In short, CHIC is a database of consolidated health screening results from multiple sources. Co-sponsored by the OFA and the AKC Canine Health Foundation, CHIC works with parent clubs to identify health screening protocols appropriate for individual breeds. Dogs tested in accordance with the parent club established requirements, that have their results registered and made available in the public domain are issued CHIC numbers.
No, CHIC is not about normalcy. CHIC is meant to encourage health testing and sharing of all results, normal and abnormal, so that more informed breeding decisions can be made in an overall effort to reduce the incidence of genetic disease and improve canine health.
Newfoundlands are a CHIC Breed- the following are the breed requirements:
Hip Dysplasia: OFA evaluation or PennHip evaluation
Elbow Dysplasia:OFA evaluation
Cardiac DIsorders: OFA Congenital Cardiac Clearance, the NCA recommends echocardiogram for all breeding stock
Cystinuria DNA test by a qualified laboratory: PennGen, VetGen, Optigen, HealthGene, or Veterinary Diagnostics Center.
Alternately, progeny may be cleared by parentage. Please refer to the OFA Website for their policy on "Clear by Parentage".
HE- OFA Excellent Hips
HG- OFA Good Hips
HF- OFA Fair Hips
HP- Hips Pending OFA
L- OFA Elbows Clear
LP- Elbows pending OFA
P- OFA Patella Clear
HrC- Heart Clear- Cardiologist
HrS- Heart Clear- Specialist
HrP- Heart Clear Practitioner
HR- Heart clear
T-OFA Thyroid Clear
C- CERF eye clearance
OFA- Orthopedic Foundation for Animals
CERF- Canine Eye Registry Foundation
