DVM K-9

18/04/2025

Did you know? Dogs must be 24 months or older for OFA Hip and Elbow certification, and 12 months or older for Cardiac, Patellas, and Thyroid certification. There is no age minimum for eye certification, nor for DNA, since DNA does not change as the dog ages.

The OFA also does Preliminary evaluations on hips and elbows before 24 months of age. However, they will need to be re-evaluated again for a final certification once the dog reaches 24 months.

Individual breeds may have different minimum age requirements for their CHIC program, which is determined by their parent club.

For more information, visit https://ofa.org

12/03/2025

The Royal Kennel Club and the University of Cambridge have devised the Respiratory Function Grading Scheme (RFGS). The program has been licensed by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, and RFGS screening is now available in North America.

Using the RFGS grades and the guidelines in the chart below, concerned responsible breeders can apply the selective genetic pressure to reduce the chances of producing puppies affected by Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS). However, since the inheritance of BOAS is not fully understood and is not entirely predictable, this guidance cannot guarantee that all puppies from unaffected parents will be free of BOAS.

For more information about the RFGS: https://ofa.org/diseases/rfgs/

06/10/2024

Check this out from Dr. Spoo!

https://www.facebook.com/share/nGbiThSETUj2Zjtp/

Register now for the free live Q&A session!

03/10/2024

Great job rescuing this pup!

19/09/2024

Our veterinary colleagues at the Penn Vet Working Dog Center demonstrating a voluntary head dunking procedure for cooling!

Abstract OBJECTIVE To demonstrate the methods to teach dogs to voluntarily immerse (dunk) their head in a container of water, and to identify the 3 indications for voluntary head dunk: to clear a dog’s nostrils of dust/debris, flush a dog’s eyes, and cool a dog after exercise. ANIMALS Dogs. M**H...

19/04/2024

Obviously I mostly post about working and performance dogs, but this here is pretty awesome! GO THICKEN NUGGET! 💪🐈

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C54B-oCPXqq/?igsh=MXJkZHNqZHhlazJ6aw==

06/04/2024

A long and well lived life of service... ❤️

01/04/2024

In case you wondered why...

Have you ever wondered why the minimum age for hip and elbow clearances is 24 months?
OFA hip and elbow clearances look at the conformation of the joints to evaluate if there are any deformities or evidence of disease. While preliminary results are generally reliable, the accuracy of the final grade and the ability to diagnose hip dysplasia increases at 24 months of age. Degenerative arthritic changes secondary to hip or elbow dysplasia can take time to appear on radiographs, especially mild cases. The 24 month mark has been shown to be reliable for diagnosis because it ensures growth is complete and allows for degenerative changes to be seen. This age is also still young enough to allow breeders and owners to make informed decisions for the dog's future.

26/01/2024

After all the titles, the ribbons, the certifications, the trophies, the victories, and the defeats...