The Orthopedic
Foundation for Animals
The Orthopedic
Foundation for Animals (OFA) was founded as a not-for-profit
corporation in 1966 as a means to evaluate radiographs (x-rays)
of hips, track results of the findings in a database and provide
breeding advice to reduce the incidence of the disease. Since
its inception "OFA" has become synonymous with certification of
a dog that is clear of
Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD)
. However, OFA does much more than just
certifying dogs for good hips!
OFA has expanded their databases to track other canine
diseases as well as databases for other animals when necessary.
|
OFA Database List as
of Sept. 2005 |
-
Hip
Dysplasia
-
Elbow
Dysplasia
-
Patellar
Luxation
-
Autoimmune
Thyroiditis
-
Congenital
Heart Disease
-
Legg-Calve-Perthes
Disease
-
Sebaceous
Adenitis
-
Congenital
Deafness
-
Craniomandibular
Osteopathy
-
Von
Willebrand's Disease
-
Progressive
Retinal Atrophy
-
Copper
Toxicosis
-
Cystinuria
-
Phosphofructokinase
Deficiency
-
Congenital
Stationary Night Blindness
-
Pyruvate
Kinase Deficiency
-
Renal
Dysplasia
-
CERF
(supplied as a courtesy)
|
Having an educational tool
like OFA allows responsible breeders the opportunity to record
this information to help stop any individual incidence of a
genetic disease from gaining a foothold in the bloodline pool of
the breed. OFA fees for thyroid, patella and cardiac are waived
(no fee) for results that are deemed “Equivocal and
Affected”. Neglecting to file a
dog’s report with OFA may lead to a false sense of security on
health issues.
Databases provide a breeder with a means to track evidence of
diseases. It is vitally important that ALL Boykin Spaniels be
examined for genetic diseases and their results submitted to OFA
for entry into their database. It is important to have a
complete picture of the genetic soundness in a breed even if an
individual may not be used as a stud or brood bitch.
2005 Boykin Spaniel OFA
Database of Reported Statistics
From
recorded evaluations January 1974 through December 2005
|
|
Registry |
Rank |
Evaluations |
Percent
Abnormal |
Percent
Normal |
|
CARDIAC |
46 |
172 |
0.0 |
100.0 |
|
ELBOW |
N/A |
21 |
14.3 |
85.7 |
|
HIPS |
11 |
1804 |
38.2 |
59.5 (1.1% deemed Excellent ) |
|
PATELLA |
N/A |
15 |
46.7 |
53.3 |
|
THYROID |
N/A |
1 |
0.0 |
100.0 |
2004 Boykin Spaniel OFA
Database of Reported Statistics
From
recorded evaluations January 1974 through December 2004 |
|
Registry |
Rank |
Evaluations |
Percent
Abnormal |
Percent
Normal |
|
CARDIAC |
34 |
126 |
0.0 |
100.0 |
|
ELBOW |
N/A |
20 |
15.0 |
85.0 |
|
HIPS |
9 |
1614 |
39.6 |
58.2 (0.9% deemed Excellent) |
|
PATELLA |
N/A |
4 |
75.0 |
25.0 |
|
THYROID |
N/A |
1 |
0.0 |
100.0 |
The Canine Health
Information Center (CHIC) is open to all AKC parent clubs
that request to be included in the program. OFA supplies
information to the AKC for inclusion in their database in this
joint venture between the two major organizations. Clubs participating
in the Purina Pro Club Partnership Program support the CHIC by
donating half of all monies earned to AKC/CHF, which in turn
co-sponsors the CHIC database along with OFA.
Dogs having CHIC numbers will
be listed on the OFA database with the CHIC logo which is linked
to their information on the CHIC database. CHIC numbers will be
automatically generated for all Boykin Spaniels meeting health
testing requirements and having permanent ID (tattoo or
microchip). Health tests do not need to have normal results;
CHIC is meant to encourage health testing to reduce the
incidence of genetic disease. This means that a dog may receive
a CHIC number despite having abnormal results.
The OFA website and online searchable databases can be found
at www.offa.org |
