CHIC
Dalmatian CHIC Core and Other Tests
The Dalmatian Club of America (DCA) joined the Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) program in 2004. 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).
- To provide a source of health information for owners, breeders, and scientists, that will assist in breeding healthy dogs
- Hip Dysplasia - Results accepted from OFA (OFA, OVC, or PennHIP)
- Hearing - BAER results accepted from OFA
- Eyes - Results accepted from Companion Animal Eye Registry (CAER) Certification
- Thyroid - Results accepted from OFA (by an approved lab only)
Be sure to sign each form to release the results for public access in the CHIC database. DCA and DCAF strongly urge all owners and breeders to make all the test results publicly available.
- CHIC numbers are only issued for dogs with all required test results publicly available.
- OFA application fees for full litter B.A.E.R. and James W Smith Health Clinic tests are only covered for publicly available results.
Register your Dalmatian’s BAER forms/tracings, Hip results, and Thyroid with OFA and/or CAER test results with CAER. The information will automatically be entered into the CHIC database, and a CHIC number and certificate for your dog will be sent to you.
- A dog must have a permanent identification via a tattoo or a microchip to be enrolled in the CHIC program.
- DCAF covers full litter B.A.E.R. application fees for DCA Member breeders.
- DCAF offers the James W Smith Memorial Health Clinics each year during the DCA National Specialty. Eye exams and Thyroid tests are offered whenever possible at discounted prices and DCAF covers the OFA application fees.
- DCAF encourages breeders to secure CHIC numbers on all dogs BEFORE they are used for any breedings. We incentivize this by offering a cash award bonus to winners of the DCA Futurity Stakes offered annually at the National Specialty.
- DCAF offers the following special prizes for winners of the Futurity. These prizes shall be awarded only if the Sire and Dam are CHIC listed.
- BREEDER(S) OF THE BEST IN FUTURITY winner shall be awarded $500.00 in aggregate by DCAF.
- DCA MEMBER OWNER(S) OF THE SIRE OF THE BEST IN FUTURITY winner shall be awarded $500.00 in aggregate by DCAF.
- DCA MEMBER OWNER(S) OF THE SIRE AND BREEDER OF THE BEST JUNIOR OR SENIOR THAT DOES NOT WIN BEST IN FUTURITY shall be awarded $200.00 in aggregate each by DCAF.
- 1. 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. The data is publicly available to anyone on the OFA website.
- 2. 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.
- 3. 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 of 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 - Researchers are able to utilize the information for epidemiological studies that can enhance our knowledge of health issues affecting all breeds of dogs.
Help DCAF continue to encourage participation in the CHIC database!
Questions regarding the CHIC program may be addressed to:
Orthopedic Foundation for Animals
c/o Eddie Dziuk or Dr. Greg Keller
2300 East Nifong Blvd.
Columbia, MO 65201
(800) 442-0418
Website: https://ofa.org/