AVA/ANKC Hip and Elbow Scheme Procedural Manual

Abstract

The AVA and ANKC have combined forces in a joint scheme to reduce hip and elbow disease in registered pure bred dogs. The important features of the scheme are: · the scheme commenced on 1 January 2000 · administration of the scheme is via the AVA Canberra Office · dogs assessed previously will not require further assessment · application forms are available from http://www.ava.com.au/cheds · radiography will be performed by veterinary surgeons at their usual cost for · radiographs plus radiology · assessment at $66.00 for hips and $18.00 for elbows (both GST included) · poor quality radiographs must be repeated at the veterinary surgeon's expense · hip and elbow assessment will be by members of the Radiology Chapter of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (ANZCVS) on a roster basis · results are returned to the owner via the originating veterinary surgeon · measures are in place to ensure greater consistency between readers · a sympathetic appeal system applies · statistics will be included in the Australian data base. ANKC plans to develop an open register, published on the Internet site, which, subject to agreement of the owners, will provide hip and elbow scores of those registered pure bred dogs which have positive identification in the radiographs.