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CHIC and the SWDCA

Different diseases can occur in Spanish Water Dog like they can in all breeds of dogs. Many parent breed clubs, including the Spanish Water Dog Club of America, partner with the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) to monitor the prevalence of these disease through testing. The Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) maintains a searchable data base that includes the information of the different health tests performed on SWDs. The SWDCA Health and Wellness Committee routinely reviews the tests that are required for a CHIC number and those tests that are recommended. Currently an eye examination and tests for hip dysplasia, autoimmune thyroiditis, congenital hypothyroidism with goiter (CHG), progressive rod-cone degeneration progressive retinal atrophy (prcd-PRA) and early onset progressive retinal atrophy (eo-PRA) are required for a CHIC number.
 
To obtain a CHIC number the breeder/owner must have the appropriate tests completed and submit the results to OFA with the appropriate payment for each test. The breeder/owner also approves the release of the results to the public data base. If the breeder/owner chooses not to release the results a CHIC number will not be issued. It is important to note that the CHICH number is recognition of the public availability of the tests and not the “quality” of the test results. Reputable breeders will obtain CHIC numbers for each stud dog or brood bitch and make these results freely available to people interested in purchasing puppies or breeding to a given stud dog.
 
For more information about the CHIC program please go to https://www.ofa.org/about/chic-program.