Certification Process

OFA Process

O.F.A. is short for the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, currently located in Columbia, Missouri. The function of the O.F.A. is to create a database of information on genetic problems in dogs, and provide radiographic (x-ray) evaluation criteria as well as wellness ratings for those problems. O.F.A. therefore provides a means for conscientious breeders to attempt to eliminate genetic diseases from their breeding stock by not breeding genetically problematic dogs.

The O.F.A. uses x-ray data for each dog and rates an individual dog for the phenotypic (problems caused by the bad gene) expression of the genetic disease causing polygenetic traits. With regards to hip dysplasia, for instance, the O.F.A. rates a dog with perfect hips as “Excellent” or (E). [An (E) rating is very rare.] Good, but not perfect, hips are rated (G). Fair hips are awarded an (F). Any rating less than (F) is considered too bad for breeding. At Whistler Farm, we breed only dogs with Excellent or Good ratings.

Hip dysplasia occurs when the ball of the rear leg bone becomes very loose in its hip socket. This causes inflammation of the hip socket, pain, and – in severe cases – a breakdown of the “head” of the legbone and disintegration of the hip socket, making the dog unable to move its hips and/or hind legs.

Hip dysplasia is still being researched, but some information is known.

• Mother nature does not have a problem with hip dysplasia, as carriers of the trait die before ever getting a chance to breed. It is only a problem because uncaring or unknowledgeable breeders continue to breed dysplastic dogs.
• Diet and functionality (broken bones, poor training techniques – such as pushing down on the hips to teach a dog to “sit” or “lay down”) play a very small part in the hip dysplasia picture.

O.F.A. will only take x-rays of dogs that are 2 years old or older. The skeletal structure of growing dogs makes diagnosis very difficult. A new procedure that looks at the puppy’s genes may be done at any time, but it is very expensive.

Legally, yes. But Whistler Farm will only accept dogs x-rayed by Michigan State University or another O.F.A. certified University. Too much or too little anesthesia given the dog when taking the x-ray will cause the wrong amount of muscle tension. This results in a poor x-ray and a poor – or incorrect – O.F.A. rating.

Note: We have not yet met a vet who said he or she couldn’t take the x-rays. However, we have personally talked to professors at M.S.U. who have stated that maybe one in a hundred vets can take the x-rays correctly. Furthermore, M.S.U. generally charges less for the procedure than most local small animal vets.

You want to call them early when your dog is one year old, or so, and get an appointment.
Call: (517) 353-4523 OR (517) 353-5420. Press option #3 – Appointments.