Melanie Trichler BCA Health Committee Division V Bulldog Health Screening & the BCA Ambassador for Health Award Program

Recommended Bulldog Health Screenings  Congenital Cardiac (OFA) – auscultation or echocardiogram  Patellar Luxation (OFA) – manual manipulation by veterinarian  Tracheal Hypoplasia (OFA) – x-ray, NO anesthesia or sedation Thyroid (OFA) – blood panel Spine Database (OFA) – x-ray (2 – 4 views) Hip Dysplasia (OFA or PennHIP) – x-ray (1 view) Elbow Dysplasia (OFA) – x-ray (2 views) Eye Database (OFA ECR or CERF) – exam by ACVO ophthalmologist Congenital Deafness (OFA) – BAER hearing test Canine Hyperuricosuria (HUU) (UC Davis) – DNA test Cystinuria (PennGen) – DNA test or urine sample CHIC DNA Data Bank – DNA test  Required for CHIC (Canine Health Information Center) certification

Consult with your veterinarian for information about health screening and watch for upcoming health clinics at dog shows. Permanent Identification (microchip or tattoo) required for certification. Download and print OFA applications from the OFA website and bring them to your vet appointment. Bulldogs that complete the OFA Cardiac, OFA Patellar Luxation, and OFA Tracheal Hypoplasia exams will automatically become certified with CHIC if the box is checked on the application to share data. Health Screening Tips

Early screenings CERF/ECR – any age after eyes are open. $12 application fee. $8 annual renewal fee. Discounts are available for litter or kennel submissions. BAER hearing test – 35 days or older. $15 application fee. Canine Hyperuricosuria (HUU) DNA test – $50 testing fee. Cystinuria DNA test – $ testing fee. PennHIP – 16 weeks or older. Cost varies by vet performing the test. Health Screening Schedule

5 Months or older OFA Tracheal Hypoplasia o Trachea = 1 x-ray view & no anesthesia o OFA application fee for Trachea evaluation is $25 OFA Spine Database o 2 to 4 x-ray views based on dog's size. Often can be done without anesthesia. o OFA application fee for Spine evaluation is $20 Health Screening Schedule

12 months or older OFA Patellar Luxation – $15 application fee. Discounts are available for litter or kennel submissions. OFA Congenital Cardiac – $15 application fee. Discounts are available for litter or kennel submissions. OFA Thyroid – $15 application fee. Discounts are available for litter or kennel submissions.  Discounts are also available for three or more soft tissue applications submitted together on a single dog (example: Cardiac, Patella, and Eye applications on single dog submitted together). * Note – this discount does NOT apply to any applications requiring radiographic evaluations. Health Screening Schedule

24 months or older for certification. Can submit for preliminary evaluation at 12 months. OFA Elbow Dysplasia o 2 x-ray views. Sometimes can be done without anesthesia. o OFA application fee for Elbow evaluation is $35. OFA Hip Dysplasia o 1 x-ray view. Sometimes can be done without anesthesia. o OFA application fee for Hips evaluation is $35. Combined fee when submitted at the same time is $40. Discounts are available for litter or kennel submissions. Health Screening Schedule

OFA – The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals Easily download forms and search database for dogs with specific OFA certifications. CHIC - Canine Health Information Center Get information about DNA Bank, view CHIC requirements by breed & search database for dogs with CHIC numbers PennHIP – alternate hip evaluation methodology UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory Get information about Canine Hyperuricosuria and available testing and order test kits Univ. of Penn Veterinary Research Get information about Cystinuria and available testing and order test kits Veterinary Genetic Services (VetGen) Get information about Cystinuria and available testing and order test kits Health Information Resources

BCA Ambassador for Health Award Program The purpose of the BCA Ambassador for Health Award program is to promote betterment of the Breed through health testing by recognizing Bulldogs, owned by BCA members, which have met specific health testing requirements.

Overview and Deadline: Each eligible Bulldog will be awarded a certificate suitable for framing which indicates the level of achievement and details the health certifications the dog has successfully completed. Certificates will be awarded annually to all Bulldogs whose owners have submitted a completed application and the required verification to the Health Committee by the deadline date. In order to be recognized as an Ambassador for Health and/or Health Pioneer Award recipient at the BCA Nationals, completed applications must be received by the 1st day of the month immediately preceding the month in which that year’s Nationals is scheduled. For 2016, because Nationals will be held in November, the application deadline is October 1. BCA Ambassador for Health Award Program

Levels and Requirements: Bronze: Successful completion of any two eligible certifications. Silver: Successful completion of any three eligible certifications. Gold: Successful completion of any four eligible certifications. Platinum: Successful completion of five or more eligible certifications. BCA Ambassador for Health Award Program

Eligible Certifications: OFA Cardiac OFA Patella OFA Thyroid OFA Elbow OFA Hip OFA Tracheal Hypoplasia Passing results are required on all tests (passing is defined by OFA and an OFA certificate must have been issued) for the Ambassador for Health Award. All tests must be submitted to OFA and be part of their public database. BCA Ambassador for Health Award Program

Age Requirements: Cardiac, Patella, Thyroid, Trachea: Dogs must be 12 months of age or older on the date of the examination. Hips/Elbows: Dogs must be 24 months of age or older at the time of the radiography. BCA Ambassador for Health Award Program

Application Requirements: The Bulldog that is applying for the Ambassador for Health Award must be owned or co-owned by a BCA member in good standing. If the dog is co- owned, the co-owner who is a member of BCA must submit the application. It is not necessary to be a BCA member at the time the tests were performed. All awards are designed to be a one-time award for each recipient, rather than a recurring, annual award. Additional levels may be applied for the next year provided all verification is received by the Health Committee by the deadline date and the recognition award will be given at the appropriate upgraded level. BCA Ambassador for Health Award Program

To apply, access the Ambassador for Health Award application online at: tion_rev pdf BCA Ambassador for Health Award Program

Any questions, please contact your Division V BCA Health Committee representative: Melanie Trichler BCA Ambassador for Health Award Program