tests before breeding | Gordon Setter Expert

This ought to be good – and yes that’s sarcasm! I’m going to try to take all the long words and even longer sentences that describe CHIC (Canine Health Information Center) and boil them down to a few bullet points that briefly explain who, what, when, where, and how this thing works. To get a full explanation and a complete understanding of CHIC and it’s importance to the Gordon Setter you must read their home page for which I’ve supplied a link below.

WHO

CHIC sponsored by Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) to work with breed parent club such as the Gordon Setter Club of America (GSCA)

WHAT

CHIC collects information about health issues (Gordon Setters).
CHIC gives advice about the health screening tests we (owners) need to do to improve the chances of Gordon Setters being born without those health issues.
CHIC keeps records of the dogs that are screened and a database of all those test results.
CHIC issues a number when all screening tests are done on a dog – this number does not mean all tests were negative or clear.

WHEN

We (owners) screen or test Gordon Setters for the health issues CHIC told us about before breeding.
We send our dog’s test results and DNA samples to the CHIC database and storage bank.
We send CHIC updated health information on our dog when a new or different issue comes up.

HOW

CHIC sends researchers our dog’s DNA when it’s needed for new research projects.
CHIC keeps parent club (owners) up to date on current health trends in the breed based on the data that we sent them.
Researchers find new answers to breeding healthy Gordon Setters.

And they all lived happily ever after…the End!

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As with any question, ask several breeders the same question and you’ll get several different answers. When it comes to acting responsibly as a breeder to bring healthy Gordon Setter puppies into the world it’s agreed that completing certain health clearances on breeding animals before any mating occurs should be a priority. However, ask any breeder which tests are necessary or which certifications are the most important – that could become a topic for debate. For purposes of this article, we are listing the screening tests that address health issues that pertain to the Gordon Setter along with where to obtain or find proof of existing certification. These screening tests are suggested tools that will prepare you to make informed breeding choices that will affect the health of many future generations of Gordon Setters.

Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD) – screening/certification organizations. Click any of the active links below to be taken directly to that website for complete information.

Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA)
PennHip
Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) (Has been discontinued however certifications from 2007 – 2012 are available in a searchable database.)

Elbow Dysplasia

OFA
OVC (discontinued – certifications from 2007 – 2012 are available in a searchable database.)

Eye Examination by a boarded ACVO Opthalmologist:

OFA (Eye Certification Registry Procedures)

RCD4 Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA Late Onset)

OFA – approved laboratory

Cerebellar Degeneration (CD) ( Cerebellar Cortical Abiotrophy CCA or Cerebellar Ataxia CA)

OFA (Laboratory Form for testing) (OFA form for submitting results)
OFA – Cleared by Parentage Certification replaces the need for testing.

As a breeder it would be also important to understand the role CHIC plays for future genetic research. Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) Please see our previously published article by Jerold S. Bell DVM The CHIC DNA Repository for Gordon Setter for more complete information regarding this organization. Briefly Dr. Bell’s opening stated… “The CHIC DNA repository is a joint project of the AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF), the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA), and the Canine Health Information Center (CHIC). It is open to all breeds of dogs. The stated objectives of the program are to: Facilitate more rapid research progress by expediting the sample collection process; Provide researchers with optimized family groups needed for research; Allow breeders to take advantage of future DNA based disease tests as they become available; and to Foster a team environment between breeders/owners and the research community improving the likelihood of genetic discovery.” Additional Links: GSCA Health Survey 2004 Results

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We are dedicated to building a knowledge base and a sharing site for those who are involved in all of the various aspects of competition with Gordon Setters, competitions that showcase the Gordon Setter’s Beauty, Brains and Bird-Sense.