GSCA National Breeder’s Education Seminar   October 2007

Dr. Fran Smith, President of the OFA, presented an informational seminar on topics covering hip and elbow dysplasia and CHIC.  She noted that OFA has expanded their mission statement to include non-orthopedic conditions.  They are now considered a “health database”.

CHIC  (Canine Health Information Center)

CHIC has data on hips, elbows, eyes, etc depending on the breed.  It is co-sponsored by OFA and the AKC Canine Health Foundation.  It is a parent-club driven.  Currently over 50 breeds submit data to the Canine Health Information Center.

   They designed CHIC to obtain meaningful, yet attainable goals, ie not too many tests.  There are 8 different parameters available:  hips, eyes, elbow, thyroid, cardiac, patellar luxation, vonWillebrand’s disease, and deafness.

   CHIC is not always a stamp of approval for breeding.  It’s more about gathering data.  You can get a CHIC number with abnormal results.  All OFA and CERF results are automatically entered into the CHIC database.  OVC (Ontario Veterinary College) and PennHip results require a fee to be entered.  Information in the CHIC database is also accessed by other researchers, and can have a far-reaching influence on the health of our companion animals in fields such as oncology (cancer) research.

Elbow Dysplasia

   Elbow dysplasia (ED) is inherited as a polygenetic trait.  The OFA Elbow database began in 1989.  Elbow dysplasia is worse than hip dysplasia in that dog’s carry at least 60% of their weight on their front end.  Just because the dog doesn’t limp, doesn’t rule out ED.

   The elbow protocol was developed by the International Elbow Working Group.  The position for the radiograph is a flexed lateral, and it needs no sedation.

Grade 0 = normal, Grade 1 = Mild, Grade 2 = Moderate, and Grade 3 = Severe.

   Elbow dysplasia is a description of 3 diseases that result in osteoarthritis of the elbow joint.  They are ununited anconeal process (UAP), fractured coronoid process (FCP) and osteochondrosis.  FCP is the primary condition seen in Gordon Setters.  Elbow dysplasia is a progressive condition.  UAP causes the worst arthritis, then FCP, then OCD (least arthritis).

   As of 8/07, there are 414 elbow radiographs on Gordon Setters.  Of these, 85.7% were graded normal.  Of the 14.3% that had ED, 76.8% were Grade 1, 12.5% were Grade 2 and 10.7% were Grade 3.   Data can be skewed as there is a selection bias towards normal as many people don’t send in an obviously bad film.

   When OFA hip rads are submitted, it only costs $5 more to submit elbow x-rays.  There is also a discount if 3-5 littermates’ x-rays are submitted together.

   Interestingly, bitches carry twice the influence over the sire for elbow dysplasia!

Example:  Normal bitch x abnormal male = 22% dysplastic puppies

   Vs.         Abnormal bitch x normal male = 43% dysplastic puppies

For a  breeding program, you want to do selective breeding.

Ideally, you want to breed normal dogs who have at least 75% normal siblings.

Breed normals to normals.

Breed normals from normal parents.

Breed to a sire with a history of normal progeny (see OFA website and vertical pedigree).

Replacement breeding animals should exceed the breed average.

Vertical Pedigree

   Go to the OFA website at OFFA.org   Plug in the name or registered number of a dog.  You’ll see lists of clearances.  Click on your dog’s name.  At the top of that page, you can click on vertical pedigree.  This page allows you to check different clearances (hips, elbows, etc) of siblings and offspring.

   On the website, you can go to Statistics and Data and see hip dysplasia statistics for Gordons (7.9% Excellent hips; 19.8% dysplastic).  Gordon elbow statistics:  85% within normal limits, ~15 % dysplastic.  (FYI Chows have 47% elbow dysplasia!).

There is also an article on the website regarding elbow dysplasia.

Questions:

—-What is the protocol when radiographs are submitted?

   Films on dogs over 2 years of age are evaluated by 3 Board Certified Radiologists.  OFA has a pool of 21 Boarded Radiologists on staff.  The x-rays are evaluated independently by one radiologist before being sent to the next.  They form a consensus opinion, ie if an x-ray gets 2 goods and 1 fair rating, it is given a “Good”.

   If an x-ray gets 3 different ratings, it will be sent to 3 different radiologists.

   There are internal controls.  Radiographs will be recirculated periodically among the radiologists without them knowing to see if they give it a consistent rating.

—-What is the most important thing we can do to aid research? 

Provide samples to CHIC!  Blood provides higher yield than swabs.  It gives more information and better quality.

—-Does OFA do cats?

OFA does have a database for cats.   About 67% of Maine Coon cats are dysplastic.

—-Can I do performance events with a dog with dysplasia?  How about a young dog?

If a dog is genetically predisposed to dysplasia, performance will exacerbate it.  Dogs should not be jumped until their growth plates are closed (about 14 months for large breeds like Gordons).  Dr. Smith then stated that if a dog is affected with dysplasia, to continue to work them until the dog’s lame or slows down (like having slower agility runs).

—-Can you comment on OCD (Osteochondritis dessicans)?

Elbow and hock OCD is heritable.  Shoulder OCD may be multifactorial, ie nutritional (usually over nutrition), genetic, and/or traumatic.  A dog can have elbow dysplasia with or without OCD.

—-For hip x-rays, should the dog be sedated or awake?

For hips, if there’s laxity (or looseness), it will look better on x-ray if the dog is awake due to muscle tension.  But if you really want to know what the hips look like for breeding purposes, use light sedation.

—-Breeding question:  Why are we seeing so many resorbed feti in recent years?

Resorption can be caused by chromosomal abnormalitites, but since they’re resorbed, they can’t be evaluated!  It seems to occur more in large versus moderately sized litters.  It happens more often in bitches 5-7 years of age having their first litter.  There may be an environmental component—heat stress, travel, other stress.  It seems to occur more when mixing bitches in with the general populace—exposure to viruses et al.  Bitches should stay home 3 weeks before and after they whelp, and stay away from other dogs in the house.  Medications can cause it—many don’t realize topical medications with steroids can cause problems, such as ear, eye and skin meds.

—-Gordon Setter Statistics (compiled from the OFA Database)

Gordons are ranked 20^th (out of 87 breeds) for elbow dysplasia

   Registry          Rank           Evaluations                      % Abnormal                % Normal