Hip dysplasia is basicly a badly formed ball and socket joint in the hip which can cause arthritic changes and lamness in a dog. although not a huge problem in the Hungarian Vizsla it is present and carefull breeding & testing will ensure it remains a small risk .

In the uk the hip scoring scheme is run by th UKKC/BVA and involves an x-ray being taken of a dogs hips once he or she is aged over 12 months of age.

The xray is then examined by a panel of experts and scored in the following way-

Subluxtion - max score 6 EACH HIP

Cranial acetablular edge -max score 6 EACH HIP

Dorsal acetabular edge - max score 6 EACH HIP

Cranial effective acetabuler rim- max score 6 EACH HIP

Acetabular fossa -max score 6 EACH HIP

Caudal acetebular edge- max score 5 EACH HIP

femoral head/neck exostosis-max score 6 EACH HIP

Femoral head recontouring- max score 6 EACH HIP

perfect hips score 0/0 total 0 the worst hips score 53/53 total 106

The Vizsla average score is 12 (total for both hips) ideally all breeding stock should be below this.

here are some examples of hip x-rays click to enlarge the images

3/3 total 6 from a Vizsla 3/3 total 6 this time from a weimeraner 7/2 total 9 from a Vizsla

A score of 5/5 total 10 9/11 total 20 21/25 total 46 from a vizsla

A dysplastic set of hips

Hip scoring in Hungary

In Hungary dogs are either scored by the FDB hungarian dogs are scored at the age of 24 months plus although some breeders take prelimanary x-rays younger ,the x-rays are then examined by the FDB evaluators and the following results awarded where appropiate,dogs scoring worse than E grade do not get a FDB number and are not passed as fit for breeding.

Based on the recommendation of the FCI, the FDB evaluation recognizes the following categories:

(“N” - Excellent)
The femoral head fits well into the hemispheric socket (acetabulum) of the joint. Joint space is tight and even. The Norberg-angle is 105 degrees or more. There are no symptoms suggesting inflammation (arthritis) on the elements of the joint.

(“M” - good)
Differs only slightly from the previous category: the femoral head does not fit perfectly in the acetabulum. There are no symptoms suggesting inflammation. The Norberg-angle is between 100-105 degrees.

(“E” – fair)
Joint space is slightly increased, not even. The acetabulum is flatter. The femoral head is not spherical. There is mild remodelling (exostosis) on the surface of the edge of the acetabulum or on the femoral neck. The Norberg-angle is around 100 degrees.

Moderate dysplasia
The fitting of the femoral head into the acetabulum is abnormal. The acetabulum is shallow. Joint space is broad. The femoral head is subluxated. There is marked remodelling in the joint. The Norberg-angle is between 90-95 degrees.

Severe dysplasia
The femoral head and neck is deformed (flattened, mushroom shaped, remodelled). The femur is subluxated or luxated. The acetabulum is flat, remodelled. Significant remodelling is visible. The Norberg angle is less than 90 degrees.

Here are some examples of Hungarian hip x-rays

HD A FDB E grade

Preventing hip dysplasia

several factors can influence the hip score a dog achieves these can include -

1. Age

2. Exercise

3. Diet

4. Hereditary (hip joint shape)

5. Hormones (seasons)

We reccomend always feeding a high quality dog food and puppies should be fed puppy/junior food until they are at least a year old.

Excersise should be limited till a dog matures ,we use the five minute rule! I.E

five minutes per month of life daily so a 8 week old puppy would want a 10 minute walk daily.

a six month old would want 30 mins daily

Gunfield vizsla hip statistics

0ur highest hip scoring progeny to date has a score of 7/7 total 14

Our lowest scoring progeny to date has a score of 0/2 total 2

Galfrid Grants highest scoring off spring has a score of 10/7 & his lowest scoring has a hip score of 4/2 total 6

Sugar baro of gunfield highest scoring (UK) offspring is 5/7 total 12 & his lowest scoring(UK) has a score of 4/4 total 8

please click here to see the hip results for Gunfield bred dogs