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Interpreting Health Clearance Certificates
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Reputable Chinese Crested breeders have been working for years to educate other breeders and potential puppy buyers to expect certain health clearances prior to breeding or purchasing a crested. Because of this, more and more breeders are clearing their breeding stock for eyes, hips, patellas, hearing, heart and thyroid. The purpose of this page is to help you to better understand the meaning of all the forms, to become familiar with them and their significance to the breed.
The following are NOT considered Health Testing for the purposes of this section: Vet checkups, vaccinations, vet health certificates (required for shipping), DNA profiling (required for importing and stud dogs that sire over 3 litters in a calendar year or 7 litters in a lifetime), microchipping, planning to do health testing, thinking about doing health testing, or health testing "pending."
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CERF
The Canine Eye Registration Foundation is a centralized, national registry, run by Purdue University in Indiana, USA. CERF registers those dog's certified free of heritable eye disease by members of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologist (AVCO). CERF also offers a searchable online database at www.vmdb.org There is no minimum age for certification, however, CERF Certification is good for one year only and it is suggested that each breeding dog be re-CERFed yearly to maintain its' registration with CERF and to ensure that it is not showing signs of heritable eye disease. Standards for heritability vary by breed and an item that is acceptable in one breed may not be in another. CERF also requires permanent identification in the form of microchip, tattoo or DNA profile for any dog to be registered.
For more information on the type of eye diseases a CERF exam can reveal check:
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| CERF - Small White Certificate, Blue Type
CERF# CCR-724/2007--37
CCR = Chinese Crested
724 is the number, this dog was the 724th dog to get a CERF number
2007 is the year that the certificate was issued
37 is the number of months old the dog was at the time of certification
Note the lower right of the form for Breeder Option Diagnosis.
This dog is normal, no breeder options.
If there had been breeder options, this is where it would be listed with abbreviations.
A description of which is listed on the back of the form.
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For a complete listing of AVCO Vets check the CERF website: www.vmdb.org .
The cost of an exam can run from $30 to upwards of $79, depending on the number of dogs being examined,
with CERF registration adding an additional $8 to $12 dollars per dog.
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prcd-PRA
Progressive rod-cone degeneration - Progressive Retinal Atrophy or commonly known as the Optigen test is a genetic, DNA-based test that identifies one form of PRA, an early onset form, known in several breeds. The results of this test will clearly tell you whether the dog tested is affected, a carrier or clear of this disease.
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| Optigen - Cream Certificate or e-mail verification
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Optigen LLC currently accepts two avenues of collection for genetic material for submission:
Self submitted cheek swabs and veterinarian drawn blood samples.
Cost of this genetic test depends on whether you submit a blood sample or cheek swab and whether it is in conjunction with a 20/20 clinic.
The cost of submission of results to the OFA database $15
20/20 Clinic dates can be found on Optigen's website at www.optigen.com .
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OFA
The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, Inc. is the leading North American Registry for health clearances. Located in Missouri, USA, the OFA has genetic databases for Baer Hearing Test, Congenital Cardiac Disease, Hip Dysplasia, Legg-Calve-Perthes, Patella Luxation, Autoimmune Thyroiditis, Elbow Dysplasia, Progressive Retinal Atrophy and Primary Lens Luxation for the Chinese Crested. When radiographs are submitted to the OFA, they are reviewed by three radiologists whose consensus determines the rating of the dog. Most Veterinarians are familiar with the OFA's requirements for submission, but if your vet is not, forms can be downloaded directly from the OFA website. Information on the registry and access to their online database can be found at www.offa.org . In addition, the OFA has an open, searchable database. Passing results are listed, along with failing results. The database can be searched by name, registration number, sire, dam, etc and also gives statistics for the breed.
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BAER
Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response
The BAER hearing test is used to evaluate deafness in dogs.
OFA recommends this test be performed by board certified veterinary neurologists, but will accept test results from experienced veterinarians/audiologists. One test suffices for the lifetime of the animal.
BAER is a pass/fail test. Bilateral hearing passes the test. Unilateral or bilateral deafness fails.
For more information on Congenital Deafness and the BAER hearing test check the OFA website: http://www.offa.org/
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| BAER - Small White Certificate, Blue Type
BAER#CHC-BR61/13M-VPI
CHC = Chinese Crested
BR = BAER Test
61 = is the number.
This dog was the 61st dog to be evaluated as normal to get a number.
13 = the number of months he was at the time of evaluation
M = Male (could also be for Female)
VPI = Vet Verified Permanently Identified by microchip or tatoo
(vet scans microchip and confirms dog examined is the one on paper)
PI if Permanently Identified or
NOPI if the dog is not Permanently Identified
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The cost of the BAER exam $77 when done in conjunction with a clinic.
The cost to submit the evaluation certificates to OFA and receive OFA certification is $15
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Cardiac
Cardiac is a pass/fail test. It is important that this test be carried out by a Certified Cardiologist, rather than a General Practitioner. A Certified Cardiologist uses a more advanced stethoscope to listen to the nuances of the heart and the flow of blood within which a General Practitioner will not posses. In the case of Cardiac testing, the Cardiologist passes or fails the dog. Failing grades range from 1 to 6, with 6 being the most severe. The OFA simply is a registry for this test and issues a number accordingly.
For more information on Congenital Cardiac Disease check the OFA website: http://www.offa.org/cardiacinfo.html
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| Cardiac - Pink Certificate
# CHC-CA30/22F/C-PI
CHC = Chinese Crested
CA = Cardiac
30 is the number.
This dog is the 30th dog to be evaluated as normal to get a number.
22 = the number of months he was at the time of evaluation (Min is 12)
F = Female (could also be M for Male)
*IMPORTANT* C = Board Certified Cardiologist (can also be S for Specialist or
P for General Practitioner)
PI = Permanently Identified by microchip or tatoo or
VPI for Permanently Identified and verified by vet or
NOPI if the dog is not Permanently Identified
ECHO = an additional suffix added if examination includes echocardiography
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Board Certified Cardiologist to screen heart by auscultation $35 when done in conjunction with a clinic.
If echocardiography is performed for certification, cost is upwards to $400.
The cost to submit the evaluation certificates to OFA and receive OFA certification is $15
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Hip
The OFA offers three passing ratings for hips: Excellent, Good and Fair.
One transitional rating: Boderline
and three levels of Hip Dysplasia: Mild, Moderate and Severe.
For more information on Hip Dysplasia check the OFA website: http://www.offa.org/hipinfo.html
For more information on Leggs-Calve-Perthes check the OFA website: http://www.offa.org/leggperthinfo.html
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| Hips - Blue Certificate
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CHC = Chinese Crested
is the number.
This dog was the th Crested evaluated as normal to get a number.
G = Good (could also be E for excellent or F for Fair)
= the number of months he was at the time of evaluation. (Min is 24)
M = Male (could also be F for Female)
PI = PI for Permanently Identified or
VPI if Permanently Identified and verified by vet
or NOPI if not Permanently Identified
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The cost to have hips x-rayed $100 and to have them mailed to OFA $35 when done in conjunction with a clinic.
The cost to submit the evaluation certificates to OFA and receive OFA certification is $15
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Patella
OFA registers the results of Patellar screenings. The veterinarian determines whether a dog receives a passing or failing grade.
Failing grades are ranked grade 1 - 4 with 4 being the most severe.
For more information on Patellar Luxation check the OFA website: http://www.offa.org/patluxinfo.html
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| Patella - Yellow Certificate
#CHC-PA325/22F/P-Pl
CHC = Chinese Crested
PA = Patellar Luxation
325 = is the number.
This dog is the 325th dog evaluated as normal to get a number.
22 = is the number of months old the dog was at the time of certification
F = Female ( could also be M for male )
P = General Practitioner
( could also be S for Specialist or O for Orthopedic Surgeon )
PI = Permanently Identified by microchip or tatoo or
VPI if Permanently Identified and verified by vet or
NOPI if the dog is not Permanently Identified
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Cost to have Patellas examined $15 when done in conjunction with a clinic.
The cost to submit the evaluation certificates to OFA and receive OFA certification is $15
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Thyroid
OFA registers the results of Thyroid screenings. The lab results determine whether a dog receives a passing or failing grade.
For more information on Thyroid Disease check the OFA website: http://www.offa.org/thyinfo.html
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| Thyroid - Grey Certificate
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CHC = Chinese Crested
TH = Thyroid
is the number.
This dog was the th dog to be evaluated as normal and given a number.
= the age in months the dog was when evaluated.
F = female ( could also be M for male )
PI = Permanently Identified by microchip or tatoo or
VPI if Permanently Identified and verified by vet or
NOPI if not Permanently Identified
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The cost to have blood drawn and sent for examination
The cost to submit the evaluation certificates to OFA and receive OFA certification is $15
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Elbow
OFA offers only a passing certificate for elbows, and no rating. A failing report will include such information as whether the elbows failed due to Degenerative Joint Disease, Ununited Anconeal Process, Fragmented Coronoid Process or Osteochondrosis. It will also include whether they were Grade 1, 11 or 111 (in case of DJD) and whether the right, left or both are affected.
For more information on Elbow Dysplasia check the OFA website: http://www.offa.org/elbowinfo.html
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| Elbows - Green Certificate
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CHC = Chinese Crested
EL = Elbows
is the number.
This dog is the th dog evaluated as normal to get a number.
F = female ( could also be M for male )
= age in months when the test was done
PI = Permanently Identified by tatoo or microchip can also be
VPI if Permanently Identified and verified by vet
or NOPI if the dog is not Permanently Identified
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The cost to submit the evaluation certificates to OFA and receive OFA certification is $15
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PRA
Progressive Retinal Atrophy, the end result of a dog being diagnosed with this disease is blindness.
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Primary Lens Luxation (PLL)
Primary Lens Luxation or PLL is a genetic, DNA-based test that identifies a DNA mutation that predicts whether a dog is at risk for developing lens luxation as they age. Identified and developed at the University of Missouri College Of Veterinary Medicine, the results of this test will clearly tell you whether the dog tested is affected, a carrier or clear of this disease.
For more information on Primary Lens Luxation check the OFA website:
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| Lens - Purple Certificate
# CHC-PLL26/11M-PI
CHC = Chinese Crested
PLL = Primary Lens Luxation
26 is the number
This dog is the 26th dog evaluated as normal to get a number
11 = age in months when the test was done
M = male (could also be F for female)
PI = Permanently Identified by tatoo or microchip
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The fee for each test is $65 and includes the test kit, laboratory processing, and subsequent registration in the OFA databases.
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