The minimum health checks should include
CERF eye exams and OFA hip ratings.
The CHIC clearance screenings for Great Danes are hip radiographs for hip dysplasia,
CERF eye exams, and tests for congenital cardiac disease and autoimmune thyroid disease.
I started encouraging hip x-rays and
CERF eye exams and writing articles to promote awareness.
CERF (Canine Eye Registration Foundation) A
CERF eye exam should be done yearly, the reason being that some eye diseases can occur at different ages.
In the 1990's we discovered that some popular studs (without
CERF eye exam clearances) were passing on Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) to their puppies.
OFA Patella certification any time after 12 months of age Screening OFA hip radiographs after 24 months of age OFA thyroid profile at least once at age 3 or older OFA or
CERF eye exam — at least once at age three or older
Not exact matches
Even though the Canine
Eye Registry Fundation is no longer the main registry, you will continue to hear of an
eye exam refered to as a
CERF exam.
Voluntary registration of individual Bouviers in CHIC currently requires certification of testing for hip and elbow dysplasia, cardiac
exams, and
eye exams through OFA, PennHip, and
CERF.
Veterinary ophthalmologists often give discount rates for
eye exams if they are done for
CERF.
Zorro had a normal
eye exam at two, and at three, Sherry took him in for his annual
CERF exam.
The advantage of a
CERF exam is that a copy of the information about every dog's
eyes is sent by the veterinarian to
CERF.
Such information would include copies of pedigrees,
CERF or other
eye exams, and any other relevant health history.
Having
CERF exams performed will add to our knowledge of inherited
eye diseases in dogs.
There are four health tests that are currently recommended by the HCA: BAER (hearing),
CERF (an annual
eye exam), patella (once after they are a year old) and hips (once after the dog is two years old).
The Canine
Eye Registration Foundation,
CERF, located at Purdue University, evaluates
eye exams and assigns a
CERF number if the dog's
eyes are free of genetic problems.
Due to the abnormal appearance of the CMR - affected retina,
CERF, ACVO, ECVO and other ophthalmologist's
eye exam reports typically record these multi-focal lesions as «retinal dysplasia» or «retinal folds», to denote a defect in formation of the retina.
The requirements include 1) hip dysplasia screening from OFA or another accredited hip certification, 2) Thyroid Testing from an accredited lab, 3) an OFA (or formerly
CERF)
eye exam from a veterinary ophthalmologist, and 4) a DNA test for Exercise Induced Collapse from an OFA approved lab.
E. All Havanese used for breeding should be examined by a Veterinary Ophthalmologist to rule out known or suspected hereditary
eye disease (
CERF exam).
For Chinese Shar - Pei, screening tests have been recommended against the following health concerns: hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, autoimmune thyroiditis, patellar luxation, and a
CERF exam to identify various
eye and vision abnormalities.
Aside from entropion, the
CERF exam screens for several other
eye disorders that are seen in Chinese Shar - Pei.
CERF (Canine
Eye Registry Foundation)
eye exams annually until age 10.
They are now accepted by CHIC if they have passed their OFA
exams and
eye exam by
CERF.
Not only that — but a dog that has already been diagnosed with an
eye problem likely won't be given a
CERF exam at all.
(Note that the general
eye exam form used by ACVO's does not go to
CERF, so many diagnoses are not registered.