www.caninehealthinfo.org

The Canine Health Information Center, also known as CHIC, is a centralized canine health database jointly sponsored by the AKC/Canine Health Foundation (AKC/CHF) and the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).

Conceived in 1999, the pilot program became operational in 2001 with 8 breeds enrolled.  As of September 2003, there were 35 breeds participating through their parent clubs, and over 13,000 dogs have been issued CHIC numbers.

CHIC Mission Statement:

To provide a source of health info for owners, breeders, and scientists, that will assist in breeding healthy dogs.

CHIC Goals:

• To work with 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.
• To establish scientifically valid diagnostic criteria for the acceptance of information into the database.
• To base the availability of information on individually identified dogs at the consent of the owner.

CHIC Overview

The CHIC database is a tool that collects health information on individual animals from multiple sources.  This centralized pool of data is maintained to assist breeders in making more informed breeding decisions and for scientists in conducting research.  In order for data to be included in CHIC, test results must be based on scientifically valid diagnostic criteria.

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.  Breed specific requirements typically consist of the inherited diseases that are of the greatest concern and for which some screening test is available.  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.

A CHIC number and CHIC report are automatically 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 by itself does not imply normal test results, rather, it indicates that all the required breed specific tests were performed and the results made publicly available.  The CHIC report is a consolidated listing of the tests performed, the age of the dog at the time of the test, and the corresponding test results.  As new results are recorded, updated CHIC reports reflecting the additional information are generated.  It was stressed that an apparent flaw that needs to be overcome is encouraging owners to share ALL information to keep this database updated and accurate.  If a dog should pass all CHIC requirements with negative results (passing test scores), then later fails a retest, the dog still has its initial CHIC results on file unless updated by that owner.  Rather than depend on the value of a CHIC number in itself, it is recommended to review the CHIC testing dates for current results.

Once included in the CHIC program, the breed specific requirements are dynamic.  As health priorities within a breed change, or as new screening tests become available, the breed specific requirements can be modified to reflect the current environment.  If the breed specific requirements are modified, existing CHIC numbers are not revoked.  The CHIC number is issued to a dog completing all required tests at a given point in time.

CHIC provides each participating parent club quarterly reports consisting of both aggregate numbers and specific dogs that have been issued CHIC numbers.

CHIC Website

The CHIC website is located at www.caninehealthinfo.org.  The website contains basic information on CHIC such as its mission and goals, and maintains a listing of the participating breeds and specific breed requirements.  The CHIC website also provides a search engine to identify dogs that have been issued CHIC numbers.  The CHIC website also provides direct information available on the dog’s sire, dam, offspring, and siblings.

CHIC Participating Breeds and Test Requirements (Aug ’03)

Akita:                                   Hips, Eyes, Thyroid

American Water Spaniel:          Hips, Eyes, Cardiac

Basenji:                                Hips, Eyes, Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency

Bearded Collie:                       Hips, Eyes, Thyroid

Belgian Sheepdog:                  Hips, Eyes, Elbows

Belgian Tervuren:                   Hips, Eyes, Elbows, Thyroid

Borzoi:                                 Eyes, Thyroid, Cardiac

Boston Terrier:                      Eyes, Patellas, Deafness

Bull Terrier:                           Cardiac, Patellas, Kidney Function, Deafness

Clumber Spaniel:                    Hips, Eyes, Elbows

Golden Retriever:                   Hips, Eyes, Elbows, Cardiac

Great Dane:                          Hips, Eyes, Thyroid, Cardiac

Greater Swiss Mountain Dog:    Hips, Eyes, Elbows

Havanese:                            Hips, Eyes, Patellas, Deafness

Irish Setter:                          Hips, PRA, Thyroid

Italian Greyhound:                  Hips, Eyes, Thyroid, Patellas

Japanese Chin:                      Eyes, Patellas, Cardiac

Labrador Retriever:                 Hips, Eyes, Elbows

Mastiff:                                Hips, Eyes, Elbows, Cardiac

Newfoundland:                      Hips, Elbows, Cardiac, Cystinuria

Papillon:                               Eyes, Cardiac, Patellas

Rhodesian Ridgeback:             Hips, Eyes, Elbows, Thyroid

Rottweiler:                           Hips, Eyes, Elbows, Cardiac

Tibetan Terrier:                     Hips, Eyes, Deafness

Welsh Springer Spaniel:           Hips, Eyes, Thyroid

The CHIC program is growing to encompass more breed clubs and is including additional defects and new ways to capture information.  An example is Baer testing for Boston Terriers.  A new form will include a Boston silhouette for owner to draw the dog’s markings since it is believed that Boston coloring and markings may be related to deafness.  CHIC is also working with testing facilities to increase participation. 

Affiliates for results include OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), CERF (Canine Eye Registration Foundation), and GDC (Genetic Disease Control).  CHIC certification is now automated.  A CHIC number and CHIC report are 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. 

Future CHIC plans include the development of an all-breed DNA bank.  This will provide researchers with optimized family groups needed for research and facilitate more rapid progress in research activities.  CHIC information will allow breeders to make more informed, selective breeding decisions.  Deceased dogs will be able to be captured and information maintained. 

The University of Missouri has been chosen as the lab of choice for DNA extraction and storage.  They have good relations with OFA and are already participating in storing DNA for multiple studies.  They currently have over 30,000 samples in storage.