OFA

Have questions or comments about the Health & Genetics Committee?
Contact Jane Folkman, Chair

 

NSDTRC (USA) JOINS THE CHIC PROGRAM

Submitted by Jane Folkman, Chair of the Health and Genetics Committee ~ May 2006

The NSDTRC (USA) Board of Directors unanimously approved our club’s participation in the AKC Canine Health Information Center or CHIC at their January, 2006 online board business session. CHIC is a centralized canine health database jointly sponsored by the AKC/Canine Health Foundation (AKC/CHF) and the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA). The mission of CHIC is to provide a reliable source of health information for owners, breeders and scientists that will assist in breeding healthy dogs.

The CHIC database is supplied and maintained by the OFA and is done so in a secure environment by trained staff. A key element of CHIC is to customize the health tests required to the needs of each breed. The NSDTRC (USA) has adopted the strongly recommended tests established by the Breeder Referral Program, and has named the following required tests for the Toller CHIC program:

  • Hip Dysplasia – OFA, OVC or PennHip evaluation
  • Eye Clearance – CERF examination
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test

Dogs tested in accordance with our club established requirements, are permanently identified as required by OFA, and have their results registered and made available in the public domain, are issued CHIC numbers. Test results do not have to be normal to receive a CHIC number on a dog. These breed specific requirements are dynamic, and as health priorities within our breed change, or as new tests become available, the requirements can be modified and updated.

I have consulted with Eddie Dzuik at OFA to allow the results of our club prcd-PRA registry to be automatically included in the CHIC program database. Therefore each individual owner has been saved the fee to register their dog’s results with CHIC. The club receives all normal (A) results from prcd-PRA testing on US and Canadian Tollers, and these results will be periodically sent for inclusion in the CHIC database, however, carrier and affected results are not sent unless the owner releases the information to us for public listing. So please send your information for prcd-PRA carrier or affected dogs to our club registry so that the results will be registered with CHIC. A form has been included in the Spring 2006  issue of Quackers for you to use or you can download the form from the website with the link below.

For more information about the CHIC program please consult the following website: http://www.caninehealthinfo.org/

A copy of the "Listing Form" can be obtained by clicking the link below..