Health Information Center

CHIC Program

For more information, visit CHIC.

chic logo

The Canine Health Information Center (CHIC), sponsored by the OFA, encourages health testing and awareness by establishing a breed specific parent club recommended health screening protocol so breeders can work towards producing healthier puppies.
 

Mission Statement & Goals

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

 

GREAT PYRENEES Requirements

  • http://www.caninehealthinfo.org/brdreqs.html?breed=GP
  • Hip Dysplasia Evaluation (OFA, PennHIP, FCI, AVA)
  • Patellar Luxation Exam (OFA)
  • ONE Health Elective from the following list:
    • Elbow Dysplasia (OFA)
    • Cardiac Evaluation (OFA)
    • Thyroid Panel (OFA)
    • ACVO Eye Examination (OFA or CERF)
    • BAER Testing (OFA)
    • Should OCD Evaluation (OFA)
    • CMR DNA Testing
    • GT DNA Testing

As of April 2015, 570 Great Pyrenees have met the requirements and been issued CHIC numbers.

 

CHIC Basics

  • CHIC combines the health screening results from multiple sources into one centralized database
  • Parent Clubs establish the breed specific testing protocol.
  • Dogs complying with the breed specific testing requirements are issued CHIC numbers.
  • Once the recommended testing has been completed and the results are on record with CHIC, CHIC numbers are issued REGARDLESS of the result AS LONG AS the owner agrees to place the results in the public domain.  In other words, a dog with abnormal results is still eligible to receive a CHIC number if the owner is willing to share the results.
  • To be eligible, dogs must be permanently identified via microchip or tattoo.
  • CHIC numbers should not be misinterpreted as a stamp of approval for breeding.  A CHIC number indicates compliance with the parent club recommendation for health screening at a given point in time.
  • CHIC numbers do to not expire, however CHIC clearly indicates test dates so that compliance with recommendations for re-testing can be determined (ex ACVO recommendation for annual  eye examinations).

 

CHIC—DNA Repository
Fact Sheet

Mission Statement & Goals

 

The CHIC DNA Repository collects and stores canine DNA samples along with corresponding pedigree and phenotypic health information to facilitate future canine health research.

Objectives

 

  • Facilitate more rapid research progress by expediting the sample collection process
  • Provide researchers with optimized family groups
  • Allow breeders to take advantage of future DNA-based tests as they become available
  • Foster a team environment between breeders and researchers, improving the likelihood of scientific discovery

 

DNA Bank Basics

  • Samples can be submitted via blood or cheek swab
  • Blood
    • DNA is extracted on receipt of the blood sample, resulting DNA is frozen and stored long term at the University of Missouri Small Animal Molecular Genetics Laboratory
    • collected in standard EDTA (“purple top”) tubes
    • must be kept refrigerated prior to submission
    • as long as the samples are kept chilled, the samples will remain stable and DNA can easily be extracted for up to 2-3 weeks after the collection
    • collection is more invasive, however the DNA yield from blood based samples is much greater than swabs, and the resulting DNA can be used on all research platforms
  • Cheek Swabs
    • Collected and stored at the University of California – Davis
    • Non-invasive, economical, easy collection
    • Swabs yield limited amounts of DNA, and the resulting DNA cannot be successfully used in many advanced research methods including SNP chips

DNA Bank Stats

  • As of April 2015, there are just over 150 Great Pyrenees samples in the bank
  • Nearly samples in total, representing over 150 different breeds
  • Over 3,000 samples have been distributed to researchers
  • Research institutions receiving CHIC DNA include:  University of Missouri, University of California – Davis, University of Tennessee, Cornell University, Clemson University, North Carolina State University, Iowa State University, University of Buffalo, Animal Health Trust (United Kingdom), Van Andel Research Institute, Broad Institute (MIT/Harvard), University of Pennsylvania, University of Minnesota