Buying a puppy from a reputable dog breeder (like us) ensures the best breed-specific characteristics and overall health. That’s why OFA Certification is so important!
OFA: What is It?
Founded in 1966 by The Canine Health Information Center (CHIC), OFA stands for The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. It is a private, non-profit foundation created by John M. Olin, an inventor, industrialist, philanthropist, conservationist and sportsman. When his own working dogs began to be challenged by hip dysplasia, John began to investigate and create specific ways to limit this debilitating canine disease through OFA Certification.
Initially, the OFA focused on:
- Radiographic (x-ray) Evaluation.
- Data Management.
- Genetic Counseling.
In the beginning, OFA specifically addressed K9 hip dysplasia. Today, the organization has expanded into other inherited diseases including cancers, heart and thyroid disease and also includes felines.
The OFA Certification and Mission
The OFA was established to “promote the health and welfare of companion animals through a reduction in the incidence of genetic disease.” Their mission includes the following four objectives:
- The collation and dissemination of information regarding orthopedic and genetic canine/feline diseases.
- Advises, encourages and establishes control programs to limit/lower the prevalence of diseases.
- Encourages and finances companion animal disease research involving various breeds and diseases at leading universities and institutions.
- Raises funds and bestows financial grants to advance their objectives. Recipient organizations have included the AKC Canine Health Foundation (AKC CHF), the Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) and occasional direct grants.
Until now, “OFA has funded over $3 million in research for the purpose of reducing the incidence and prevalence of inherited companion animal disease.”
The OFA Databases
Today, OFA maintains the world’s largest public databases of health-screening results. These databases are central to their mission of lowering the prevalence of inherited diseases in all dog and cat breeds through better breeding practices. As more tests become available, the OFA databases are expanded with additional, invaluable information.
The OFA databases include:
- The CHIC (Canine Health Information Center) Database is responsible for collecting breed-specific “health information on individual animals from multiple sources.” All dogs included in this database must be CHIC-Certified with a unique CHIC number and certification.
The CHIC Program helps:
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- Breeders make better-informed breeding choices.
- Buyers with accurate health testing information.
- Parent/Breed Clubs create health databases of their own.
- Anyone interested in canine health issues.
- Scientists conduct new research, particularly at the molecular level (now possible with the recent completion of mapping the canine genome.)
- The CHIC DNA Repository collects and stores:
- Canine DNA samples.
- Their respective genealogical (ancestry or family history) and phenotypic (traits and/or characteristics) information.
Learn more about the OFA’s extensive Research History here.
The OFA DNA-Based Tests: Genetic Diseases
Dog owners can safely and non-invasively collect DNA at home without a vet appointment. All samples are processed at the University of Missouri. The final results are first sent to the OFA and afterward, both the results and OFA Certificate are electronically sent to the dog’s owner.
The OFA Certification offers testing for:
- Hip Dysplasia.
- Elbow Dysplasia.
- Eye Disease.
- Cardiac Disease.
- Respiratory Function.
- Patellar Luxation. (The popping out of place of the kneecap.)
- Thyroid or hypothyroidism. (The lack of the hormone that controls the metabolism.)
- An additional nine Phenotypic Evaluations.
Search all DNA-Based Disease Tests here by Breed.
The Final Word
The OFA can offer peace of mind for the dog or cat parent about diseases related to the breed of their new pup or kitten with OFA Certification.
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If you’re thinking about adding a Cane Corso to your home and life, you’ve come to the right place!
ALL our breeding dams and sires have OFA Certification.
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