In Airedale Terriers, as in many other breeds in the Nordic countries, we are seeing a decline in the proportion of dogs diagnosed with hip dysplasia (HD) grade A (clear), while the prevalence of grades B (also clear) and C (mild) has increased. At the same time, there has been no observed increase in the proportion of dogs with HD grades D (moderate) and E (severe), which aligns with trends in other breeds as well.

This pattern suggests that the shift in distribution among grades A, B, and C is primarily due to changes in radiographic procedures rather than genetic changes within the population. Contributing factors may include the introduction of new sedation protocols around 2015, as well as improved radiographic technology that produces more detailed images. If these changes were primarily genetic in origin, we would likely also see an increase in the more severe grades D and E.
 
Based on this understanding, several breed clubs have updated their breeding recommendations to allow dogs with HD grade C (without secondary osteoarthritis) to be used in breeding, provided they are paired with a dog graded HD A – preferably radiographed in a Nordic country after 2015, where the newer procedures have been implemented.
 

In the graph above, HD grades A and B (clear) are shown separately, as it is relevant to examine how their distribution has developed over time. Grades D (moderate) and E (severe) are combined due to the low number of cases, and because these grades are of greatest concern.
It is also important to interpret HD trends in light of the number of registered dogs (births) and how many are actually radiographed. Unfortunately, the data show that only a relatively small proportion of dogs are submitted for HD screening.
 
The graph includes a third-order polynomial trendline (dotted line) for each HD grade to illustrate overall development over time. These trendlines provide a visual indication of general patterns but should be interpreted with caution, as they may be influenced by random fluctuations in the data. This is especially true for 2023 and 2024, where the number of radiographed dogs is still low. It should therefore be expected that the graph will change as more dogs from these birth years are radiographed, which will also affect the trendlines.
 
Text by Nina Syvertsen (Translated from Norwegian to English by ChatGPT.)
Published on the Facebook group European Airedale breeders, April 18, 2025 (link)