Canine Health Information Center (CHIC)

The Board recently approved the participation of the CSPCA in the Canine Health Information Center program. Details of the program for our breed are given below.

Overview

CHIC is a centralized canine health database sponsored by the AKC Canine Health Foundation (AKC-CHF) and the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA). It was conceived in 1999 and became operational in 2001. Today there are 56 breeds involved through their parent clubs.

 Goals

The goals of the CHIC Program are:

1. To work with parent clubs to identify breed health issues and help to establish a central information system concerning these health issues.
2. To maintain a central health information system for each breed in a manner that will support research and provide health information to owners and breeders.
3. To establish scientifically valid diagnostic criteria for the acceptance of information into the database.
4. To base the availability of information on individually identified dogs at the consent of the owner.

These goals are accomplished by only adding data to the database that is based on scientifically valid diagnostic criteria such as supplied by OFA, CERF, genetic screening test, actual laboratory test results, etc. Anecdotal information is not accepted into the database to meet the breed requirements. All dogs entered into the database must be permanently identified in the form of a microchip or tattoo. A CHIC number and CHIC report are issued when the breed test requirement results are entered into the database and when the owner has opted to release the results into the public domain. The CHIC number does not mean the dog has normal test results. The CHIC number only means the required breed specific tests were done and the results made publicly available. The CHIC database is accessible on the web at www.caninehealthinfo.org.

The database allows breeders to make intelligent breeding decisions based on valid scientific tests and may be of value to the scientific community as well. As more information accumulates in the database searches can be conducted into an individual dog’s siblings, sire/dam and offspring.

The breed specific requirements are determined by the parent club and are dynamic – as the health problems within a breed change over time or as new tests become available the breed specific requirements can be changed.

The CSPCA

Based on the results of the Health Survey and the availability of specific valid tests I feel the breed requirements for the Shar-Pei should consist of:

1. Hips – OFA certification at 2 years of age or older.
2. Elbows – OFA certification at 2 years of age or older.
3. Patellas – OFA certification (can be done by regular veterinarian).
4. Hypothyroidism – Michigan State University Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory, Endocrine Diagnostic Section.
5. Entropion – CERF examination.
6. There also is an option for anecdotal reporting which is not a requirement but would supply useful information. I would place FSF reporting in this category.

Certainly as a test for FSF comes online it can be added to this list as my intent in implementing this program is to provide a vehicle for the dissemination of FSF test results at some future point in time.

OFA and CERF results are entered automatically into the CHIC database at no charge. Other tests would be entered at a cost of $25 one time per dog.

Two points need to be re-emphasized. First, the results of the breed test requirements are placed in the public domain. This means anyone can access these results. This is a very important part of this program. Second, a CHIC number is issued whether the breed test results are normal or abnormal. The CHIC number only means the individual dog had the testing done. I recommend anyone who is considering participation in this program access the web site and play with it a little bit. The value of a public database such as this in making breeding decisions will become immediately apparent. I can be reached by E-mail at DrJWV@aol.com with any questions you may have. If I don’t know the answer I will find out for you.

Canine Health Information Center (CHIC)

Parent Club Reporting for the CSPCA
CHIC numbers issued or updated 10/1/05-12/31/05

These are the first entries in the Chinese Shar-Pei breed site in the Canine Health Information Center. The owners have completed the required testing to be issued a CHIC number. I congratulate these dogs and their owners for participating in this program as a first step in sharing information to better the genetic health of our breed. This information is on the CHIC website at www.caninehealthinfo.org.