San Carlos Veterinary Hospital

PennHIP Certified

Dr. Dean Gahring is a certified PennHIP veterinarian. He is part of a network of veterinarians worldwide who perform this technique and make the results available for further research into degenerative joint disease (DJD) and canine hip dysplasia (CHD).

The University of Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program (PennHIP) is a radiographic technology (x-ray) for hip evaluation. The technique is used to assess, measure and interpret hip joint laxity. Research indicates that hip joint laxity is among the most important risk factors in determining whether a dog is prone to developing canine hip dysplasia.

The PennHIP Method involves taking three separate radiographs of the dog's hips: a distraction view, a compression view, and hip-extended view. Taken together these X-rays provide accurate and precise measurements of joint laxity and congruity, as well as supplementary information regarding the existence of degenerative joint disease in the hip joint.

Not only are the results from these radiographs used to measure/predict DJD and CHD for dog's owner or breeder, the results are also forwarded to the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. There they are added to a database of similar studies from around the world. Researchers at the School of Veterinary Medicine use this database to continue their studies into the causes, genetics, and prediction of DJD and CHD.

The PennHIP technology is licensed by the University of Pennsylvania to the Synbiotics Corporation of San Diego, California.