at 2." So after the 15 minute lecture I got because I do not feed Science Diet, I just let it go. I was mad to the point of spouting off, but instead of doing that, I just clamped my mouth shut and gritted my teeth. :rolleyes:

Ann -- My "normal" vet is WONDERFUL, but his support staff is so bad that I decided to try another clinic. One vet tech hurt Kaleb so badly while trying to get a fecal that he attacked her...And that was after 30+ seconds of him screaming. I thought that she stuck the fecal stick-thing through his rectum wall. After, he paced and moaned the rest of the evening. She is no longer allowed to touch Kaleb. Since I got Kaleb last October, I have had constant issues with the support staff. So after the "throw-down" that I had with one of the vet techs yesterday morning, I decided to go somewhere else. My Bad.

Deanna -- THANK YOU! That link was great help. So, Kaleb's x-rays looked closest to the "good" image with the exception that there was little to no space inbetween the head and socket. Will this space get bigger over time?

My last akita's hips looked like the "severe" example but her femoral heads were nearly flat. She was a very extreme case.

Thank you all for the information. It has been a great help.

Lee, I suppose different states have different rules. But I have a REAL problem with the concept!
I have the same issue with human docs who don't want to give up film for a second opinion, even though the med insurance has paid for their bill already for the docs time AND film. After assuring the doc that I would be advising my insurance company that they paid for film that he would not release, I got my xrays...

Most vets will shoot double film in same cassette if you have a reason and *request* it before they load the film, one vet who does OFAs alot here routinely double loads so that she has the OFA film on file which I think is a good idea...the film is at most about a buck a sheet for 8 x 12 - and that is GOOD quality film, many are less - you are not paying for the film itself except as in the fact that materials costs are built into overhead in any and every business - you are paying for the professional service and the diagonistic consultation of reading that film...

I know that in many court cases x-rays are subpeoned and that is why vets and doctors are so protective of them...they really do have to keep them on file...

In humans there is a Federal requirement that you maintain X-Rays for 7 years beyond the last film. It wouldn't suprise me if there is a similar state requirement for animals.

X-Rays can be copied. Most hospitals charge in the neighborhood of $20/film. It could be another option.