Our Breed

Hereditary Defects

Research at Animal Health Trust

Useful Contacts

Case Studies

Hereditary Defects Advice - Hip Dysplasia and Elbow Dysplasia

Hip Dysplasia (HD) is a defect which leads to the abnormal growth and development of the bones which make up the hip joint.  This can lead to excessive wear and tear, arthritis and - in the worst cases - lameness and problems in movement.  Joint development can be influenced by genes, nutrition, exercise, growth rate and body weight.  It is not known exactly how great a role genes play in the propagation of hip dysplasia, however it is thought to be significant, and the British Veterinary Association (BVA), the Kennel Club (KC) and the Border Collie Club of Great Britain (BCCGB) recommend that breeding from dogs with low hip scores (below the breed average) will help reduce the incidence of hip dysplasia in the breed.

If you wish to breed from your Border Collie it is highly recommended that you get the dog’s hips scored first.  Most Veterinary Surgeons will be able to take an x-ray of the hips and submit them to the BVA for scoring.  Your dog must be at least 12 months old, and will need to be anaesthetised or sedated for the x-ray procedure.  The BVA will score the x-ray of the hips for various structural differences from the ideal, and assign a score which can vary from 0 to 53 for each hip.  You will receive the results in a few weeks.  Hip scores are usually presented as a score for each hip then a total - for example 3:4 total 7.

All the Border Collies scored through the BVA/KC HD Scheme have their scores added to the database from which the Breed Average is calculated.  The current Breed Average for Border Collies is very low (in comparison to other breeds) at a total of 13 for both hips. 

The cost of having one dog’s hip x-ray scored with the BVA is set at £50.00 in 2011.  If 5 or more dogs from the same owner are being scored, the cost goes down to £45.00 per dog.  If hip and elbow x-rays are submitted from the same dog the charge from the BVA is £75.00.  The costs from your vet for the x-ray procedure will vary – so it may be an idea to ask around other breeders or exhibitors – they may be able to advise you on the best places to go.  Some vets specialise in taking x-rays for BVA scoring and their costs can be considerably lower and the results may be of a better quality. 

Elbow Dysplasia

Elbow Dysplasia (ED) is similar to HD in that there is thought to be a strong genetic influence, although other factors such as diet and exercise can influence the outcome.  As with HD, the absence of lameness does not necessarily mean the dog is free of problems, and the only way to assess the elbows with certainty is by x-ray.  ED is scored on a scale from 0 (Normal) to 4 (severe) and a separate score is assigned for each elbow (unlike HD, the scores are not normally added together for a total). 

Border Collies are not a breed thought to be at risk, however the guidance from the BVA is that dogs should only be bred from which have Normal elbows, or minimal ED, in order to ensure the lowest risk for the progeny developing any problems.

The procedure and the prices are the same as for HD, and there is a discount from the BVA on the price of scoring if both the hip and elbow x-rays are sent simultaneously.