This month in our column we would like to familiarize the membership with the Canine Health Information Center (CHIC). CHIC is a centralized canine health database jointly sponsored by the AKC/Canine Health Foundation (AKC/CHF) and the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).

Some highlights of the program are mentioned here. For complete details please visit: www.caninehealthinfo.org.

In order for the Weimaraner to become one of the many breeds participating in this program, the WCA must develop a “profile” of diagnostic tests, which reflect the current health issues challenging our breeders. To this end, the WCA Health Coordinators are developing a Weimaraner Health Survey, which will be published in a future issue of The Weimaraner Magazine. Please take the time to learn about this exceptional program and participate in the survey.

CANINE HEALTH INFORMATION CENTER

Mission Statement

To Provide a source of health information to owners, breeders and scientists that will assist in breeding healthy dogs.

CHIC Goals

To work with AKC parent clubs in the identification of health issues for which a central information system should be established.

To establish and maintain a central health information system in a manner that will support research into canine disease and provide health information to owners and breeders.

CHIC Benefits

Once in place and accepted within the dog breeding community, the CHIC program offers benefits to breeders, buyers, parent clubs, and researchers.

Breed Specific

Core to the CHIC philosophy is the realization that each breed has different
health concerns. Not all diseases have known modes of inheritance, nor do
all diseases have screening tests. Some screening tests are based on phenotypic evaluation, others on genetic testing. With all these variables, a key element of CHIC is to customize or tailor the CHIC requirements to the needs of each breed.

These unique requirements are established through input from the parent club prior to the breed’s entry into the CHIC program.

Identification

Regardless of breed, each dog must be permanently identified in order to have test results included in CHIC. Permanent identification may be in the form of microchip or tattoo.

Informed Consent

CHIC operates an informed consent database. All information regarding test
results remains confidential unless the owner specifically authorizes release of the information into the public domain. CHIC Numbers and CHIC Reports
A CHIC number is issued when test results are entered into the database satisfying each breed specific requirement, and when the owner of the dog has opted to release the results into the public domain. The CHIC number itself does not imply normal test results, only that all the required breed specific tests were performed and the results made publicly available.