2022 FCRSA National Specialty

Health Clinics, DNA Blood Draw and Genetic Diversity

Allen County War Memorial Coliseum

Pre-registration with payment (check) will begin on February 1, 2022 and is strongly recommended.

Download the Health Clinic Reservation Form here

Onsite registration may be available for empty time slots on a first come basis (cash or check will be accepted on site). Please arrive a few minutes early to fill out registration forms if you have not already done so. You will receive an email with your clinic time.

OFA and Gonioscopy Eye Exams

Thursday, June 9, 2022 from 9:00 am- 4:30 pm
Dr. Rachel Davis, DVM, MS, DACVO Animal Eye Clinic, Westfield, IN.
Cost: $40 CAER $55 Gonioscopy $95 both exams same dog
OFA forms will be available at the exam. Please arrive 20 minutes before your appointment to dilate the eyes and fill out paperwork.

OFA CAER exam can be used to establish a baseline and future exams identify any changes within the eyes. OFA CAER exams involve drops and a waiting period of approximately 20 minutes for the eyes to dilate sufficiently to do the exam.

Gonioscopy exams are painless and check the drainage angles of your dog’s eyes. It utilizes anesthetic drops which do not take as long to work.

Gonioscopy and OFA exams can be done on the same dog. If you want both the Gonioscopy and the OFA Eye Exams, it will involve 2 sets of drops with a short waiting time between exams. If both exams are done, gonioscopy must be done first, before the eyes are dilated.

Please allow approximately 1 hour of time if you want both exams done.

Echocardiogram/OFA Cardiac Clearance Clinic

Thursday June 9, 2022 from 8:30 am – 4:00 pm
Dr. Daniel Hogan DVM, DACVIM-Cardiology
Cost: Auscultation Exam $60 Echocardiogram Exam $250

Auscultation Exam Cardiac auscultation is the most expedient and cost-effective method for identifying Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) in dogs. While there are exceptions, virtually all common congenital heart defects are associated with the presence of a cardiac murmur. Consequently, it is recommended that cardiac auscultation be the primary screening method for initial identification of CHD. This test is performed using a stethoscope.

Echocardiogram Exam A more extensive view of the canine heart performed with a Doppler. The purpose of an echocardiogram is to assess for functional cardiac diseases, such as dilated cardiomyopathy. This test is painless and non-invasive.

DNA Blood Draw Clinic • CHIC DNA Repository

Dates: Wednesday June 8, 2022 and Friday June 10, 2022 from 8:00 -12:00
Cost: $5 (National Specialty only) *

The Animal Health Trust (AHT) in the UK where previously collected Flat-Coated Retriever blood samples are stored closed in 2020. All donated samples are currently being stored at the Kennel Club University of Cambridge. In an effort to increase the number of DNA blood samples for Flat-Coated Retrievers and make it easier for researchers to obtain these samples, DNA samples will be stored at the AKC Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) DNA repository. The major advantage of using CHIC is that the approval process is streamlined for research funded by either the AKC Canine Health Foundation or the Morris Animal Foundation.

Your participation in this effort is extremely important and we urge everyone at the National to donate their dog’s DNA blood samples, including dogs that have already donated to AHT, to support a healthier future for our Flat-Coated Retrievers.

Please print out, fill in and bring the required DNA Repository Application and Health Survey form with you to the clinic (www.ofa.org/about/dna-repository).

*CHIC is offering a discounted rate for samples collected at the Specialty, $10 per sample/per dog. The FCR Foundation has agreed to pay half of that fee and therefore the cost to owners is only $5. The FCR Foundation will reimburse $5 of the $20 fee for samples submitted after the Specialty.

Genetic Diversity Testing

Date: Friday, June 10, 2022
No Preregistration– Walk-ins only
Cost: $80

In conjunction with BetterBred and UC Davis VGL, we will again be offering Genetic Diversity Testing. BetterBred will be offering a $10 discount to accompany the $25 rebate by the FCR Foundation. Final cost $45. Members not attending the Specialty will also be eligible for this discount.

*All health screenings and DNA Blood Draw will be dependent on getting enough volunteers to manage each clinic. FCRSA members are encouraged to volunteer for even an hour or two. Please consider volunteering to hold dogs, help with paperwork, or draw blood.*