Page 80 - The Pembroke & Cardigan Welsh Corgi Worldwide Magazine
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What are the pros and cons of each
scheme?
FCI accepts scores made by anyone considering
himself expert in the radiological evaluation of
HEALTH canine hip conformation. The individual breed
club selects a veterinarian of its preference
as scrutineer. Training and competence of
the scrutineers vary enormously from self
trained practitioners to highly skilled certified
veterinary radiologists or small animal
surgeons. Quality of scoring varies accordingly.
Comparison of final grades between countries
may become extremely difficult or simply not
possible. Furthermore one single breed within a
country may have broken up into different breed
clubs and these clubs may work with different
scrutineers hampering comparison of the results
even within a country. Estimated heritability
of an average of 30% (reaching 50% in well
designed studies) is somewhat lower than that
of BVA/KC, but still offers sufficient information
for selection of breeding stock against CHD.
FCI aims to keep track of the standards for each
of more than 330 recognized breeds, to provide
internationally accepted pedigree form, to
train judges and to collect and list the results
of dogs in shows and trials.
OFA scrutineers are experts in their field
and, by reading jointly, diagnostic flaws
are highly unlikely to occur. OFA offers
extensive advice to breeders on what
dog to choose for breeding. Detailed
information on each certified dog and
its registered sibs and relatives is
provided on OFA’s website making
it a powerful tool for breeders.
BVA/KC finally reports the pooled consensus
brought up by 3 highly experienced and skilled
scrutineers who guarantee a correct reading.
The BVA/KC scoring system Final score is given as a figure from 0 for an
BVA/KC is used in the UK, Ireland, and excellent to 106 for a highly dysplastic and
Australia/New Zealand to score each hip severely arthrotic hip joint. No translation of
joint based on the severity of changes of 9 the numerical score into a dysplasia grade is
specific morphological radiographic criteria provided. BVA recommends breeding dogs with
examined. Scoring is done by 3 panellists a score of 5 or less (total score for both joints <
out of a group of certified radiologists or 10) or clearly below breed mean score. Breed
small animal surgeons jointly. mean score is listed and regularly updated for
80 | The Pembroke & Cardigan Welsh Corgi Worldwide Magazine
