Health Clinics & Decorated Dogs

Argus, Penny, Pauli & Lucy are signed up for a variety of tests at the upcoming DCA Health Clinics that will be held with the National in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky.  Because Argus is available at stud, and because the girls will be bred at some future date, they need to have all their health clearances done and up to date.  DCA is offering cardiac screening for the first time this year, so Argus will have that done.  Several of the tests should be done every few years, like the thyroid panel and the CERF exam, but he had his thyroid redone last year, and his eyes were rechecked in February.  Pauli already has her CHIC number too, for completing all her health testing, but she will also have the cardiac testing.

Health Clinic day is very busy day!  Laurie & I will work as volunteers, while Jess gets our dogs in and out of testing.  Not all DCA members understand & endorse the importance of health screening, but the response is always good and the turnout this year is excellent.  With 88 dogs participating -

• 61 CERF (that's eye exams)
• 45 thyroid tests (this is a panel of tests)
• 21 CHIC DNA tests (to include dogs in the DNA database)
• 20 microchips (positive id is required for the health tests)
• 6 BAER tests (most Dals are BAER tested as pups so this may be seniors).
• 31 cardiac auscultations (first year for this)
• 22 cardiac ultrasounds (first year for this as well)

While it is not true that randomly bred dogs (a nice term for mutts) are healthier than purebreds, buying your puppy from a responsible breeders who understands the importance of health screening increases the odds even more!

Check out the decorated dogs - Dalmatians, of course!