SAVA/KUSA Hip and Elbow Appeals Procedure

Appeals Procedure:

An owner has the right to appeal the results of a HD grade given by a scrutineer. A second opinion may only be sought under the following conditions:

• The original radiographs that were submitted for evaluation by the first scrutineer, are the only radiographs that may be resubmitted for evaluation by the second scrutineer. Additional radiographs may not be submitted
• An application for appeal can only be submitted to scrutineers on the panel of specialist veterinary radiologists approved by the South African Veterinary Association (SAVA).List of specialist radiologists are listed below.
• On the application form for hip and elbow certification, the referring veterinarian must indicate that a second opinion is being sought in accordance with the prescribed appeals procedure.
• A copy of the report/certificate issued by the first scrutineer as well as a copy of the original application form/declaration must be attached to the appeals application.
• Proof of payment of scrutineers fee must be provided.
• If the result attained from the second scrutineer differs from the result attained from the first scrutineer, the best of the two results will be taken as the final result. The second scrutineer is required to inform the first scrutineer, the referring veterinarian and KUSA, of their evaluation and grade given.
• The final result/grade will be recorded on the KUSA data base and will be noted as a re- evaluation However on the Certificate of Registration and Annex to the Certificate of Registration all that will appear is the final HD or ED grade.
• A dog may not be submitted more than once for hip or elbow dysplasia grading.

Copies of all HD/ED Certificates issued by all of the scrutineers on the panel, are sent directly to the KUSA office, for recording on the KUSA data base and serve to verify the authenticity of HD /ED certificates submitted directly to KUSA by owners. Thus if an owner were to submit the first set of radiographs to another scrutineer or a second set of radiographs to any of the scrutineers, including the original scrutineer, without indicating that a second opinion is being sought, this would be picked up by the KUSA office, as the KUSA office would receive two HD/ED certificates for a single dog. Such action would be deemed as dishonest and unacceptable and contrary to the KUSA Code of Ethics.

In such cases, it would be necessary to review and re-evaluate the entire process followed and would be necessary to eliminate any doubt as to the authenticity and accuracy of the results given. The Chief Scrutineer would be asked to obtain the radiographs from the referring veterinarian(s) and will give a final opinion taking into consideration all the radiographs. A fee of R400 will be charged by the Chief Scrutineer for this service.

The result determined by the Chief Scrutineer will be considered as the final binding result and will be the result recorded on the Certificate of Registration. Should the owner opt not to follow this option, then the grade determined by the first scrutineer will be considered as the official result and will be the result recorded on the Certificate of Registration.

Hip and elbow dysplasia evaluation remains a subjective opinion and thus it is possible for a different grade to be attained from two different scrutineers for the same dog evaluated from the same radiographs. The margin of difference however, tends to be minimal. The scrutineers are specialist veterinary radiologists that have studied an additional 3-4 years in order to specialise.

Many factors such as the quality of the radiograph image, the positioning of the dog, the age of the dog, muscle mass and even possibly oestrus, can influence the final determination of the grade given. The objective of the scrutineers is to give a fair, unbiased and expert opinion on the status of the dog’s hips, with the intention to minimise the possible transmission of unfavourable hip dysplasia genes to the progeny of the dog/bitch evaluated.

Standards for Dental treatment In Companion Animal practice

The NVCG explains Companion Animal Dentistry:

NVCG Recommendation for Anaesthesia during dental procedures

In keeping with best care procedures the NVCG has followed on the American Animal Hospital Associations (AAHA) Guidelines for Dental care which have been endorsed by the American Veterinary Dental College and also ties in with British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA)

The Guidelines state that cleaning a companion animal’s teeth without general anesthesia is considered unacceptable and below the standard of care. General anesthesia with intubation is necessary to properly assess and treat the companion animal dental patient. The use of general anesthesia allows for the necessary immobilization without discomfort, periodontal probing, intraoral radiology, and the removal of plaque and tartar above and below the gum line including polishing ensuring patient health and safety.

At least 60% of cats and dogs normal tooth structure is under the gum line. Partially removing plaque and tartar from the exposed crown is more cosmetic than therapeutic. Removing the plaque and tartar from both above and below the gingiva on the lingual and buccal surfaces requires general anesthesia and results in a cosmetic as well as therapeutic outcome. General anesthesia also facilitates proper pain- free probing of each tooth’s support and the required immobilization necessary to take intraoral dental films. Finally, intubation during general anesthesia protects the trachea and prevents aspiration of water and oral debris.

I’ve heard that anesthesia can be a risk for my pet why should I take the unnecessary risk of anesthetizing my pet for a simple dental cleaning?

A veterinary professional is unable to effectively and safely get to the most problematic areas in a pet’s mouth without anesthesia. The NVCG recommends the use of General Anaesthesia and endotracheal intubation; the risk of adverse anesthetic events is minimized. A properly placed breathing tube, patient-tailored anesthesia, and closer monitoring actually reduces the risks to your pet’s health.

People don’t have to be anesthetized for dental cleanings why does the NVCG think pets need to be anesthetized?

People don’t usually have to be anesthetized because we understand what is going on during a dental procedure we understand when someone asks us to keep still in order avoiding being hurt. However, even some people react so strongly to dental procedures that they need to be sedated. In people, a trip to the dentist most often means cleaning clean teeth; with dogs and cats, painful periodontal disease is commonly present which needs to be treated with anesthesia.

Why do I need to go to the veterinarian for dental work? Can’t I just brush my pet’s teeth at home?

While brushing your pet’s teeth at home helps manage your pet’s dental health in between cleanings at the veterinary hospital, it does not replace a full dental cleaning. Diseases of the mouth can be painful and can contribute to additional health problems for your pet.