OFA Price $$$

Post by **grant** » Sat Oct 01, 2005 7:46 am

I called the vet about getting Bells hips x-rayed. They said they have to sedate the dog and x-ray the hips, and the cost would be $194 for everything. Does this sound about right, or would I be getting ripped?

Grant

AHGSP · Post by **AHGSP** » Sat Oct 01, 2005 8:06 am

That might be a lil high for where I'm located, but it does seem to be around the right ballpark. Mine have run around 180. for hips and elbows. Interesting enough, the subject of sedation for OFA x rays came up on another forum and it was suggested that sedation was not necessarily required. My vet has always sedated, but it might be worth looking into what options you may have Grant. I am going to look into my options to avoid sedation on future OFA x rays, as anesthesia can be an issue for the dogs safety as it can with people.

Bruce

Wagonmaster · Post by **Wagonmaster** » Sat Oct 01, 2005 8:16 am

you are in the ballpark. add stuff like hidden coat color (HealthGene), Michigan thryoid, and some other stuff like Elbows (OFA), CERF, Heart (Specialist - OFA), and Cone Degeneration (Optigen) and you can be north of $500 before you even think of breeding the dog. then of course brucellosis for both dogs before the breeding is done. it is not cheap.

Post by **kninebirddog** » Sat Oct 01, 2005 9:30 am

I know alot of Vet REEM it to people ...My vet charges 125 for OFA x rays this is the whole ball and wax.
I know some that try and charge 300 for the same procedure....
I wish these vets would QUIT trying to pay for their entire edcation off of one client..My vet makes a very decent living has a nice place up north and has what he wants including fancy equipment for AI's etc etc and has more clients then he can handle..and charges reasonable prices...He is TRUELY more concerned for the animals he treats then his own wallet. I a handful of vets like this THANK GOD for them..they are truely blessed for honest concern

Sorry this is a pet peeve as those high price wallet diggers are the big reason many people do not do OFA and other things which would benefit our breeds They make it to cost prohibitive to do it and they are only hurting those who are trying to be responsible.

snips · Post by **snips** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 7:08 am

My vet is around 130-150. He puts them in an envelope and I mail it. Then you have a 25. or 30. fee to OFA. They have to put them under, also if they shoot a pic that needs redoing they will do it until it is perfect. If they are a good hip vet. Good pics are alot of a good rating.

mountaindogs · Post by **mountaindogs** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 10:44 am

snips wrote:My vet is around 130-150. He puts them in an envelope and I mail it. Then you have a 25. or 30. fee to OFA. They have to put them under, also if they shoot a pic that needs redoing they will do it until it is perfect. If they are a good hip vet. Good pics are alot of a good rating.

Yes, the hips need to be relaxed and in the perfect position to properly see. I also spent about $130 for the x-rays and then the OFA fee.

Post by **grant** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 6:00 pm

Thanks for all the info... =)

lvrgsp · Post by **lvrgsp** » Sun Sep 10, 2006 8:37 am

Grant,
I just asked my vet this same question yesterday and his reply was 75.00 to 100.00 that is with sedation and hips and elbows, he is a very good vet, very knowledgeable. The question with sedation is I believe ofa wants to see full muscle relaxation in the hips, so that is the reason for some type of restaint being used whether it is anesthetics or sedation or muscle relaxers. Hope this helps.

Lvrgsp

ohiogsp · Post by **ohiogsp** » Sun Sep 10, 2006 7:39 pm

Yep, around here it is less than 100 also. I must live in the poor part of the country. I wonder how much your guys houses cost. Mine is a really nice little house about 1500 sq. ft. brick ranch. I paid 75,000 and it is on a 75 x 250 lot.

Maverick · Post by **Maverick** » Sun Sep 10, 2006 11:30 pm

Both of the vets I have used for OFA x-rays prefer to not sedate the dog unless it is absolutly nessisary. The muscles will relax and the balls can relax right out of the sockets.
Just what I have been told, I have also seen x-ray results from a dog that had been sedated and she would have failed had I not suggested he go back and reshoot while not sedated. The dog came back OFA good.

Not all vets are used to shooting these kinds of x-rays, if you have a vet around that does them all the time it may be a good desision to use then instead of your regular vet.

Mav......

Post by **pear** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 5:29 am

Well said Mav..."pear"

AHGSP · Post by **AHGSP** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 9:57 am

Good info Mav and something I will take into account in the near future, as I have a just turned 2 B!tch I want to OFA in the next few weeks. My Vet Group has a Pennhip Cert. Doc and they want to sedate for OFA & Pennhip, much to my dislike. I don't like sedating my kids unless there is an absolute need!

Wagonmaster · Post by **Wagonmaster** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 10:48 am

You might find the requirements different for Penn Hip. Should check. My vet used to sedate for OFA going back ten years or so, but does not any longer. Penn Hip is a different method.

original mngsp · Post by **original mngsp** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 11:49 am

Yes, find a vet that is familiar with OFA x-rays. There is a clinic in this area that does between 3-5 per day without sedation, they are good.

Penn Hip will cost more since from my understanding they shot pictures from three different vantage points.

Both systems are very good.

GSPinROCH · Post by **GSPinROCH** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 4:30 pm

I am sorry but I get a friendly discount from my vet, so I dont know what the price is.

DS · Post by DS » Tue Sep 12, 2006 9:14 am

I paid 145.00 last weekend here in chandler arizona.

dog dr · Post by **dog dr** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 9:43 pm

off the top of my head hips only would cost you $100 or less including sedation and the $30 OFA fee. I have often wondered how much sedating them affected the laxity of the hips. I think I am going to try doing it without sedation and see what happens. I will say this- it is sometimes very difficult to get a good straight, quality shot of the hips when they are sedated. Awakw would make that even tougher. Plus, the way I was taught to hold the legs can be pretty uncomfortable for a dog. They usually move or try to bite when something hurts!!

wannabe · Post by **wannabe** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 6:52 am

I am going to take my dog in for PennHIP and OFA on Monday. The cost is going to be less than $300 including the OFA fee.

If I remember correctly, the PennHIP requires general anathesia (sp?) because they want the hips to relax so they can measure the distraction index.

Post by **kninebirddog** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 7:00 am

My vet tries to OFA with out sedation...
if he has to sedate he tries half sedation first then if he still isn't getting what he is looking for or the animal is fighting to hard he will fully sedate only if necessary...My Bullet dog he tried and tried as bullet even from OFA when i called and spoke to Dr Keller they had his excellent good good with the other 2 vets who made note as to extremely good not quite excellent in their opinion..Dr Keller also looked and he said it wouldn't have mattered what the vet did there was just one small area which took away from the excellent reading...was a very interesting conversation with him

Bryce · Post by **Bryce** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 9:45 pm

Wow, it cost me within a few bucks of $300 to get Belle's OFA done... First off, they required sedation, didn't even let me explain that she will lay there and stay in position for the x-ray without putting her to sleep, I worked on it with her for a month before the x-rays. Then, they didn't quite get it right 2 times and on the third time it was "good enough", but they still charged me for 3 x-rays, anesthetics, check-up (required for the vet to even handle the dog- $40), and a few other things... I was dumbfounded at the price, but then I had never done an OFA before, so I figured it must be about right... Well, guess I was wrong.

Bryce

hjackson · Post by **hjackson** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 11:58 am

Vets like to sedate the dogs to get them to relax alittle - I haven't done OFA's on the GSPS yet but I have plenty of experience with the mastiffs.
If they are not relaxed you can also get a false reading. I like to use a mild sedative such as valuim or torb. There are vets that will do without sedation there is a list on one of the mastiff websites if anyone is interested I can find it and post it. A friend of mine just OFA'd his girl (gsp) and it cost him $50 my repro vet said it would about $150 for my shorthairs - my mastiffs were well over $200 for hips and elbows. Yes, I am half tempted to use my friend's vet VBG but a I am very comfortable with my vet. I worked in a vet clinic for 8 1/2 years and I know how I want things done. Also on the OFA form there is a place for the vet to mark xrays taken with/without sedation. Oh I have a very large and long mastiff boy he wont fit on most xray tables - I have yet to OFA - I've called a few places $350 just for his hips!

Bryce · Post by **Bryce** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 4:04 pm

Oh I don't think this is size related-

Belle is a 24 lbs female Brittany.

Bryce

hjackson · Post by **hjackson** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 3:01 pm

for us it is - bigger dog more sedation - my guys range between 170lbs - 230lbs

wannabe · Post by **wannabe** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 5:58 pm

wannabe wrote:I am going to take my dog in for PennHIP and OFA on Monday. The cost is going to be less than $300 including the OFA fee.

If I remember correctly, the PennHIP requires general anathesia (sp?) because they want the hips to relax so they can measure the distraction index.

The OFA and PennHIP cost $300 including the $30 OFA fee. The vet sedated him for the x-rays and reversed it when they were done. Total time about 20 minutes.

hjackson · Post by **hjackson** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 7:15 pm

here is a link to a list of vets who OFA without sedation
http://devinefarm.net/health/ofavets.htm

Brittguy · Post by **Brittguy** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 1:32 pm

just had it done today. Total was 176.20. Thirty dollars to OFA and 146.20 for vet. I drive extra to use this vet he never uses any sedation, and takes extra shots if there is any question of quality.

highcotton · Post by **highcotton** » Sun Oct 15, 2006 9:32 am

Grant,

My vet (North Alabama)charges $170 and handles everything including mailing. We should remember that the OFA rating is directly related to the quality of the xrays sent to them. I'm sure sedation makes the vets job quicker and easier but it also allows him/her to get a better xray which may well result in a better rating for your dog.

Charles

Gun Dog Forum

OFA Price $$$

OFA Price $$$

OFA Cost