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 OR by contacting Laura Smith.
