Hip and elbow scoring is a veterinary x-ray assessment used to check a dog’s joint health, especially in breeds prone to joint problems.
Hip and elbow scoring is done via x-ray and gives a numerical score that indicates how well developed the joints are. Its used mainly in larger breeds that are more prone to joint problems, and its often done as part of a responsible breeding programme or to give owners a clearer picture of their dog's joint health.
The scores themselves are interpreted differently depending on the scoring system used. Hip scores in the UK are typically given as a combined number, lower is generally better, and compared against a breed average. Elbow scores work on a grade system from zero upwards, again with lower being better.
From a pet insurance point of view the key thing is what happens to those results once they're on your dog's vet records. If the score comes back showing potential problems or early signs of dysplasia, that information is now part of your dog's history. Any insurer you go to after that point may treat it as a pre-existing condition and exclude anything related to it from cover.
Hip or elbow scoring can provide useful health information and is considered good practice for many breeds. The result can also affect insurance records, particularly where an owner later changes insurer or arranges cover after scoring.
If you already have pet insurance and your score comes back with something flagged, your current insurer may continue to cover it as long as you keep renewing without gaps. The complications tend to arise when you then try to move to a new insurer who will see it as pre-existing.