The Benefits of PennHIP Scoring at Potton Vets

At Potton Vets, we care deeply about the long-term health and wellbeing of your dog. That’s why we’re proud to offer PennHIP scoring, one of the most advanced and scientifically validated methods available for assessing hip health in dogs.

Why Is Hip Health So Important?

Hip dysplasia is a common inherited condition where the hip joints develop abnormally, leading to pain, lameness and arthritis. Early detection of the risk for hip dysplasia is vital for breeding better, healthier dogs, and for helping owners manage their dogs’ hip health proactively.

What Is PennHIP?

The PennHIP (Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program) method is a special radiographic technique that measures the laxity (looseness) in your dog’s hip joints. Unlike traditional scoring methods, PennHIP can detect joint laxity as early as 16 weeks of age — which means we can predict a dog’s risk of developing hip dysplasia much earlier than with other schemes.

PennHIP uses three specific x-ray views to get an accurate measure of how much the ball of the hip moves in the socket. The result is a Distraction Index (DI), which gives you an objective, scientific score of your dog’s hip joint laxity.