BMD.ORG       Hip & Elbow Dysplasia
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Hip and elbow dysplasias are common conditions in Bernese Mountain Dogs. These are structural defects in the joints that can cause mild to crippling arthritis.  The summary below covers what every Bernese owner should know.  The links to articles on specific types of joint disease provide more in depth information.

• Hip dysplasia is basically a poorly formed hip joint where the ball of the leg bone doesn't fit snugly into the hip socket.
• Elbow dysplasia can describe three different conditions.  There are three bones that come together in the elbow so it is more complicated than the hip.
  • "Joint Incongruity" is where the two lower arm bones (radius and ulna) are not the same length and is usually caused by them not growing at the same rate.
  • "Ununited Anconeal Process" (UAP) is where a small protrusion that is normally part of the ulna bone is detached.
  • "Fragmented Coronoid Process" (FCP) is where another part of the ulna bone breaks.
• Dysplasia is inherited, but many genes are involved.
• It is possible for normal parents to produce dysplastic puppies; however, the chance of a particular puppy's having dysplasia is reduced if both parents are normal, and even more greatly reduced if other close relatives (grand parents, aunts, uncles, brothers, and sisters) are also free from dysplasia.
• environmental factors - overly rapid puppy growth, improper diet, and strenuous exercise--do not cause dysplasia but may act to worsen it.
• X-rays of mature dogs are the definitive way to diagnose dysplasia. X-rays may be done of younger dogs who are exhibiting clinical symptoms (e.g., lameness), but they may not accurately predict how bad the final effects will be. Because both hip and elbow dysplasias often are not apparent at birth but develop over time, mild or moderate dysplasia often cannot be diagnosed in young dogs.
• The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) evaluates dogs for dysplasia at 2 years of age by X-ray. Dogs found to be free of dysplasia are issued a certificate and a registration number.
• Of all the breeds evaluated by the OFA, Bernese have the eighth highest incidence of hip dysplasia. 28% of the Berners whose hip X-rays are submitted are rated as dysplastic.
• Surgery to correct dysplasia in puppies can be helpful but is expensive.  Hip surgery is usually more successful than elbow surgery.
• Recommendations:

1. breeding dogs be free of dysplasia
2. breeding dogs' parents and grandparents be free of dysplasia
3. 75% or more of any siblings or half siblings of breeding dogs be free of dysplasia