Pointer Dog Pictures

Pointer Dog Pictures

Pointer type is quite healthy with no real inherent problems to contend with. The average lifespan is between 11-14 years. They can suffer with Hip Dysplasia. Hip Dysplasia (HD) can affect all breeds of dogs but is more common in some breeds than others. It is caused by abnormal formation of the hip ball and socket joints. Usually the ball will form a pivot point in the socket, but some dogs are born with a genetic predisposition to HD. This means that they are normal hips at birth but when they grow up, the hip joint is not growing properly and as a result the ball no longer fits properly. After the age of one year or more, owners can choose to have their dogs 'hip printing'. Hip scoring is a method used by veterinarians to determine the degree of hip dysplasia in dogs and veterinarians involves assessing a number of criteria for diagnostic examination. If the dog is then found to have a high probability of HD, corrective action can be taken.