Using the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) databases (and others)
When you are checking health certifications, you can look at the paper copy of the results (some breeders do not register the results, which is perfectly acceptable, as long as they HAVE the results), or you can go to the OFA Web site, and verify the dog, or kennel. Go to the OFA page - http://www.offa.org/index.html and on the left hand side, simply type the kennel name of what you are looking into and all the dogs will come up, including the parents. If any dogs from that kennel have any OFA tests, the names will appear. If the dog has been tested from Ontario Vet College (OVC) they will not appear - and you would have to ask the owner to see the certificates. CERF certifications (eye examinations) are published in OFA, as well as the CERF database. When you are reading the numbers on the OFA certificate, they give you considerable information about the breed - and concern shown toward health - and not just the dog in question. In the early years, I never saw the value of registering the results - I do now and so all my dogs are updated to reflect all their current health testing!
I will use Tinker's (Slushpuppy's Special Sleigher) numbers to demonstrate:
OFA Certified Hips: #AM-13167E38F-VPI (Excellent)
AM = Alaskan Malamute
13167 = she is the 13,167 Alaskan Malamute to have an OFA hip certification in the 40-year history of the OFA database
E = Excellent hip conformation (Passing grades are excellent, good and fair. Failing grades are mild, moderate and severe)
38F = Tinker was 38 months old, and female, when certified clear of hip dysplasia
VPI = Verified Permanent Identification (they scan the dog for a microchip / tattoo to ensure it is the dog being tested)
- Alaskan Malamutes have an 'affected' rate (mild, moderate or severe) of about 15%, meaning about 15 of 100 tested, have the disease
OFA Certified Eyes: CERF #AM-3018 (CERFs are ONLY valid for one year, as many eye diseases occur, suddenly) via CERF
AM = Alaskan Malamute
3018 = Tinker is the 3018 Alaskan Malamute to have her eyes checked for more than 200 eye diseases, and passed
- CERFs expire after 12 months. Be aware that some breeders use 'expired' CERFs as though they were still valid. They are not. Some eye disorders occur in young dogs, several in adult dogs. Taking a young puppy in for a CERF is good for a puppy. Using the same CERF certificate when the dog is many years old is unscrupulous and to designed to deceive a buyer into believing the dog is still healthy - when it is only 'unknown'.
OFA Certified Elbows: #AM-EL677F38-VPI
AM = Alaskan Malamute
EL677 = Tinker is the 677th Alaskan Malamute to have her elbows certified via OFA
F38 = Tinker was 38 months old, and female, when certified clear of elbow dysplasia and disease
VPI = Verified Permanent Identification (they scan the dog for a microchip / tattoo to ensure it is the dog being tested)
- Malamutes currently have an 'affected' rate for elbow dysplasia of about 3%, meaning about 3 of 100 tested, have the disease
OFA Certified Patella: #AM-PA26/38F/P-VPI
AM = Alaskan Malamute
PA26 = Tinker is the 26th Alaskan Malamute to have her patellas (knees) certified via OFA
38F = Tinker was 38 months old, and female, when certified clear of patella disease and / or deformity
P = Practitioner (a 'regular Vet' performed the test)
VPI = Verified Permanent Identification (they scan the dog for a microchip / tattoo to ensure it is the dog being tested)
- Malamutes currently have an 'affected' rate for luxating patellas of about 4%, meaning about 4 of 100 tested, have the disease
OFA Certified Cardiac: #AM-CA115/19F/C-VPI
AM = Alaskan Malamute
CA115 = Tinker is the 115th Alaskan Malamute to have her heart certified via OFA
19F = Tinker was 19 months of age, and female, when certified free of a variety of heart defects and diseases
C = cardiac certification was performed by a canine cardiologist (heart specialist). Normal vets can do the certifications but are known to miss 'low grade' disease and many breeds don't accept the 'pet vet' for certification so my dogs are performed by a 'canine cardiologist'. A 'P' would mean practitioner
VPI = Verified Permanent Identification (they scan the dog for a microchip / tattoo to ensure it is the dog being tested)
- Malamutes currently have an 'affected' rate for cardiac disease of about 2%, meaning about 2 of 100 tested, have heart defects
OFA Certified Thyroid: #AM-TH111/38F-VPI
AM = Alaskan Malamute
TH111 = Tinker was the 111 th Alaskan Malamute to be tested for thyroid disease via OFA including the inherited type.
38F = Tinker was 38 months of age, and female, when certified free of thyroid disease
VPI = Verified Permanent Identification (they scan the dog for a microchip / tattoo to ensure it is the dog being tested)
- Malamutes currently have an 'affected' rate for thyroid disease of about 20%, meaning about 20 of 100 tested, have poor readings
OFA Certified Dentition: #AM-DE1/38F-VPI (correct number of teeth, certified by veterinarian) via OFA
AM = Alaskan Malamute
DE1 = Tinker was the first Alaskan Malamute, ever, to be certified for having the correct number of teeth (the certification was released Dec 2012)
38F = Tinker was 38 months of age, and female, when certified as not missing (or having extra) teeth
VPI = Verified Permanent Identification (they scan the dog for a microchip / tattoo to ensure it is the dog being tested)
- Alaskan Malamutes are well-known to be missing teeth. It's pretty obvious if the dog is missing teeth - however the benefit of this certification is for generations to come - as people trace back to see where 'missing' teeth might be coming from with their Malamutes
OFA Certified Degenerative Myleopathy: #AM-DM3/120M-VPI (Ernie's number as Tink and Ooky had the test but different agency)
AM = Alaskan Malamute
DE3 = Ernie was the third Alaskan Malamute to be certified against not possessing one, or more, copies of the defective gene
120M = Ernie was 120 months when tested
OFA Certified DNA Data: #AM-DNA-273-S
AM = Alaskan Malamute
DNA = DNA storage for future disease testing
273 = Tinker was the 273rd Alaskan Malamute to have DNA stored for future testing of inherited diseases
S = Swab (Blood would be listed as 'B' - swabs give 98% availability of DNA use where blood is 100%)
OFA Certified CHIC Number: #79257
Means Tinker is the 79,257 Alaskan Malamute to have ALL Alaskan Malamute Club of America mandated health tests (hips and eyes for Alaskan Malamutes CHIC requirements). Additional checks I performed in recognition of the number of dogs affected with each of the disorders.
Alaskan Malamute Club of America CHD number and Certificate: #14361 Link: http://alaskanmalamute.org/health/chd-database
Simply means that Tinker is the 14,361 Alaskan Malamute to be certified in the program. To recieve a certificate, the dog must fall below 6.25% for 'probability' in having the defective gene. Nearly identical to below AMCV. Ernie, Ooky and Tinker each have their US AMCA number and certificate. As of Fall 22012, no new CHD certificates are being issued and the information derived from them, deemed essentially useless. While Ernie, Tinker and Ooky each still posess their 'numbers', as does any other Malamute who had them, no new ones will be issued.
Alaskan Malamute Club of Victoria CHD number and Certificate: #160 Link: http://www.amcv.org.au/chd.html - Database not online.
Mathematical calculation of the pedigreed of the Malamute in question. Provides a percentage of how likely the animal is to carry a chondrodysplasia gene. Originally conceived by the Alaskan Malamute Club of America, who changed their program (now changed back as of 2012). To recieve a certificate, the dog must fall below 6.25% (probability of carrying the defective gene). The above number reflects that Tinker is certified #160 in the Aust program. NOT a guarantee the animal does not possess one of the defective genes, but instead mathematically calculates how LIKELY the animal is to carry a defective gene, and, if low enough, is deemed to be unlikely, and thus, able to recieve a certificate. CHD is a simple recessive and only requires two copies of the gene to produce 'affected' dogs. Two, perfectly normal-looking dogs can produce a 'defective' dog. Test-breeding (breeding 'unknown' to 'affected' or 'carrier') is a superior means to assess. But many breeders find the process distasteful, at best, due to intentionally creating defective dogs. CHD however, does exist, and pedigree analysis is one way to limit this particular disease (until a DNA test is available). Ernie, Ooky and Tinker each have their US CHD numbers and certificates.
It becomes obvious, with the above numbers, that in spite of many health tests available for several of the diseases in our breed (some which will actually kill or ruin the quality of life for the dog), they simply aren't used by breeders, nor promoted, by the breed clubs. Most of these tests, however, do not 'ensure' the dog will not produce the defect, they ensure the dog does not possess the defect at the time of testing. DNA tests, of which there are only three or four for Alaskan Malamutes, remain the ONLY method of health testing available to ensure the dog neither posses, nor will create, the defect in question.
While a few of these tests are quite expensive, most are very cheap - and treatment of the diseases cost in the thousands of dollars.
It will likely be a 'pet puppy owner,' and not a breeder, who pays for the treatment of the disease.
It is easy for a breeder to say they've never had a problem with 'Disease X' - especially if they've never looked / tested for it.
Costs of the tests, and the certification:
$300 OFA Certified Hip Xrays (plus $35 for certification) - disease costs $3000 to $5000+ to treat with surgery, pain killers
$35 OFA Certified Eye Exam (plus $10 for certification) - diseases costs $3000 to $5000+ IF treatable. Many are not treatable
$75 OFA Certified Elbow Xrays (plus $5 for certification if done with hips) - disease costs $1000 to $3000+ to treat
$60 OFA Certified Patella Exam (free if done with another test and plus $15 for certification)
$50 OFA Certified Cardiac Exam (plus $15 for certification) - various diseases can, and do result in death of dog, destruction of life quality
$250 OFA Certified Thyroid Panel (plus $15 for certification) - treatment costs about $60 every three or four months. Not a 'terrible' disease. No cure
$60 OFA Certified Dentition Exam (free if done with another test and plus $15 for certification) - no cost (or remedy for missing teeth)
$5 OFA Certified DNA Swab ($5 for kit) - Provides DNA for future tests
$0 OFA Certified CHIC Number (free) - rec'd when all breed club standard health tests done (OFA hips, CERF eyes for Mals, as OVC doesn't count)
$50 Long Coat DNA test - more work to groom, but very striking dogs! Not a health concern in a pet home
$50 Degenerative Myelopathy DNA test - no cure - may cost hundreds to thousands in treatments, pain killers, 'doggy wheelchairs'
$50 Uric Acid DNA test
$140 Polyneuropathy DNA test
$10 AMCV CHD Certificate
$10 AMCA CHD Certificate
Total: Around $1200 per parent/dog - yet only hips, and occasionally eyes are tested routinely - in spite of the cost of a 'pet' Alaskan Malamute puppy from any breeder ...
I will use Tinker's (Slushpuppy's Special Sleigher) numbers to demonstrate:
OFA Certified Hips: #AM-13167E38F-VPI (Excellent)
AM = Alaskan Malamute
13167 = she is the 13,167 Alaskan Malamute to have an OFA hip certification in the 40-year history of the OFA database
E = Excellent hip conformation (Passing grades are excellent, good and fair. Failing grades are mild, moderate and severe)
38F = Tinker was 38 months old, and female, when certified clear of hip dysplasia
VPI = Verified Permanent Identification (they scan the dog for a microchip / tattoo to ensure it is the dog being tested)
- Alaskan Malamutes have an 'affected' rate (mild, moderate or severe) of about 15%, meaning about 15 of 100 tested, have the disease
OFA Certified Eyes: CERF #AM-3018 (CERFs are ONLY valid for one year, as many eye diseases occur, suddenly) via CERF
AM = Alaskan Malamute
3018 = Tinker is the 3018 Alaskan Malamute to have her eyes checked for more than 200 eye diseases, and passed
- CERFs expire after 12 months. Be aware that some breeders use 'expired' CERFs as though they were still valid. They are not. Some eye disorders occur in young dogs, several in adult dogs. Taking a young puppy in for a CERF is good for a puppy. Using the same CERF certificate when the dog is many years old is unscrupulous and to designed to deceive a buyer into believing the dog is still healthy - when it is only 'unknown'.
OFA Certified Elbows: #AM-EL677F38-VPI
AM = Alaskan Malamute
EL677 = Tinker is the 677th Alaskan Malamute to have her elbows certified via OFA
F38 = Tinker was 38 months old, and female, when certified clear of elbow dysplasia and disease
VPI = Verified Permanent Identification (they scan the dog for a microchip / tattoo to ensure it is the dog being tested)
- Malamutes currently have an 'affected' rate for elbow dysplasia of about 3%, meaning about 3 of 100 tested, have the disease
OFA Certified Patella: #AM-PA26/38F/P-VPI
AM = Alaskan Malamute
PA26 = Tinker is the 26th Alaskan Malamute to have her patellas (knees) certified via OFA
38F = Tinker was 38 months old, and female, when certified clear of patella disease and / or deformity
P = Practitioner (a 'regular Vet' performed the test)
VPI = Verified Permanent Identification (they scan the dog for a microchip / tattoo to ensure it is the dog being tested)
- Malamutes currently have an 'affected' rate for luxating patellas of about 4%, meaning about 4 of 100 tested, have the disease
OFA Certified Cardiac: #AM-CA115/19F/C-VPI
AM = Alaskan Malamute
CA115 = Tinker is the 115th Alaskan Malamute to have her heart certified via OFA
19F = Tinker was 19 months of age, and female, when certified free of a variety of heart defects and diseases
C = cardiac certification was performed by a canine cardiologist (heart specialist). Normal vets can do the certifications but are known to miss 'low grade' disease and many breeds don't accept the 'pet vet' for certification so my dogs are performed by a 'canine cardiologist'. A 'P' would mean practitioner
VPI = Verified Permanent Identification (they scan the dog for a microchip / tattoo to ensure it is the dog being tested)
- Malamutes currently have an 'affected' rate for cardiac disease of about 2%, meaning about 2 of 100 tested, have heart defects
OFA Certified Thyroid: #AM-TH111/38F-VPI
AM = Alaskan Malamute
TH111 = Tinker was the 111 th Alaskan Malamute to be tested for thyroid disease via OFA including the inherited type.
38F = Tinker was 38 months of age, and female, when certified free of thyroid disease
VPI = Verified Permanent Identification (they scan the dog for a microchip / tattoo to ensure it is the dog being tested)
- Malamutes currently have an 'affected' rate for thyroid disease of about 20%, meaning about 20 of 100 tested, have poor readings
OFA Certified Dentition: #AM-DE1/38F-VPI (correct number of teeth, certified by veterinarian) via OFA
AM = Alaskan Malamute
DE1 = Tinker was the first Alaskan Malamute, ever, to be certified for having the correct number of teeth (the certification was released Dec 2012)
38F = Tinker was 38 months of age, and female, when certified as not missing (or having extra) teeth
VPI = Verified Permanent Identification (they scan the dog for a microchip / tattoo to ensure it is the dog being tested)
- Alaskan Malamutes are well-known to be missing teeth. It's pretty obvious if the dog is missing teeth - however the benefit of this certification is for generations to come - as people trace back to see where 'missing' teeth might be coming from with their Malamutes
OFA Certified Degenerative Myleopathy: #AM-DM3/120M-VPI (Ernie's number as Tink and Ooky had the test but different agency)
AM = Alaskan Malamute
DE3 = Ernie was the third Alaskan Malamute to be certified against not possessing one, or more, copies of the defective gene
120M = Ernie was 120 months when tested
OFA Certified DNA Data: #AM-DNA-273-S
AM = Alaskan Malamute
DNA = DNA storage for future disease testing
273 = Tinker was the 273rd Alaskan Malamute to have DNA stored for future testing of inherited diseases
S = Swab (Blood would be listed as 'B' - swabs give 98% availability of DNA use where blood is 100%)
OFA Certified CHIC Number: #79257
Means Tinker is the 79,257 Alaskan Malamute to have ALL Alaskan Malamute Club of America mandated health tests (hips and eyes for Alaskan Malamutes CHIC requirements). Additional checks I performed in recognition of the number of dogs affected with each of the disorders.
Alaskan Malamute Club of America CHD number and Certificate: #14361 Link: http://alaskanmalamute.org/health/chd-database
Simply means that Tinker is the 14,361 Alaskan Malamute to be certified in the program. To recieve a certificate, the dog must fall below 6.25% for 'probability' in having the defective gene. Nearly identical to below AMCV. Ernie, Ooky and Tinker each have their US AMCA number and certificate. As of Fall 22012, no new CHD certificates are being issued and the information derived from them, deemed essentially useless. While Ernie, Tinker and Ooky each still posess their 'numbers', as does any other Malamute who had them, no new ones will be issued.
Alaskan Malamute Club of Victoria CHD number and Certificate: #160 Link: http://www.amcv.org.au/chd.html - Database not online.
Mathematical calculation of the pedigreed of the Malamute in question. Provides a percentage of how likely the animal is to carry a chondrodysplasia gene. Originally conceived by the Alaskan Malamute Club of America, who changed their program (now changed back as of 2012). To recieve a certificate, the dog must fall below 6.25% (probability of carrying the defective gene). The above number reflects that Tinker is certified #160 in the Aust program. NOT a guarantee the animal does not possess one of the defective genes, but instead mathematically calculates how LIKELY the animal is to carry a defective gene, and, if low enough, is deemed to be unlikely, and thus, able to recieve a certificate. CHD is a simple recessive and only requires two copies of the gene to produce 'affected' dogs. Two, perfectly normal-looking dogs can produce a 'defective' dog. Test-breeding (breeding 'unknown' to 'affected' or 'carrier') is a superior means to assess. But many breeders find the process distasteful, at best, due to intentionally creating defective dogs. CHD however, does exist, and pedigree analysis is one way to limit this particular disease (until a DNA test is available). Ernie, Ooky and Tinker each have their US CHD numbers and certificates.
It becomes obvious, with the above numbers, that in spite of many health tests available for several of the diseases in our breed (some which will actually kill or ruin the quality of life for the dog), they simply aren't used by breeders, nor promoted, by the breed clubs. Most of these tests, however, do not 'ensure' the dog will not produce the defect, they ensure the dog does not possess the defect at the time of testing. DNA tests, of which there are only three or four for Alaskan Malamutes, remain the ONLY method of health testing available to ensure the dog neither posses, nor will create, the defect in question.
While a few of these tests are quite expensive, most are very cheap - and treatment of the diseases cost in the thousands of dollars.
It will likely be a 'pet puppy owner,' and not a breeder, who pays for the treatment of the disease.
It is easy for a breeder to say they've never had a problem with 'Disease X' - especially if they've never looked / tested for it.
Costs of the tests, and the certification:
$300 OFA Certified Hip Xrays (plus $35 for certification) - disease costs $3000 to $5000+ to treat with surgery, pain killers
$35 OFA Certified Eye Exam (plus $10 for certification) - diseases costs $3000 to $5000+ IF treatable. Many are not treatable
$75 OFA Certified Elbow Xrays (plus $5 for certification if done with hips) - disease costs $1000 to $3000+ to treat
$60 OFA Certified Patella Exam (free if done with another test and plus $15 for certification)
$50 OFA Certified Cardiac Exam (plus $15 for certification) - various diseases can, and do result in death of dog, destruction of life quality
$250 OFA Certified Thyroid Panel (plus $15 for certification) - treatment costs about $60 every three or four months. Not a 'terrible' disease. No cure
$60 OFA Certified Dentition Exam (free if done with another test and plus $15 for certification) - no cost (or remedy for missing teeth)
$5 OFA Certified DNA Swab ($5 for kit) - Provides DNA for future tests
$0 OFA Certified CHIC Number (free) - rec'd when all breed club standard health tests done (OFA hips, CERF eyes for Mals, as OVC doesn't count)
$50 Long Coat DNA test - more work to groom, but very striking dogs! Not a health concern in a pet home
$50 Degenerative Myelopathy DNA test - no cure - may cost hundreds to thousands in treatments, pain killers, 'doggy wheelchairs'
$50 Uric Acid DNA test
$140 Polyneuropathy DNA test
$10 AMCV CHD Certificate
$10 AMCA CHD Certificate
Total: Around $1200 per parent/dog - yet only hips, and occasionally eyes are tested routinely - in spite of the cost of a 'pet' Alaskan Malamute puppy from any breeder ...