HEALTH EXPLAINED
Chesapeake Bay Retrievers Puppy Pedigrees
When selecting a puppy look at the health certification and the depth of the pedigree.
| OFA | Orthopedic Foundation for Animals | The OFA grades hip x-rays and issues certification numbers to dogs with Excellent, Good or Fair grades. Numbers are published in the following format CB 0000G24F-T. CB-Chesapeake Bay; 0000-the individual numbers; G-the rating, in this case Good; 24-age in months at time of examination; F-sex; T- tattooed. On pedigrees, often just the number and rating are given. OFA certifies elbows (EL)and patellas and has registries for heart, von Willebrands and thyroid testing. Visit the OFA site for more information. |
| CERF | Canine Eye Registration Foundation | Issues certification numbers to dogs that have been examined by a member of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists. The number (0000/96-48*) consists of three parts 0000-certification #;/96-year of examination;-48-dog's age in months; *-recertified after the original examination. Chesapeake breeding stock should be examined yearly. |
| OVC | Ontario Veterinary College | OVC issues hip certification numbers. Unlike OFA they do not use different grades, just certify passing hips as Normal. OVC has always been considered by many breeders as a "tough" registry (if dogs pass OVC they will have no problems to get a OFA #).Whether this is true or not, who knows? OVC is used by many Canadian breeders. |
| PRA | OPTIGEN | New in May of 1999, there is now a DNA test for PRA (progressive retinal atrophy-an inherited disease which causes gradual blindness). So far, there has not been a formal registry for the results and no standarized way to put them on pedigrees. Pattern "A" is normal and does not carry the gene. Pattern "B" is a carrier but will not be affected by PRA. Pattern "C" will likely develop blindness. Pups from a Pattern A parent will never be affected by the gene. Both parents must be B or C to be effected. |
| NOTE! | Pedigree depth | The greater the pedigree depth (number of generations), the better the chance of clear hips and eyes. Dedicated Chesapeake breeders have been certifying hips and eyes for a number of generations. Elbow checks are not as common yet. Absence of OFA/OVC/CERF numbers should be explained to your satisfaction and you should be provided with copies of all certifications upon request. |
CHESAPEAKE HEALTH
Chesapeake Bay Retrievers Hip Dysplasia
Chesapeake Bay Retrievers can have health problems such as Hip Dysplasia if you don't purchase your Chesapeake from a reputable breeder or give the Chesie a proper diet. Hip Dysplasia in Retrievers can best be explained as a condition like arthritis in the hips. Chesapeake Bay Retrievers can grow very quickly. Chesies that have poor diets that lack in vitamin C, bone meal or that come from breeding stock that genetically suffers from this condition may develop Hip Dysplasia. There is no cure for a Chesapeake Bay Retriever that has this condition and it can be crippling. Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are normally tough but this condition can effect the toughest Chesie and retire it from hunting. The best insurance is to purchase your dog from a breeder that has OFA certified his dogs hips. See the Eyes PRA and OFA HIP Dysplasia link on the left.
OFA has several different levels of certification. A dog that has marginal hips should not be used for breeding. The quality of your Chesapeake Bay Retrievers diet is very important and often a dog even with good genetics can develop the condition if it goes to a home that feeds the dog poorly. Vitamin C and plenty of calcium is important in the diet of your Chesapeake Bay Retriever if it is to avoid this condition. Making certain that the dogs diet is rich in these minerals and vitamins is important not only when the Chesapeake Bay Retriever is a puppy but in adulthood as well. Hip Dysplasia and PRA is common in all retrievers and especially for dogs that come from backyard breeders and puppy mills which have little or no concern for quality. However hip Dysplasia is especially a problem in breeds that grow quickly.
Insure your puppy by making certain that it came from good stock, that it's parents hips were OFA certified, and that your Chesapeake Bay Retriever puppy has a proper diet and you will avoid hip Dysplasia.