If you check OFA statistics for bassets, a little under a third of bassets screened by that organization are diagnosed with hip dysplasia. If you look at PennHip stats, Bassets are on the high end for median DI, which translates to relatively greater hip laxity than is seen in most breeds. Hip laxity is believed to be a condition that predisposes a dog to the development of arthritis.
So, it would appear at first glance that bassets have a greater problem with hip dysplasia than other breeds. However, unlike most other breeds, bassets bear a disproportionally greater amount of their weight (two thirds to three quarters) on their front ends; less, on their hips and rears. This might suggest that many basset are able to tolerate comparatively greater hip joint laxity without developing the debilitating arthritic changes that characterize moderate and severe hip dysplasia.
I believe there is room for legitimate debate about the clinical significance of an initial diagnosis of hip dysplasia in a basset, especially if the dog has no accompanying degenerative arthritic changes. However, if there is arthritis of the involved hips, then it's definitely a problem for that particular basset, and the diagnosis of dysplasia *is* significant for both the affected dog and its breeder.
[ October 18, 2004, 10:21 PM: Message edited by: Betsy Iole ]