CHIC
Registry

The Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) is a centralized canine health database jointly sponsored by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) and the AKC/Canine Health Foundation (AKC/CHF).

Working in partnership with the OFA, each national parent club determines a recommended testing protocol to address health issues unique to their breed. Dogs tested and registered in accordance with that protocol are recognized with a CHIC number and certification.

CHIC is therefore a centralized, permanent health record that is custom designed by each breed club, an invaluable resource for all breeders, owners and researchers.

How It Works

The STCA and the HTF have established a list of testing requirements and elective tests for submission of a Scottish Terrier into the CHIC Registry.

To be eligible for CHIC certification, your dog’s test results must first be registered with OFA. Then, once all the requirements are met, regardless of the result (normal, clear, carrier or affected), your dog is automatically awarded a CHIC number.

BE CHIC! GET CERTIFIED!

Get Screened

Scottish Terriers tested and registered in accordance with the currently recommended protocol are recognized with a CHIC number and certification.

Follow Along

The STCA publishes the names of all member Scotties that achieve CHIC status in The Bagpiper on a quarterly basis.

The Breeder of Merit (BOM) Award is an STCA acknowledgement for member breeders who have followed the requirements established by OFA/CHIC. BOM Awards are related to the number of CHIC registrations achieved by the breeder/owner.

Did You Know...

You can easily search for any Scottie that has been tested and that has achieved certification on the CHIC website.

Use a registered name, AKC number or kennel name as your search parameters.

FAQ

How can registries like CHIC help us breed healthier Scotties?

Information is power. If breeders have access to records of all Scotties, then breeders will be able to assess risk and maximize a healthy outcome for planned litters. To be absolutely clear, CHIC certification goes to any Scottie that completes the required tests–whether the test results are normal, abnormal, clear, carrier or affected. There is no perfect dog, nor is there any pedigree that does not contain risk for some disorder. By sharing information about their dogs on a registry like CHIC, responsible breeders can all participate in an honest and open process. CHIC is not about bragging rights for a breeder. It is about the health and future of our breed. It is, very simply, the right thing to do.

Do all test results need to be normal?

For CHIC certification, all results do not need to be normal, but they must all be in the public domain so that responsible breeders can make more informed breeding decisions.

Does CHIC certification guarantee that my Scottie is healthy?

CHIC certification indicates that a Scottie has satisfied the requirements for admission to the registry. The results of the specific tests are recorded whether they are normal or abnormal. CHIC certification does not guarantee health for the life of the dog nor the absence of any other disorder that may be present now or in the future.

How do I get the testing done for CHIC?

OFA has a list of approved labs where the required DNA test kits can be purchased, ensuring that your dog’s results will be accepted for the Registry. GenSol Diagnostics is a cost-effective option that has individual tests available for ordering rather than forcing customers to purchase an entire, expensive panel of tests, most of which have no relevance to the Scottie breed. The cost of DNA testing has declined dramatically in the past decade, and as a result the HTF no longer provides discounted DNA tests at National Specialty events.

Your veterinarian can provide the patella test result with just a physical exam during an office visit. Your veterinarian can also provide any of the optional testing options that you select, with the exception of the AVCO Eye exam which must be done by a Board Certified Veterinary Ophthalmologist. The AVCO exam for CHIC is frequently offered at some dog shows for a discounted price.

Note: Some tests such as the patella exam require that the Scottie be at least 12 months of age at the time of examination. All results must be registered with the OFA.

How will CHIC (or any registry) benefit a Scottie owner who does not breed?

A specialized registry like CHIC will ultimately be of more use to a breeder than a non-breeder. Understandably, few Scottie owners will decide to go to the expense and effort to satisfy all the requirements for a CHIC listing for pets not intended for breeding stock. However, all Scottie owners can participate with their Scotties in any of the OFA registries, with even a single test result. And, as an added bonus, the entry of any “affected” Scottie into OFA is free of charge. Satisfaction comes from contributing to an important process like a health registry, even if you do not personally reap the benefit. The future of our Scotties is at stake, and all data is essential to understanding the genetic health of the entire Scottie community.

I have a mixed breed dog. Can they get a CHIC number?

No, a mixed-breed dog cannot get a CHIC number because the CHIC program requires dogs to meet a specific health screening protocol set by their national parent club, and mixed breeds don’t have a parent club. While a mixed-breed dog can have its health test results submitted to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA), it will not be eligible for a CHIC number.

Are there any fees?

Click here for a matrix containing the current OFA fees.

Where can I find more information and application forms?

All application forms and individual test procedures can be found on the CHIC Website.

Have More Questions?

For further questions about CHIC,

please email us at:

chic@scottishterrierhealth.org