BVA Elbow scoring 

The BVA elbow-scoring scheme has a lot of similarities to the BVA hip-scoring scheme, so check that out first.

It is required for Labradors and is usually carried out at the same time as their hip-scoring.  

When elbow-scored, by far the vast majority of Labradors score 0.  

This is really 0/0, where each elbow has its own score - often abbreviated to just '0'.

As with hip-scores, the lower the elbow-score, the better.

However, elbow scores can only be either 0, 1, 2 or 3.  (Hip-scores have a maximum of 106!).

So for this test, you really want to see 0/0 or just 0, on the results. 

Because the vast majority of Labradors score 0 on elbows, it is hard to justify breeding from a dog with even 1, 2 or 3 as a score - unless that score is the result of injury and the dog is bred to many, many generations of 0 scoring dogs... 

Using Mate Select, you can also see the elbow-scores of existing progeny from the same dog - as well as siblings' scores.  

This is important:  If there are many dogs with high scores which are siblings or progeny, then this dog might carry some undesirable genes when it comes to elbow dysplasia.  Regardless of his or her own scores.

How are elbows tested?

The dog is either sedated or receives a general anaesthetic and an xray is taken of the elbows.  This is frequently done at the same time as the hip-score xray.  (If someone is hip-scoring their dog, it is only a relatively small extra cost to add elbow-scoring as well.)  This xray is then sent off to the BVA panel which meet regularly to review xrays and determine elbow-scores.

The x-ray needs to be scored by the official BVA panel, and not just looked at by a regular vet.

We have always used Marilyn at Southern Canine Imaging outside Portsmouth, for all our hip and elbow-scoring and we can really recommend her for accurate positioning of dogs whilst the x-ray is taken - enabling the best score achievable for your dog.

How does elbow dysplasia affect dogs?

Hip and elbow dysplasia often present together in the same dog, tragically.  Dogs can be effectively crippled with pain, at a young age.  Sometimes their pain can be managed with pain medication, hydrotherapy and other supportive measures but often very expensive and extreme surgery is needed.

In short, what elbow results do I look for?

0/0, sometimes abbreviated to 0.