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Hip and Elbow Disease

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.

Hips & Elbows
Elbow Dysplasia
Osteochondritis Dessicans
Osteoarthritis

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 (parents' parents, parents' littermates, and other puppies produced by the parents) 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 Institute for Genetic Disease Control in Animals (GDC) evaluates dogs at 1 year of age by X-ray. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) evaluates dogs 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, but in reality the overall incidence in the breed is probably considerably higher, since many owners do not submit the X-rays if dysplasia is suspected.
Surgery to correct dysplasia in puppies can be helpful but costs $400.00 to $1,800.00 per joint. Hip surgery is usually more successful than elbow surgery.
Recommendations
Both the GDC and OFA recommend that:

breeding dogs be free of dysplasia

breeding dogs' parents and grandparents be free of dysplasia

75% or more of any siblings or half siblings of breeding dogs be free of dysplasia

Copyright 1996 Philip Shaffer, last update September 6, 1999
Philip Shaffer, pshaffer@bmd.org
Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America