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Dr. Gordon has been performing the PennHIP evaluation for over 10 years. PennHIP stands for the The University of Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program. This procedure has been validated to assess hip dysplasia in dogs as young as 4 months of age. It is different from an Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) evaluation because they are measuring hip joint laxity. PennHIP can be used as a tool to help predict the development of osteoarthritis and it compares how your dog's hips are in comparison to other dogs that are in the same breed. PennHIP is often used by breeders wanting to better their breeding program (by producing tighter hips) but is also often used by people involved in dog sport to make sure their dogs can handle the physical stress of competition. The PennHip evaluation needs to be done by a veterinarian or technician who has gone through the training and certification process. Because of the specific positioning, reversible sedation is required. PennHIP at a Glance The PennHIP method is a novel way to assess, measure and interpret hip joint laxity. It consists of three separate radiographs: the distraction view, the compression view and the hip-extended view. The distraction view and compression view are used to obtain accurate and precise measurements of joint laxity and congruity. The hip-extended view is used to obtain supplementary information regarding the existence of osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip joint. (The hip-extended view is the conventional radiographic view used to evaluate the integrity of the canine hip joint.) The PennHIP technique is more accurate than the current standard, and it has been shown to be a better predictor for the onset of OA.
To summarize, PennHIP method:
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