Do you require OFA screening?
December 13, 2025
Why We Don’t Use OFA Screening — And Why Long-Term, Real-World Health Data Is More Reliable
Many families searching for a Bernese Mountain Dog puppy are told that OFA testing is essential. That advice is useful for small-scale or newer breeders who lack long-term health information on their lines. However, in a program like ours—where we have tracked health, soundness, and longevity across hundreds of puppies—real-world outcomes provide far stronger evidence than a single screening test.
1. OFA Is a Snapshot, Not a Long-Term Predictor
OFA screenings evaluate specific points in time and only on the parent dogs. They do not measure what truly matters to families:
How the dog will age
Whether the dog’s structure and joints remain sound into adulthood.
How puppies from those parents actually turn out.
Immune function, temperament, or long-term durability.
2. OFA’s Own Website States That Its Elbow Grading System Lacks Long-Term Validation
The published position notes that OFA elbow results are not scientifically proven predictors of future joint health. Riverside’s position is that, for breeders with detailed generational outcome tracking, a single OFA result adds little value alongside long-term real-world data.
“No long-term prospective scientific studies have shown that elbow grades are predictive of future elbow health or incidence of dysplasia.”
— Orthopedic Foundation for Animals
Elbow scores have not been validated by long-term scientific research.
Elbow grades should not be used as a standalone predictor of future health.
Elbow results may not correlate with real-life outcomes in offspring.
3. OFA Screenings Often Require Sedation or Anesthesia
To obtain OFA-approved radiographs, dogs must be placed into a precise and often uncomfortable position. Many veterinary clinics use sedation or general anesthesia. Riverside’s published position is that the predictive value does not outweigh repeated procedural risk for its dogs. Potential risks include:
Cardiovascular reactions
Blood pressure swings and irregular heart rhythms are more common in large breeds under anesthesia.
Respiratory complications
Airway challenges and slower recovery times are documented concerns for heavy-bodied dogs.
Joint strain from forced positioning
The positioning required for OFA hip films can temporarily strain joints and cause soreness.
Cumulative anesthetic exposure
Breeding dogs would be subjected to repeated procedures over several years.
4. Long-Term, Multi-Generational Breeding Data Is Far More Informative
Our program tracks:
Joint health and mobility throughout adulthood.
Family-reported health outcomes across hundreds of puppies.
Longevity trends.
Immune system strength and allergy patterns.
Behavioral and temperament consistency.
How different pairings perform over time.
Multi-generational health patterns that cannot be detected in a single X-ray.