Hip Dysplasia (abnormal development of the hip joint) has until fairly recently been associated with larger breeds of dogs, however it can be found in any breed and any size of dog including Cocker Spaniels.

HD causes lameness, arthritis and extreme pain in severe cases or produces no noticeable symptoms in minor cases.

HD does not have a simple pattern of inheritance (it is thought to be a polygenic condition meaning it is controlled by several different genes) and to be under the influence of "threshold traits.” Whether a dog will develop symptoms of HD and if he does, how debilitating the symptoms are is also influenced by external factors such as diet, rate of growth, exercise and injury.

There are several cockers with scores of 90+ who have produced lower scoring offspring and there are occasions when low scoring parent's have produced high scoring offspring.

Currently, the incidence of HD in cockers is being monitored by the KC/BVA to determine how widespread HD is within the breed. Following consultation with the breed clubs, the Accredited Breeders Scheme made it a recommendation in July 2006 for cockers to be hip scored prior to breeding from them. This recommendation may prove to be mandatory if it is established the HD is a significant problem in Cockers.

In the UK, the hip score is the sum of the points awarded for each of nine aspects of the X-rays of both hip joints. The minimum hip score is 0 and the maximum is 106 (53 for each hip). The lower the score the less the degree of hip dysplasia present.

UK - KC/BVA Scheme	Classification
Total score of 0 - 4	No signs of hip dysplasia
Total score of 5 - 10	No signs of hip dysplasia
Total score of 11 - 18	Normal hips
Total score of 19 - 25	Borderline Case
Total score of 26 -35	Mild hip dysplasia
Total score of 36 - 50	Moderate hip dysplasia
Total score of 51 - 106	Severe hip dysplasia

As of the 01/11/09, a total of 911 cockers have been tested since the schemes inception in December 1983. The scores range from 0 - 99 points (per dog, the total score for each dog is added together and then divided by the no. dogs tested and an average is calculated = the Breed Mean Score "BMS"). The current BMS for cockers is 13 (in 2008 the BMS was 14). For example, a dog scoring 2 on the right hip and 2 on the left hip would have a score of 4. This is well below the BMS of 13.

For more information about canine hip dysplasia please see our HD page and for more information on how to get a dog hip scored please visit our hip scoring page.

Due to the recommendation in 2006, (it is not mandatory) that breeder's hip score their dogs we began hip scoring late in 2006 & therefore some of our older dogs are NOT hip-scored with the exception of Toby who had already been tested by the Swedish Kennel Club under the FCI Scheme.

The minimum age for testing is 12 months. We are one of only a handful of parti-coloured cocker spaniel breeders who hip score our dogs.

Name	Details	RH	LH	Total
Powerscourt Enchantress - Buttons	KC/BVA Scheme	4	3	7
Powerscourt Higher Echelon - Toby	FCI Scheme	A1	A1	A1
Powerscourt Mr Pointment - Teddy	KC/BVA Scheme	3	3	6
Powerscourt Paint Box - Juno	KC/BVA Scheme	4	4	8
Powerscourt Perdita - Purdie	KC/BVA Scheme	5	7	12
Powerscourt Perfect Love - Minty	KC/BVA Scheme	5	4	9
Powerscourt Perfect Magic - Dudley	KC/BVA Scheme	3	5	8
Powerscourt Phantasia - Tasha	KC/BVA Scheme	4	3	7
Powerscourt Pingu - Stan	KC/BVA Scheme	3	5	8
Powerscourt Pippi's Gift - Katie	KC/BVA Scheme	4	4	8
Powerscourt Power Of Love JW - Lottie	KC/BVA Scheme	5	3	8
Powerscourt Prelude - Henry	KC/BVA Scheme	5	6	11
Powerscourt Pure Gold - Maggie	KC/BVA Scheme	4	5	9
Powerscourt Pure Love - Willow	KC/BVA Scheme	3	6	9
Powerscourt Pure Silk - Sophie	KC/BVA Scheme	4	3	7
Riondel Venture to Powerscourt - Archie	KC/BVA Scheme	3	3	6
Roqfolly Hazelnut - Haze	KC/BVA Scheme	4	4	8
Wakehurst Playboy - Fudge	KC/BVA Scheme	4	3	7

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