Chinook dogs and CERF

Conscientious Chinook Breeders are screening their Chinooks for eye conditions that may be inherited and may affect vision in the Chinook. These screenings are often referred to as CERF testing or CERF exams. CERF stands for Canine Eye Research Foundation, an organization dedicated to the elimination of heritable eye disorders found in canines, through the formation of a broad-based Eye Registry, and through the collection of breed specific data. CERF maintains an online database of dogs who have been certified free of heritable eye conditions. It is important to note that these certifications are only good for one year, and re-certification should be done annually.

Several eye conditions presumed to be inherited have been diagnosed in the Chinook. CERF's advice to breeders is the following: "Individual breeders wishing to uphold high ethical standards for the improvement of their breed are urged to contribute by annual examination of their breeding animals and by encouraging the same from other breeders." If you are purchasing a Chinook puppy, you will help breeders produce healthier Chinooks by only purchasing from Breeders who have CERF certification numbers for their puppies' parents. Genetic eye conditions may not be apparent, Chinooks may seem to have normal vision, but only an eye exam by a board certified opthalmologist will tell. Gone are the days when breeders can say "My Chinook can see, why does she need an eye examination"!

The following eye conditions have appeared on CERF reports for the Chinook breed. Additional conditions may have been reported since this list was printed. "An asterisk * alongside a diagnosis is a CERF rejection in all breeds.

Lens

Anterior cortex, punctate, significance unknown, unilateral and bilateral.

* Anterior cortex, punctate, unilateral.

* Anterior cortex, intermediate, bilateral.

Posterior cortex, punctate, significance unknown, unilateral.

* Posterior cortex, intermediate, unilateral and bilateral.

* Posterior cortex, diffuse, unilateral and bilateral.

Posterior sutures, punctate, significance unknown, unilateral.

* Posterior sutures, intermediate, unilateral.

Equatorial cortex, punctate, significance unknown, unilateral.

* Equatorial cortex, intermediate, unilateral.

Capsular, significance unknown, unilateral and bilateral.

Capsular, intermediate, unilateral.

Capsular, diffuse, bilateral.

Nucleus, punctate, significance unknown, unilateral and bilateral.

* Nucleus, punctate, unilateral.

* Generalized cataract, bilateral.

CERF - Canine Eye Registration Foundation

Specific articles on eye conditions, list of veterinary opthalmologists and eye clinics, Look-up on individual Chinooks who have been certified.

http://www.vmdb.org/history.html

Canine Inherited Disorders Database

Look for pages on Disorders of the Eye, including article on Retinal Dysplasia and Focal Folds.

http://www.upei.ca/cidd/intro.htm