Download Eligible Certifications

Bulldog Health Screening
& the BCA Ambassador for
Health Award Program
Melanie Trichler
BCA Health Committee
Division V
Recommended Bulldog Health Screenings
 Congenital Cardiac (OFA) – auscultation or echocardiogram
 Patellar Luxation (OFA) – manual manipulation by veterinarian
 Tracheal Hypoplasia (OFA) – x-ray, NO anesthesia or sedation
• Thyroid (OFA) – blood panel
• Spine Database (OFA) – x-ray (2 – 4 views)
• Hip Dysplasia (OFA or PennHIP) – x-ray (1 view)
• Elbow Dysplasia (OFA) – x-ray (2 views)
• Eye Database (OFA ECR or CERF) – exam by ACVO ophthalmologist
• Congenital Deafness (OFA) – BAER hearing test
• Canine Hyperuricosuria (HUU) (UC Davis) – DNA test
• Cystinuria (PennGen) – DNA test or urine sample
• CHIC DNA Data Bank – DNA test
 Required for CHIC (Canine Health Information Center) certification
Bulldog Health Screening Matrix
Screening
Registry
Minimum Age
Who can administer
Where to test
Application Fee
Frequency
Test to be performed
Sedation/Anesthesia
Required?
Eyes
OFA (ECR)
or
CERF
No minimum
ACVO Diplomate
ACVO Diplomate
office/Eye Clinic at Dog
Show
$12.00/
$8.00 re-cert
Must be re-tested/
re-certified annually
Eye exam with dilation
No
Hyperuricosuria
(HUU)
OFA
(using their Application
for DNA Based Genetic
Database)
No minimum
Owner
(Request DNA test kit from
http://www.vgl.ucdavis.edu/ser
vices/dog.php)
Home
One time only
DNA Buccal swab
No
OFA
(using their Application
for DNA Based Genetic
Database)
Owner
(Request DNA test kit from
No minimum http://research.vet.upenn.edu/
penngen or
https://www.vetgen.com/)
One time only
DNA Buccal swab
No
Canine Cystinuria
$50 DNA test submission to
UC Davis
CHIC
Requirement
$15 DNA application to OFA
Home
$100 DNA test submission to
PennGen or $65 DNA test
submission to VetGen
$15 DNA application to OFA
Congenital Deafness
OFA
35 Days
Veterinarian/Audiologist/
Canine Neurologist
Veterinary/Audiologist/
Neurologist Clinic/BAER
Clinic at Dog Show
$15.00
One time only
BAER hearing test
No
Spine
OFA
(Data only)
5 Months
Veterinarian
Veterinary Clinic
$20.00
One time only
Radiograph
No, although preferred
by some vets
Congenital Cardiac
OFA
12 Months
Veterinarian/Cardiologist
Veterinary
Clinic/Cardiac Clinic at
Dog Show
$15.00
One time only
Auscultation, although
Echocardiogram may be done
if desired for more information
No
X
Patellar Luxation
OFA
12 Months
Veterinarian
Veterinary Clinic/Patella
Clinic at Dog Show
$15.00
One time only
Manual manipulation of the
knees
No
X
Thyroid
OFA
12 Months
Veterinarian
Veterinary Clinic/Thyroid
Clinic at Dog Show
$15.00
One time only
Blood panel
No
Tracheal Hypoplasia
OFA
12 Months
Veterinarian
Veterinary Clinic
$25.00
One time only
Radiograph
No.
Dog MUST be awake.
Elbow Dysplasia
OFA
24 Months
Veterinarian
Veterinary Clinic
$35 alone/
$40 Hip & Elbows together
One time only
Radiograph
No, although preferred
by some vets
OFA
24 Months
Veterinarian
Veterinary Clinic
$35 alone/
$40 Hip & Elbows together
One time only
Radiograph
No, although preferred
by some vets
PennHIP
16 Weeks
PennHIP Certified Veterinarian
PennHIP Certified
Veterinary Clinic
Request amount from
PennHIP Vet
One time only
Radiograph
Yes
X
Hip Dysplasia
Consult with your veterinarian for more information and watch for upcoming health clinics at dog shows.
Permanent Identification (microchip or tattoo) required for certification.
Download and print OFA applications from the OFA website (http://www.offa.org) and bring them to your vet appointment.
Bulldogs that complete both the OFA Cardiac and OFA Patellar Luxation exams will automatically become certified with CHIC if the box is checked on the application to share data.
Definitions/Links:
ACVO = American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists - http://www.acvo.org/
BAER = Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response - http://www.lsu.edu/deafness/baerexpl.htm
CERF = Canine Eye Registration Foundation - http://web.vmdb.org/home/
CHIC = Canine Health Information Center - http://www.caninehealthinfo.org/
ECR = Eye Certification Registry (OFA) - http://www.offa.org
HUU = Hyperuricosuria - http://www.vgl.ucdavis.edu/services/Hyperuricosuria.php
OFA = Orthopedic Foundation for Animals - http://www.offa.org
PennHIP = University of Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program - http://www.pennhip.org/
Created by: Melanie Trichler/BCA Health Committee
Last update: 4/4/16
Health Screening Tips
• Consult with your veterinarian for information about health screening and
watch for upcoming health clinics at dog shows.
• Permanent Identification (microchip or tattoo) required for certification.
• Download and print OFA applications from the OFA website and bring them
to your vet appointment.
• Bulldogs that complete the OFA Cardiac, OFA Patellar Luxation, and OFA
Tracheal Hypoplasia exams will automatically become certified with CHIC if
the box is checked on the application to share data.
Health Screening Schedule
Early screenings
• CERF/ECR – any age after eyes are open. $12 application fee. $8
annual renewal fee. Discounts are available for litter or kennel
submissions.
• BAER hearing test – 35 days or older. $15 application fee.
• Canine Hyperuricosuria (HUU) DNA test – $50 testing fee.
• Cystinuria DNA test – $65-100 testing fee.
• PennHIP – 16 weeks or older. Cost varies by vet performing the
test.
Health Screening Schedule
5 Months or older
• OFA Tracheal Hypoplasia
o Trachea = 1 x-ray view & no anesthesia
o OFA application fee for Trachea evaluation is $25
• OFA Spine Database
o 2 to 4 x-ray views based on dog's size. Often can be done
without anesthesia.
o OFA application fee for Spine evaluation is $20
Health Screening Schedule
12 months or older
• OFA Patellar Luxation – $15 application fee. Discounts are available for
litter or kennel submissions.
• OFA Congenital Cardiac – $15 application fee. Discounts are available for
litter or kennel submissions.
• OFA Thyroid – $15 application fee. Discounts are available for litter or
kennel submissions.
 Discounts are also available for three or more soft tissue applications
submitted together on a single dog (example: Cardiac, Patella, and Eye
applications on single dog submitted together).
* Note – this discount does NOT apply to any applications requiring
radiographic evaluations.
Health Screening Schedule
24 months or older for certification. Can submit for
preliminary evaluation at 12 months.
• OFA Elbow Dysplasia
o 2 x-ray views. Sometimes can be done without anesthesia.
o OFA application fee for Elbow evaluation is $35.
• OFA Hip Dysplasia
o 1 x-ray view. Sometimes can be done without anesthesia.
o OFA application fee for Hips evaluation is $35.
• Combined fee when submitted at the same time is $40.
Discounts are available for litter or kennel submissions.
Health Information Resources
•
OFA – The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals
http://www.offa.org
Easily download forms and search database for dogs with specific OFA certifications.
•
CHIC - Canine Health Information Center
http://www.caninehealthinfo.org/
Get information about DNA Bank, view CHIC requirements by breed & search database for dogs
with CHIC numbers
•
PennHIP – alternate hip evaluation methodology
http://research.vet.upenn.edu/Default.aspx?alias=research.vet.upenn.edu/pennhip
•
UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory
http://www.vgl.ucdavis.edu/services/dog.php
Get information about Canine Hyperuricosuria and available testing and order test kits
•
Univ. of Penn Veterinary Research
http://research.vet.upenn.edu/penngen
Get information about Cystinuria and available testing and order test kits
•
Veterinary Genetic Services (VetGen)
https://www.vetgen.com/
Get information about Cystinuria and available testing and order test kits
BCA Ambassador for Health Award Program
The purpose of the BCA Ambassador for Health Award program is to promote
betterment of the Breed through health testing by recognizing Bulldogs, owned
by BCA members, which have met specific health testing requirements.
BCA Ambassador for Health Award Program
Overview and Deadline:
Each eligible Bulldog will be awarded a certificate suitable for framing which
indicates the level of achievement and details the health certifications the
dog has successfully completed. Certificates will be awarded annually to all
Bulldogs whose owners have submitted a completed application and the
required verification to the Health Committee by the deadline date. In order
to be recognized as an Ambassador for Health and/or Health Pioneer Award
recipient at the BCA Nationals, completed applications must be received by
the 1st day of the month immediately preceding the month in which that
year’s Nationals is scheduled. For 2016, because Nationals will be held in
November, the application deadline is October 1.
BCA Ambassador for Health Award Program
Levels and Requirements:
Bronze: Successful completion of any two eligible certifications.
Silver: Successful completion of any three eligible certifications.
Gold: Successful completion of any four eligible certifications.
Platinum: Successful completion of five or more eligible certifications.
BCA Ambassador for Health Award Program
Eligible Certifications:
OFA Cardiac
OFA Patella
OFA Thyroid
OFA Elbow
OFA Hip
OFA Tracheal Hypoplasia
Passing results are required on all tests (passing is defined by OFA and an OFA
certificate must have been issued) for the Ambassador for Health Award. All
tests must be submitted to OFA and be part of their public database.
BCA Ambassador for Health Award Program
Age Requirements:
Cardiac, Patella, Thyroid, Trachea:
Dogs must be 12 months of age or older on the date of the examination.
Hips/Elbows:
Dogs must be 24 months of age or older at the time of the radiography.
BCA Ambassador for Health Award Program
Application Requirements:
The Bulldog that is applying for the Ambassador for Health Award must be
owned or co-owned by a BCA member in good standing. If the dog is coowned, the co-owner who is a member of BCA must submit the application.
It is not necessary to be a BCA member at the time the tests were performed.
All awards are designed to be a one-time award for each recipient, rather than
a recurring, annual award. Additional levels may be applied for the next
year provided all verification is received by the Health Committee by the
deadline date and the recognition award will be given at the appropriate
upgraded level.
BCA Ambassador for Health Award Program
To apply, access the Ambassador for Health Award application online at:
http://www.bulldogclubofamerica.org/pdf/bca_ambassador_for_health_applica
tion_rev12072619072014130736.pdf
BCA Ambassador for Health Award Program
Any questions, please contact your Division V BCA Health Committee
representative:
Melanie Trichler
[email protected]
206-755-1289