GPCPS

This article tells you what this disease is and what questions you should be asking a breeder about it

Hip dysplasia is an hereditary malformation of the hip joints. In its most serious form, it can cause severe and painful crippling and even result in the dog being put to sleep.

In its crippling form, dysplasia is easily detected. However, more mild forms can only be detected by the use of an x-ray. The mild form has two potential problems. One, the mildly dysplastic dog usually develops arthritis at an earlier age than the non-dysplastic dog and this can result in pain and physical limitation. Secondly, the dog with only a mild degree of dysplasia is capable of producing pups who are more severely affected. For these reasons, serious, caring breeders will breed only dogs whose hips have been x-rayed for dysplasia. There is no way to guarantee that an individual 8 week old pup will never develop hip dysplasia and no ethical breeder will make such a guarantee. However, since heredity plays a large part in it, a buyer's best guarantee is x-rayed clear parents and many generations behind the pup. Many breeders will guarantee an adjustment if your pup grows up to have hip dysplasia and you should not purchase any puppy which is not guaranteed against the crippling form of hip dysplasia. There is no line or kennel of Great Pyrenees which is 100% free of dysplasia but consistent x-raying and selection of breeding stock can substantially increase a buyer's confidence of obtaining a sound pup. When you are considering a pup, ask to see the clearance papers on the parents. These should come from the Institute for Genetic Disease Control (GDC) or the Orthopedic Foundation For Animals (OFA).