Labrador hip scores

[RattusRattus]

I have a 2 year old Labrador bitch. She is spayed. My friend has her sister and was hoping to breed from her but had her hip scores done recently and they were terrible.

Now, DH doesn't agree with pet insurance (I know, I know) so my dog isn't insured. So, what I want to know is that what are the chances that my dog will also have bad hip scores and if she does what are the longer term health implications. Should I get her insured before I get her hips score done?

Does your friend know anything about breeding would be my first question?

I've had dog insurance since I first got my lab and so far we've used it to cover about £8000 worth of treatment - for a few different issues.

My dog is also a lab, she's 3

Hip scoring her won't tell you whether she definitely will or won't develop hip problems.

Dogs with low scores can and do still develop problems later and dogs with high scores can and do live problem free forever.

I wouldn't waste money or put my dog through an anaesthetic to hip score her if you aren't planning to breed from her.

I would say that by 2yo she would have shown signs of problems but I sure her anyway because there are many, costly diseases, problems and accidents she may have in the future.