At Oodles of Bernedoodles, our top priority is the health and well-being of our dogs and their puppies. As part of our commitment to breeding responsibly, we use advanced health screening tools to guide our decisions—one of which is PennHIP testing.
What is PennHIP?
PennHIP (short for the Pennsylvanian Hip Improvement Program) is a specialized diagnostic method that evaluates a dog’s hip joint health. Unlike traditional X-rays, PennHIP provides a more detailed analysis of a dog’s risk for hip dysplasia, a condition that can lead to arthritis and discomfort later in life.
How Does the Test Work?
The PennHIP test measures a dog’s hip laxity—or how loose their hip joints are. The hips are given a score ranging from 0 to 1, where 0 means the hips are very tight (ideal), and 1 means the hips are very loose (greater risk of hip dysplasia).
The test measures 3 different views. This includes a straight on view, a compression view where the femur is pushed into the hips, and a distraction view where they pull the hips out to see how well the hip joints stay in their sockets.
Each hip is measured separately but the final score is based on the hip with the loosest laxity.
Tight hips (0.3 or lower): These scores indicate strong, healthy hips with little risk of developing hip dysplasia.
Average hips (around 0.4-0.5): These scores are common for many dogs. While not perfect, they’re still acceptable for breeding in many cases, especially when paired with a dog with excellent scores.
Loose hips (0.6 or higher): These scores suggest a higher likelihood of developing hip dysplasia over time.
The scores are also compared to a database of similar breeds to see how a dog’s hip health stacks up against the average for their breed.
Differences between PennHip and OFA
PennHIP and OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) are two methods used to evaluate a dog's hip health, but they differ in approach and purpose. PennHIP measures hip laxity (looseness) using a Distraction Index (DI), which provides a predictive assessment of a dog’s risk for developing hip dysplasia and osteoarthritis. OFA, on the other hand, uses standardized radiographs evaluated by a panel of experts to grade the hips on a scale from Excellent to Severe, focusing more on current structural health rather than predictive risk. PennHIP provides more detailed and objective measurements, while OFA offers a more generalized evaluation commonly used for certification purposes.
What Coco’s Results Tell Us
The PennHIP report places Coco’s left hip at moderate risk for hip OA and her right hip is in an excellent range. It’s important to note:
The central 90% range of DIs for Bernese Mountain Dogs is 0.27 to 0.78, so Coco’s left hip DI of 0.51 falls well within the normal range for her breed.
Her right hip DI of 0.36 is an excellent score, indicating a very low risk of OA.
We will pair her only with studs who have exceptional hip scores to balance the risk.
We also need to keep her to low impact activities such as swimming and leash walking. Right now she has a tendency to jump off our 5ft deck to run around so we will limit that, because that can also affect hip health.
Why Health Testing Matters
As a Bernedoodle breeder, I’ve seen how thoughtful breeding practices make a difference. Health testing, like PennHIP, helps us:
Reduce the risk of inherited conditions like hip dysplasia.
Inform puppy buyers about their new family member’s health.
Contribute to the overall improvement of the breed.
When you choose an Oodles of Bernedoodles puppy, you can trust that every step has been taken to prioritize their health and happiness—starting with responsible, informed breeding decisions.
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