Post date: Aug 30, 2015 8:42:20 AM
THE KENNEL Club and British Veterinary Association (BVA) are now recording eye examinations carried out on non-schedule A breeds under the BVA/KC/International Sheep Dog Society (ISDS) eye scheme.
Schedule A breeds are those with identified breed-associated inherited eye diseases for which it is considered there is enough scientific information to show that the condition is inherited in that breed.
To support breeds outside schedule A, and breeders who use the scheme to test their dogs routinely, the KC and BVA made the decision to record that a test has taken place after receiving requests from breed clubs and owners.
Mate Select:
Although any breed can be examined for eye disease, only the results of breeds which appear on schedule A of the scheme were sent to the KC previously for inclusion on computer records and printing in the Breed Records Supplement. An individual dog’s health test results can be viewed on the Health Test Results Finder on the KC’s Mate Select online service.
For breeds not on schedule A, the date of the examination will be put on the dog’s record and can be viewed via the Finder; details of the examination can be sought directly from the owner.
The results for breeds on schedule A will continue to be recorded in the normal way and the results published in the Breed Record Supplement. Owners who have tested their dogs using the BVA/KC/ISDS scheme can ask for this to be recorded retrospectively. This applies to an individual dog’s BVA/KC/ISDS eye scheme examinations only and does not include litter screenings.
The KC and BVA have a list of appointed eye panellists who can issue certificates under the scheme, and owners can make an appointment with one of the panellists directly or through their own vet.
“Recording that an eye examination has taken place for dogs who are not on schedule will enable other breeders, prospective puppy buyers or simply those who love the breed to find out whether or not a particular KC-registered dog has been tested under the scheme,” said KC secretary Caroline Kisko.
“There are many hugely responsible breeders who already routinely test their dogs and we want to support the active role they play in the health of their breeds, as ultimately they drive dog health through responsible breeding decisions and enable puppy buyers to choose healthy and happy puppies.”
For more information on the scheme and to see which breeds are on schedule A visit www.thekennelclub.org.uk/health/breeding-for-health/complex-inherited-disorders/bvakc-health-schemes/bvakcisds-eye-scheme.
The Health Test Results Finder can be found at www.thekennelclub.org.uk/services/public/mateselect/test.