The current BMS for cocker spaniels is 13 (total of both hips) - [2009/2010]

The procedure for hip scoring is as follows:

The dog is taken to the owners own veterinary surgeon. The owner of the dog competes the "green" form confirming the identity of the dog and giving permission for the results (the score) to be published by the Kennel Club. The microchip of the dog is read and that number together with the dogs sire and dam's details are also entered onto the "green" form.

The next step it to anesthetise (general anaesthetic or heavy sedative) the dog (so he can be manipulated into the correct position without struggling or moving). Once under anaesthetic/sedation the dog is placed into position for X-Ray. The traditional positioning of the dog for hip scoring is for the dog to be placed on his back (the dog should lie true i.e. not twisted) with supports to prevent him from rolling to one side. The vet will manipulate the pelvis and hips of the dog so that they are rotated whilst at the same time ensuring that the legs (femur) to kneecap (patella) are straight and extended. To ensure the legs remain straight the legs are taped together and the feet are raised on a pad.

The dogs kennel club registration number and the microchip no. are placed next to the dog and the letter "R" to indicate the right hand side is placed under the dog (adjacent to the hips), these are made of metallic materials so they show up on the X-Ray film.

Now that the pelvis is rotated, the dog’s legs are straightened, the patella's (kneecaps) are aligned, and the pelvic area is radiographed. Once the film has been developed, the dog is brought round from the anaesthetic (or given a reversal agent) and the procedure is complete.

The "green" form together with the x-ray picture (film) and the fee to the BVA is posted to the BVA by the veterinary surgeon. When the dog's hips have been scored, the "green" form (now complete with score and the scorers signature) is posted with the x-ray films back to the submitting vet. The "green" form is then issued to the dog’s owner.

Please visit this link (to the BVA) for full details about the procedure.

When to hip score:

The minimum age for hip-scoring is 12 months there is no maximum age. It should be noted that the older a dog is when it is scored may have a slight impact on the results (slightly higher score, but not significantly so) due to natural wear and tear and the aging process. However, an older dog being scored will not show dysplasia on an X-ray film due to more advance age unless the dog already has dysplasia.

The costs involved:

The cost of hip-scoring comprises two parts a) the set fee payable to the BVA (for scoring) and b) the fee to your own vet for the anaesthetic, time taken to perform the procedure and for the cost of the radiographic film (the x- ray film). The BVA fee is set annually and is currently £45.00 (inc. VAT) [2010]. The veterinary costs will vary from vet to vet and also to some extent on the weight of the dog (heavier dog = more anaesthetic!).

Our dogs weigh approximately the same (one or two kilos difference between them) and therefore the amount we pay to our vet (not inc. the BVA fee) is approximately £115.00 per dog (total with BVA fee £160) - prices calculated 2010.

Below is a copy of one of our dogs "green" forms. Personal details have been removed (the score has been unaltered), however when the form is submitted to the BVA the Registered Name, Registration No. Sire and Dam details, Microchip No., the vets name and address and the dog's owners name and address are completed in the relevant area of the form. The dog was six years old at the time of this x-ray was undertaken.

Here is the x-ray film that relates to the above score. The hip joint is a "ball" and "socket" joint and is marked with a red arrow.

Each of the dogs hips are scored 0 - 6 points (0 is good 6 not so good). There are nine areas focused upon. All areas are important but the most important area is the "Norberg Angle".

Anatomy of the hip:

Norberg angle	-	This is the angle formed by a line connecting the centres of both femoral heads and one drawn between the centre of a femoral head and the craniodorsal rim of the acetabulum on the same side. It is a means of assessing hip laxity and is used in the detection of hip dysplasia.
Subluxation	-	Means the partial displacement of a joint in this case the displacement of the head of the femur.
Cranial acetabular edge	-	The score indicates the degree of minor alterations in the shape, contour and possibly the length of the CrAE are generally believed to be indicators of poor articular congruence, while more severe changes are clearly consequences of chronic instability, abnormal marginal wear and remodelling of the joint.
Dorsal acetabular edge	-	Forms a well defined interface which traverses the Femoral Head almost vertically and extends a little beyond it cranially and caudally.
Cranial effective acetabular rim	-	The earliest detectable abnormalities of the CrEAR are either minor exostosis (outgrowth from a bone), usually in the form of a small, well-modelled osteophyte (small abnormal bony outgrowth), or slight 'rounding off' of the junction between the CrAE and DAE.
Acetabular Fossa	-	Detectable bone deposition in the AF is almost always associated with marked subluxation and the amount tends to increase in proportion with the increase in the other radiographic hallmarks of secondary degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis).
Caudal Acetabulem Edge	-	The CaAE is the segment of the acetabulum which is subject to the widest range of normal radiographic variation. Radiographic abnormalities are scored between 0 and 6 and changes are due mainly to exostosis (outgrowth from a bone) with signs of wear being apparent only in advanced cases.
Femoral Head and Neck Exostosis	-	The normal FH should have a smooth roundish profile, but the shape may vary considerably.
Femoral Head Recontouring	-	This criterion is used to record the extent to which the FH shape is altered as a consequence of instability. Thus scores are likely to be awarded only in cases in which secondary changes are well established, when remodelling occurs as a result of the combined effects of periarticular new bone formation and loss of subchondral bone following total destruction of articular cartilage.

Key to the anatomy of the hip (the points scored):

1. Cranial Acetabulem Edge
2. Cranial Effective Acetabulem Rim
3. Dorsal Acetabular Edge
4. Caudal Acetabulem Edge
5. Cranial Effective Acetabular Rim
6. Acetabular Fossa
7. Femoral Head

To calculate the Norberg angle:

Take the centre of each femoral head (hip ball) and draw a line between them. Then take the centre of the femoral head and draw a line to the outer point of the pelvis. The angle between these lines minus 90 degree is the Norberg angle. The Norberg angle is calculated for each hip, the image below shows only one side.

If the angle is correct the score will be 0, for every degree the score is not correct the score for this feature will rise to a maximum of 6 for each hip.

For more information about canine hip dysplasia please visit our hip dysplasia page.