Schraderhaus K9
Von
Schraderhaus German Shepherd Dogs
…
*DDR/ East German
* Czechoslovakian * Slovakian*
*Superior Quality Working Bloodlines*
Guarantee Criteria for hips and Procedures to follow: Revised: January 1st, 2007
Your Schraderhaus K9 German
Shepherd Puppy has arrived through the most stringent criteria being met in
our breeding practices. Our choice for combinations of our breeding males
and females reflects what our kennel is known for producing…and at the top
of this list of criteria is that our breeding animals meet the requirement
for having as clean a genetic lineage as possible for structural health,
temperament and hip and elbow soundness.
This includes genetic background for having, and additionally
for producing, clean hips and elbows.
When it is time to have your puppy taken for their hip x-rays, bear in mind that, when reviewing radiographic diagnosis for your puppy with your Veterinarian, it is impossible to eliminate genes that are present in their genetic makeup. They are forever included in your puppy’s heritage from those many previous generations and are a part of their genetic history. These genes are part of the genetic makeup from which the original German Shepherd Dog has materialized and transformed over the years. No matter how diligent we are in combining the most sound male and female dogs, there is always a chance that good hips will not be the outcome based on genes they receive from their past genetic heritage. Thus, the reason for this guarantee…
With regard to having your dog’s hip x-rays taken for OFA review, the following is of the utmost importance. Our current contract now states that your dog must be evaluated at between 12-13 months of age. This age limit has been changed from the original 24-month period, as new findings have become known pertaining to canine hips and the x-ray outcome for dogs that train and work. True genetic hip dysplasia will be evident at an early age. However, if the dog is worked hard at an early age, this can and has produced environmentally induced dysplasia due to the severity of the actual work required of the dog. In addition, overzealous or little educated but well-intentioned trainers begin starting the dog into strenuous training at too early an age. In an effort to determine whether a dog is indeed affected with genetic hip dysplasia, the 12-month guarantee governs the age at which x-rays must be taken, effective as of the date of this letter. This is a Preliminary certification for your dog at 12 months of age, because OFA will not certify a dog for the record books until it is 2 years of age. However, we feel the 12-month time line is necessary for the purposes of this contract. It is also within the requirements for dogs produced outside the US, such as those in the European countries where dogs are bred and raised with the sole purpose of putting them into work as soon as possible. In Germany, Czechoslovakia and many other countries hip and elbow x-rays are taken and certified at 12 months of age. At the 12-month age, OFA will send you an official OFA Prelim Evaluation. For many of you this will be all you need. If you wish, you may have them retaken at 24 months of age to be certified in the OFA official records for the dog.
The following must be adhered to when having your hip x-rays taken:
#1. No Schraderhaus pup is to be bred prior to 2 years of age. Our belief is very strong in that they are still too young and growing at this age. In females, this can result in a negative OFA rating if hips are x-rayed after having produced a litter.
#2. For Female puppies that are coming 12 months of age to have their hips x-rayed, it is crucial to be very familiar with the cycles of their heat. If they are due to come into heat around the 12 month period, I request that you call and let me know of this, so as to delay the taking of the x-rays for 8 weeks following the end of their cycles. Under no circumstances should a female be x-rayed when she is in heat; Hip films must not be taken 6-8 weeks either way of the impending cycle as well. When a female comes into heat, the fluctuation of hormone levels within her body causes her ligaments, tendons, and joints to loosen and become lax. This is in preparation for the body if and when it becomes pregnant. It is not a good time to do x-rays as it can and has changed the outcome of the rating for the dog’s hips. Females who come into heat immediately following taking the films, and which result in a negative hip rating, will require their hip films be retaken 8 weeks from end of cycles.
#3. Hip films should
be taken with dog not sedated.
When taking hip films that will be used for hip evaluation, this is
beneficial to allow the dog to tighten his tendons and ligaments in order to
maintain his actual proper bone and joint position. However, your vet must
be very experienced in how to position the dog on the table; adept at
keeping the dog in the proper position…Your Vet must verify proper alignment
of the dog in the films before sending on to OFA to be evaluated. Do not
allow them to send in films that are substandard in position quality.
Remember; this is your dog and demand good films.
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Schraderhaus K9
Von
Schraderhaus German Shepherd Dogs
…
#4.
A good quality balanced diet is
very important to the proper growth and development of your puppy. Feeding Poor quality dog foods laden
with preservatives and grains, as well as zealous but misguided
supplementation of vitamins or other growth producing additives, cause
serious problems with bone growth and overall longevity of your growing
German Shepherd Dog. Be knowledgeable and very particular as to what is
being ingested by your growing dogs. Visit my website for Schraderhaus
K9 Puppy diet and feeding information, as well as many articles about the
many benefits of feeding a raw diet.
NOTE: Hip Dysplasia is now believed to be
1/3 genetic; with other factors being 1/3 environmental and 1/3 feed
induced.
We require
that all Schraderhaus dogs be maintained daily on Vitamin C. See our diet for your dogs’
requirements.
#5. The
films MUST be taken by a Veterinarian who is familiar with taking and
submitting films to OFA for Certification of hips. Although it is your right to use the
vet of your own choosing, my guarantee requires that, should OFA reject the
hips as being mildly dysplastic, the dog’s films must be forwarded to a
Veterinarian of my own choosing for a full evaluation of the films and the
findings thereof.
# 5a. Due to this requirement, at the
time films are submitted to OFA you must include with the films a written
request that OFA returns your films; which may be forwarded to Schraderhaus
K9 for evaluation by my veterinarian. ****
Evaluation of the films by my veterinarian is for the purpose of obtaining
his opinion as to whether he feels the dog in fact does have hip dysplasia.
Occasionally a less than desired rating can be due to other factors,
particularly in these slow maturing where the dog may be lacking full muscle
tone/skeletal development; as well as mal-positioning of the dog on the
table or even the taking of a poor quality films. Position is everything for taking
and sending in films to OFA.
OFA can only review and
certify what is before them, based on what your veterinarian has sent them
to be evaluated for that particular dog. If the dog is positioned
poorly, this will reflect in the outcome of your dog’s rating for hips.
Therefore, I recommend strongly that you use a Veterinarian who, at the
very least has been trained
and is accredited in the correct x-ray procedures and techniques for setting up the
dog on the table, and who also has many years of knowledge and experience in
taking films for submission to OFA. Being accredited also includes having
taken the training for knowing and making certain that the x-ray diagnostic
equipment is set at the proper guidelines for producing the best and most
readable films as well as not over exposing the dog to unnecessary radiation
during the taking of the x-rays. If you chose not to follow the above
procedures and the dog’s hip rating comes back as unfavorable, a second set
of films will be required to be taken on the dog. These films will be taken
and submitted to OFA at the owners expense and taken by a vet of Seller’s
choosing. Therefore, it is very important to make sure you are using a vet
who is knowledgeable and trained in the field of taking hip x-rays. Your
Veterinarian should be well aware of the importance of the items discussed
above.
# 5b. In the event there is a question as to the results of the 12
month hip films of the dog, it is agreed that you let the dog grow and
mature to the age of 2 years, with films retaken at the age of 24-26 months.
Original films must be sent to Schraderhaus K9 where they will be retained
for comparison and as a guideline for the progress of the hips in the dog as
it becomes fully mature.
To Inquire about locating Veterinarians who are accredited in Washington State, contact:
Charles R. Root, D.V.M., MS, Dipl. ACVR
Animal Medical Imaging
11415 Northeast 128th St., Suite 10
Kirkland, WA. 98034 1-800-888-0197
Dr. Root previously worked to accredit veterinarians and hospitals in the Seattle and surrounding areas in Washington State. He recently opened a new state of the art facility in Kirkland and, if you wish, you may take your dog there to have the films done. Dr. Root is Board Certified, previously traveling from clinic to clinic reviewing a variety or orthopedic radiographs, giving his opinion and advice on these films. Dr Root was OFA Consult for his expertise in reviewing and evaluating films for the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, often sent to him for his opinion, evaluation and diagnostic findings. He is highly respected in his field of expertise.
If you
take your dog for hip radiographs at the office of Dr. Root, or a
Veterinarian of his recommendation who is accredited in your area, you will
be insured of the best possible films of your dog’s hips being submitted for
certification to OFA. If he is unable to take films of your dog’s hips, you
may send me a written statement of his recommended Veterinarian in your area
before having films taken.
*If you are out of the area, call me
to discuss what is needed, before taking your dog in for OFA
hip film Certification.
For Out
of State Clients searching for an
Accredited Veterinarian, contact:
Orthopedic Foundation for Animals @ 1-800-442-0418
Buyer Signature________________________________ Seller Signature _______________________________________
Jean Schrader
Schraderhaus K9 / Von Schraderhaus German Shepherd Dogs
Dated ____/_____/_____ Phone 253-843-1123 Fax 253-535-1692 Page 2 of 2