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Breeders have several methods of trying to minimize the risk of HD: OFA, GDC, PennHIP. But these registries are only able to identify some dogs that may have HD. They are not able to identify the dogs that carry the genes for HD. It is important to understand that no matter how many generations there are in the pedigree with hips rated clear, all this can do is to minimize the risk of HD - it can't eliminate it. HD is a polygenetic multifactorial condition, which means that we still don't know exactly what causes it. But without the genes for it, a dog won't get it without some other event such as an injury.
What is HD? The hip joint is a clever device, the classic ball and socket joint. Properly constructed, the top of the thigh bone, or femoral head, is the ball that fits into the socket, or acetabulum, in the pelvis. But in dogs, as in humans, this joint does not always develop properly. Typically, the socket is not deep enough for the ball to fully fit into place. Over time the wear on the joint from the improper movement will cause moderate to severe arthritic changes, or degenerative joint disease (DJD), causing pain and limited mobility. The malformation of this joint is called Canine Hip Dysplasia. [Note: dysplasia comes from the Greek words meaning bad (dys) and growth (plasia).]
All right, you've found a breeder who x-rays hips and elbows and did her very best to produce a beautiful sweet Border/Aussie puppy that is orthopedically sound, and this puppy is now nipping at your ankles. What can YOU do to help minimize the risk of HD? Do not overfeed that puppy! Ignore those beautiful sad brown eyes when it comes to pleading for too much food. And don't supplement with calcium Several studies on diet and HD have shown that puppies allowed to eat as much as they'd like (ad libitum feeding) were twice as likely to develop HD as puppies fed a limited amount of food. Traditionally, food that is high in protein has also been linked to HD, but more recent studies show that it is the calcium-phosphorus ratios and high calorie levels that increase the risk of HD, not the protein intake
Exercise may be another component in the development of HD. Strong muscles help to support the joints, but overly taxing the muscles of a developing Border/Aussie pup can put too much stress on developing bones and joints. So let the puppy play, but hold off on those obedience jumps or heavy draft work until he's at least 18 months old. As for stairs, many breeders will insist that the pup not be allowed to manage stairs until those bones are fully developed. Some have reported dogs' reluctance to do stairs who were not allowed to do them as pups. But don't risk injury to you and the dog by carrying a 30 pound puppy up and down the stairs! Do yourself a favor, and teach the puppy to negotiate stairs by climbing them at his own pace and descending them slowly and sedately.
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