Hip Dysplasia (abnormal development of the hip joint) is generally associated with bigger breeds of dog but it can be found in any breed, including Cockers. It can cause lameness & pain in severe cases or produces no noticeable symptoms in minor cases. HD does not have a simple pattern of inheritance (it is a polygenic condition meaning it is controlled by several different genes) and whether an animal will develop HD is also influenced by external factors such as diet, rate of growth, exercise & injury.

Because the hereditability of the condition is controlled by multiply genes it is is not a foregone conclusion that two low scoring parents will produce low scoring offspring, neither is it the case that a higher scoring dog when mated to a low scoring partner will produce offspring with high scores.

There are several dogs with scores of 80+ who have produced low scoring offspring.  Each case is different, where the parents of a dog have low scores and the offspring consistently score below the breed mean average it is probable that any higher scoring offspring have an environmental factor controlling the expression of the genes.

Currently, the incidence of HD in cockers is being monitored by the KC/BVA to determine if there is a problem.   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.  

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. The mean score for cocker spaniels is 14, this is the total of the score for each hip i.e. 2 : 2 would equal 4.  As of the 11th November 2007 a total of 745 cockers have been tested since the schemes inception in December 1983.

More information on the Kennel Club/BVA Hip Scoring scheme can be found on the BVA (British Veterinary Association) website:

http://www.bva.co.uk/public/chs/hip_scheme.asp  & http://www.bva.co.uk/public/chs/HD_Proc.Notes_2007.pdf

Below is a chart showing the results of hip scores and the degree of hip dysplasia present for each score.

Due to the recommendation (it is not mandatory) for Accredited Breeders to hip score, we began hip scoring late in 2006.  Toby has already been tested by the Swedish Kennel Club under the FCI Scheme, the remainder of our dogs have since been tested.  Only dogs forming part of our breeding programme will be scored. 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.