The AMSC Board of Directors and Health Committee are proud to officially announce the AMSC’s enrollment in the AKC Canine Health Information Center (CHIC).  The CHIC program, sponsored by the AKC Canine Health Foundation, houses the premier centralized database designed for breed clubs to use to collect important health information about their respective breeds.   Based on the submission of predetermined test panels to the CHIC program, and the agreement for public disclosure of those results, a CHIC number is awarded. The decision of which health information is collected by CHIC is determined by the individual breed club.  For miniature schnauzers, the AMSC has specified CERF exams and Cardiac auscultation (exams by stethoscope) with Myotonia testing being an optional test.  The required tests have been selected under the specific advice of veterinarians and members of our club.  AMSC members who choose to participate through testing and authorizing disclosure of test results will have their dogs recognized by receiving a CHIC number for each individual dog tested.  Results do not have to be normal in order to obtain a CHIC number.  Certification of identity is required via tattoo or microchip insuring the integrity of the information.

CHIC is comprised of a number of parent breed clubs who have maintained their health information in this database.  The advantages to participating with CHIC are numerous, and include providing aggregate data for research and statistical reporting purposes, and independent management of a health database at no cost to the breed club.  Participation results in improved information on health status for the individual dog, on the prevalence of disease, and allows us to monitor successes in reducing disease.  As a member parent club, CHIC provides us with quarterly reports consisting of both aggregate numbers and a listing of specific dogs that have been issued CHIC numbers.  Remember, CHIC numbers are provided for a dog who has certifiable results for the required tests (CERF and cardiac exam) and whose owners have authorized public disclosure of both test results.  The club does not receive any reports for dogs with non-disclosed results other than as statistical aggregate information.  However, broad participation ensures that prevalence of health issues identified is representative of the breed as a whole.
 
Enrolling in CHIC will mean we are participating in a respected and recognized program designed to foster improving the availability of health information for breeders. This will enable other breeders to search the database to identify prospective mates and review the results for the dogs that have had this important health screening.  We can also add additional certifiable tests as we deem necessary.   This database will also provide the AMSC with statistical information on disease prevalence in the breeding population in order to direct funding where most needed and, indeed, may help us identify when a health issue is becoming more prevalent before it becomes wide-spread so proper response can be mounted.

 As a member club in CHIC, the AMSC is also eligible to use the foundation’s DNA Repository, a central DNA storage program, designed to facilitate veterinary research through storage of DNA, health, and pedigree information on dogs.  This resource is made available to approved researchers interested in investigating specific health issues.   Archiving this information and maintaining DNA will allow researchers to respond quickly to new evidence and promising investigational methods.  Aggregating DNA and health information provides the Canine Health Foundation with the unique ability to have immediate access to specific breed population sampling to identify trends in disease and to quickly respond to these findings at the research level.  This capability alone is worthy of full participation.

CERF and Cardiac auscultation results are submitted to each registry as usual for a tested dog.   These reports are then forwarded automatically to CHIC.  For CERF results, the owner will have the authority to designate if the results for their dog will be available in the public domain or remain confidential.   All OFA results are automatically listed in the public domain.  If CERF results are to be kept confidential, a CHIC number will not be issued, however, the data will be used as an aggregate number for population analysis.  CERF exams can be performed at any age acceptable to the ACVO used, but the health committee recommends no earlier than 8 weeks of age, then annually thereafter.      The Cardiac auscultation must be performed by a board certified veterinary cardiologist no earlier than 1 year of age and recorded on an OFA Cardiac Registry Form.  All data will be used as a part of aggregate statistical information, but only dogs whose test results are listed in the public domain for both the cardiac exam and the CERF exam will receive a CHIC number.
 
We are now beginning a new direction that places the AMSC in a more proactive role and in step with current scientific thinking. We are participating in collecting health information about our breed that can be used to help identify issues before wide-spread dissemination within the breed gene-pool is revealed.  We will be using the latest technological advances to help manage our breeding programs and to protect the breed by keeping pace with current scientific discovery.  We can no longer rely on outdated methods for ensuring the health of our breed and we must join together to move our club and our breed to the 21st century. 

If you have any additional questions and would like to get started, please contact one of your Health Committee members.