[ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: OFA Cardiac Requirements
- From: barbara17236@xxxxxxx
- To: kthalfen@xxxxxxxxxxx, Showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 11 Dec 2011 11:13:52 -0500 (EST)
Katie -
Thank you for thoroughly explaining this so all would understand. I am the
"lister" who has the GSD with an "innocent" heart murmur. Yes, she has an OFA
Cardiac number. Yes, she had an ECHO done and was cleared by a cardiologist.
And, since we own her brother, we took him to have an ECHO done, too. We
decided that was the best way to be sure all of our bases were covered. He was
normal. We also notified the breeder, and the other littermate owners we have
contact with.
BTW - this bitch had been to our vet on several different occasions, and we
were never told there was a heart murmur. It was discovered, by a
cardiologist, at an annual health clinic.
Barb Hively - PA
DNA. It's what makes a white, a German Shepherd
-----Original Message-----
From: Katie Halfen <kthalfen@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: gsd list <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sun, Dec 11, 2011 10:26 am
Subject: [ SHOWGSD-L ] OFA Cardiac Requirements
Just a quick explaination on OFA cardiac testing because I do these. The
ertification can be done by a general practitioner, a specialist, or by a
ardiologist. If your dog is to get certified by a general practitioner like
yself, the dog is auscultated and as long as no murmur or abnormal heart rate
r rhythm is heard, then I can certify your dog's heart. If I auscultate a
urmur or abnormal rhythm then the dog is required to see the cardiologist to
et OFA certified. A dog with a heart murmur can only be certified if an
chocardiogram is done on the dog and shows it has an innocent murmur. This
ype of murmur is caused by an increased or decreased blood flow, but is not
elated to congenital heart disease. In these cases the ultrasound of the heart
erifies the dog does not have aortic stenosis, pulmonary stenosis, a valvular
efect, regurgitation of blood through one of the valves, PDA, septal defects,
tc. Any of these congenital abnormalities would be picked up
on ultrasound by the cardiologist and the dog would fail the test. The cardiac
est is taylored to the breed as well, some dogs require an EKG and exercise
ests to become certified. We are lucky in German Shepherds to have heart
efects that cause murmurs and can easily be screened. Hope that clears up the
uestion about why a dog with a murmur could get certified.
Katie Halfen DVM
asamoko Shepherds
ww.casamoko.com
>
On Dec 11, 2011, at 7:36 AM, _Pinehillgsds@xxxxxxxx
(mailto:Pinehillgsds@xxxxxxx) wrote:
Good answer Kay although I must say I was disappointed w/ the OFA cardiac
test and if one were to be honest, the thyroid test should probably be done
every year to mean anything. (I just did a 10 1/2 year old, his skin was
getting dry, came back fine, naturally didn't bother to send it in).
The reason I was disappointed w/ the whole cardiac thing? I learned
(through a lister, but it's actually true) that a dog w/ a murmur can still
et
(cardiac) certified. Scratching my head wondering what's the point????
I'd know at 6 weeks if a puppy had a problem. I don't know any serious
breeder who would keep let alone breed a dog w/ a heart issue. The last time
I had a dog at the vet I had the vet sign their cert, verify their chip #
and sent it along to OFA w/ $15. I guess I'll start doing that, but again,
for ME, pretty worthless.
Kathy, member GSDCA, DVGSDC
Celebrating generations of Dual Titled TC'd Champions
visit _http://www.pinehillgsds.com/_ (http://www.pinehillgsds.com/)
===========================================================================
OST is Copyrighted 2011. All material remains the property of the original
uthor and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind
re permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the
howgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Each Author is responsible for the content of his/her post. This group and its
dministrators are not responsible for the comments or opinions expressed in any
ost.
ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY
MANNER
F ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL
ARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A
IOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED.
For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxx
VISIT OUR WEBSITE - http://showgsd.org
SUBSCRIPTION:http://showgsd.org/mail.html
ATIONAL BLOG - http://gsdnational.blogspot.com/
===========================================================================
============================================================================
POST is Copyrighted 2011. All material remains the property of the original
author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind
are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the
Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Each Author is responsible for the content of his/her post. This group and its
administrators are not responsible for the comments or opinions expressed in
any post.
ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY
MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS
PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY
FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE
PROSECUTED.
For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxx
VISIT OUR WEBSITE - http://showgsd.org
SUBSCRIPTION:http://showgsd.org/mail.html
NATIONAL BLOG - http://gsdnational.blogspot.com/
============================================================================
Other related posts:
