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The Border Terrier Club of America has joined CHIC. We are the first breed in the Terrier Group to enter CHIC. This program is Parent Club driven, and is breed specific. It uses recognized, scientifically reviewed, tests - either phenotypic or genotypic. Dogs that are tested must be permanently identified by microchip or tattoo. Owners must select that all test results be in the open domain. A dog does not have to have normal results to receive a CHIC number. It must have the tests done, and the owner select that the results are available to the open domain
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The goal is to increase all testing, and increase the open reporting of all test results. Open results let both scientists and owners come to understand the true incidence of something in a breed. The CHIC number represents that a dog was tested in accordance with the BTCA recommended protocol at a given point in time and that all results were reported to OFA with permission for the open database. This means that a CHIC number will be issued to a dog that does not pass OFA hips or patellas, or CERF, or has an abnormal Cardiac exam. A dog that appears not to have been re-CERF'd may have died or been placed in another home. OFA tries to make sure the test ages and dates are available. To rescind a number and pull it out of the database defeats the purpose...the information to make more informed decisions and the results of their tests would no longer be available. Right now, we do not know if a dog without CERF, Patella, Hip or Cardiac results was never tested, or tested abnormal, or tested and the owner never bothered to submit the results. The goal of CHIC is to get ALL results into the database.
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For cataracts or any abnormal eye condition that would prevent a CERF number, the owners need to send in the CERF form since CERF does not automatically share abnormal information with OFA. The owner just needs to send in the report, and state that they would like the data entered into CHIC. There is no fee. Only abnormal eye data will be accepted manually, all normal data must be transmitted in the monthly file from CERF. Those dogs that do not pass CERF should continue to have yearly eye exams to track the progression of their disorder. Dogs with abnormal Cardiac exams should have periodic cardiac re-evaluations to monitor their health. Borders with heart defects generally live long lives. For dogs that have abnormal hip X-rays, or patellar exams or Cardiac exams, the owner should still submit the report to OFA. There is no fee for submitting abnormal exams. Again, you must give permission (on the form) that the results are open.
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The PURPOSE of CHIC is to help us understand the incidence of a problem in a breed, and to use sibling and progeny data to make better informed decisions in our breeding plans. Breeders who submit all results to OFA should be commended because they help expand our knowledge. If a database lists only those dogs that are clear, we are working blindly. CHIC numbers DO NOT IMPLY that a dog should be used for breeding. In fact, the results may help an owner decide to remove a dog from their breeding program, because it is producing affected offspring from multiple mates.
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CHIC is a dynamic program. As valid tests become available for disorders, the BTCA may add them to the CHIC requirements. Yearly CERF exams will generate an updated CHIC report to the owner of the dog
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The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals administers CHIC in conjunction with the AKC Canine Health Foundation. All OFA tests and normal CERF results are automatically entered into CHIC. A dog with a PennHIP, or OVC (Ontario Veterinary College) evaluation would have to submit those results to OFA, normal results would require the OFA fee. OFA does NOT charge for submission of any abnormal results.
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The following tests are required for Border Terriers.
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- Hip X-rays for Dysplasia (OFA, OVC, PennHip)
- OFA Patellar exams
- CERF exams - until at least age 8yrs. (96 mths)
- OFA Cardiac exam by a Cardiologist or Specialist (Internist)
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Pediatric Cardiac Exams:
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Since 1971 the BTCA has recommended that every puppy in every litter have a pediatric cardiac exam performed by your veterinarian before the pups go to their new homes
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We are encouraging OFA pediatric cardiac exams on every puppy in all litters. The examination should be done between the ages of 6 to 9 weeks. Your regular veterinarian may perform these, but the examination must be done following the OFA guidelines for cardiac examinations. OFA and the BTCA (in consultation with Veterinarians and Cardiologists) have designed a form to use for the submission of evaluations of your litters. They require that each litter be registered, and each puppy has a unique permanent identification -either microchip, or Canadian Kennel Club tattoo. For AKC litters, the final registration number of each puppy should be assigned to its microchip. All puppies in the litter should be examined. Puppies with murmurs of Grade 3 or above, or any puppy with a murmur that persists beyond 15 weeks should be referred to a cardiologist or internist. Congenital heart defects occur in Border Terriers. The incidence is very low. We know that Ventricular Septal Defects may close. We believe these are the most common congenital defect in Borders, but the pediatric cardiac exams will help us understand the incidence of all congenital heart defects in Borders, and also help elucidate the mode of inheritance.
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THIS IS A PILOT PROGRAM. There will be NO CHARGE to submit the form to OFA or to submit any follow-up pediatric cardiac exam on any puppy identified with a murmur during the pilot program. We will be examining the data obtained from this program. We anticipate that after two years we may require that there be a pediatric exam on file in order for an adult cardiac exam to qualify for CHIC for dogs whelped in the USA or Canada
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Pediatric cardiac exam forms are available to download as a PDF file from the OFA website (www.caninehealthinfo.org/btcardiacform.pdf).
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CHIC results are available now, you can find them through either the OFA Website, or the AKC/CHF website www.caninehealthinfo.org/brdreqs.html?breed=BRT
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Owners of CHIC dogs are receiving their CHIC certificates.
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CHIC information is not an endorsement of an individual dog. Nor should it condemn a dog. As breeders begin to use it, it will become an endorsement of the breeder's commitment to the health of Border Terriers. The aggregate data may eventually help us understand the significance of certain disorders in our breed.
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