www.rottweilerhealth.org

best viewed: 1024 x 768 pixels

Winter 2008

CHIC: 
THE CANINE HEALTH INFORMATION CENTER

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

Learn more about CHIC's informed consent database, CHIC numbers and reports, CHIC fee structure, and contact information below.

RHF's CHIC Report submitted by Doreen LePage (02/2002)

Two years ago, at the last Parent Club National Canine Health Conference in St. Louis, the AKC Canine Health Foundation and the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals announced the concept of developing a Canine Health Information Center (CHIC).  At that time, the organizers did not know what the project was going to look like or how they were going to get off the ground, but they did announce that several breeds would be hand selected as pilot breeds to develop the database and ultimately determine if this was a feasible project.  Almost a year later and after a bit of "political effort" on my part, the Board of the American Rottweiler Club received an invitation to be a pilot breed in the CHIC project.  The Boards of both the ARC and RHF were delighted to accept the invitation to participate in this important project.  For years, the Board of the ARC has been interested in somehow developing tools to educate breeders and help facilitate the breeding of quality Rottweilers.  It was out of this concern and commitment to the future health of our breed that the Rottweiler Health Foundation was created.  CHIC certainly has the potential to address this goal.

The project mission is fairly simple:  to provide a source of health information for owners, breeders and scientists that will assist in breeding healthy dogs.  The goals of CHIC are:

• To work with the parent clubs and their health foundations 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 form/manner that will support research into canine diseases 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 owners.

CHIC Operating Guidelines:

• Parent Clubs must identify and be actively involved in the management of breed specific health issues in a central information system is essential to the success of CHIC.
• The data entered and maintained in CHIC must be accessible and useful for authorized scientific research into canine diseases and must be maintained in a format that makes such information available to owners and breeders.
• The availability of information on individual dogs in CHIC will be subject to the owner's consent.
• There must be a scientifically valid diagnostic criteria and procedures established in advance for the acceptance of information about any disease into the CHIC database.
• There will be a requirement for permanent identification of each dog from whom data is to be entered into CHIC.
• CHIC, once established, will offer DNA storage services for families of dogs with specific diseases.

How CHIC can benefit you and the Rottweiler:

• Breeding Information:  Permanent identification and central data storage provides breeders with a reliable source of information about dogs they may be planning on using in their breeding program.  This data storage would be on a website that anyone will be able to access.
• Buyer's Information:  Breeders can provide copies of CHIC records for the new puppy owners and other breeders or refer them to the CHIC database for accurate information about results of their health testing.
• Research Information:
  • Parent Clubs - Can access CHIC data on their breed to help determine health research priorities and evaluate the participation and effectiveness of testing programs and incentives they have established.
  • Breed Research - Scientist need accurate information on multiple generations on dogs in order to conduct research that can benefit breeds and eliminate genetic diseases.  The CHIC database can serve as a resource for these scientists.
  • All Breed Research - As the CHIC database becomes more complete, researchers will be able to utilize the information for epidemiological studies that will enhance our knowledge of health issues affecting all breeds of dogs.

The Board of the American Rottweiler Club, with consultation with the Board of the Rottweiler Health Foundation, has selected the following information that will be collected on the Rottweiler at this time:

• Hips - OFA, PennHip (GDC was selected, but refused to submit their database to CHIC)
• Elbows - OFA
• Hearts - OFA
• Eyes - CERF

Each dog must have a permanent ID of either microchip, tattoo or DNA; and the dog owner will have the choice of submitting the info to the open registry or a semi-closed registry. 

To date, 207 Rottweilers have been issued CHIC certificates.  These dogs have passed ALL the above listed health clearances.  As more genetic tests become available, additional requirements may be added.  This is a long-range project and needs active participation by all Rottweiler owners.  The seven breeds currently participating in this pilot project are:

1. Basenji (0 dogs with CHIC certificates)
2. Bull Terrier (13 dogs with CHIC certificates)
3. Labrador Retriever (2312 dogs with CHIC certificates)
4. Mastiff (0 dogs with CHIC certificates)
5. Newfoundland (4 dogs with CHIC certificates)
6. Rhodesian Ridgeback (18 dogs with CHIC certificates)
7. Rottweiler (207 dogs with CHIC certificates)

Dalmatians and Bearded Collies have just been added to the program.  I have participated in two conference calls with representatives from each of the above listed breed clubs.  CHIC is a dynamic project and will continue to grow.  It is important that owners of dogs submit information on both clear and affected dogs.  We are currently looking at incentives for increasing owner participation in the project.  CHIC can be an extremely valuable tool for our breed.  Peer pressure and public education will be the best way to get owners/breeders to participate in this program.

I will report on future developments on this project, as they become available.  CHIC will be a discussion topic at the health conference in St. Louis.  More information will be distributed on the project over the next several months.  Watch for CHIC updates in the AKC Gazette and your local breed club newsletters.  To be successful, this is a project that will need support from all the Rottweiler clubs, our AKC delegate and individual Rottweiler owners.

~ ~ ~

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.  Owners are encouraged to release all test results realizing it is in the ultimate health interests of the breed and the information greatly increases the depth and breadth of any resulting pedigree analysis.  For those not quite ready to accept open sharing of information, there is still value in submitting their results.  All test information entered into the database is available in aggregate for research and statistical reporting purposes, but does not disclose identification of individual dogs.  This results in improved information on the prevalence of the disease, as well as information regarding progress in reducing the incidence of the disease.

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 by itself does not imply normal test results, only that all the required breed specific tests were performed and the results made publicly available. 

A CHIC report is issued at the same time as the CHIC number.  The CHIC report is a consolidated listing of the tests performed, the age of the dog when the tests were performed, and the corresponding test results.  As new results are recorded, updated CHIC reports reflecting the additional information will be generated.  For example, if a breed requires annual CERF examinations, an updated CHIC report will be generated every time updated CERF results are entered.  Another potential example is as new DNA tests are developed and added to the breed specific requirements, updated CHIC reports will be generated as the test results are entered.

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. Again, the CHIC number is issued to a dog that completed all required tests at a given point in time.  

CHIC will provide the parent club quarterly reports consisting of both aggregate numbers and specific dogs who have been issued CHIC numbers.

CHIC Fee Structure
Test results from the OFA and CERF databases are shared automatically with the CHIC program.  There is no fee to enter test results from either the OFA or CERF, and there is no requirement to fill out any additional forms. 

To enter results into CHIC from another source such as PennHIP, GDC, OVC, or parent club maintained databases, there is a one time per dog fee of $25.00.  To enter results from any of these organizations, the CHIC Application To Enter Test Results must be completed.  The completed form, test result documentation, and fee should be sent to the OFA.  Any additional results after the one time fee is paid are recorded at no charge.  Additionally, there is no charge when entering results on an affected animal from a non-CERF/OFA source.

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 approved breed specific test protocols.  Forms such as the 'Parent Club Application' and 'Application To Enter Test Results' are available as downloads.  The CHIC website also provides a search engine to locate dogs who have been issued CHIC numbers, their test dates, and the results of their tests.

Contacts
Questions regarding the CHIC program may be addressed to: