BTCA Certification Program

The Health Certification Program is open to any member of the BTCA that is a member in good standing with the club, and we hope that everyone will take the opportunity to participate in this wonderful program. As this program was designed for the betterment of the breed.

Please note that we have revised the Health Certification Health Examination Form and this new form is the only form that will be accepted as an application, when submitted with the proper documentation. Please, add your e-mail address to the form before sending it to the Committee.

Please enclose a check for $5.00 payable to “BTCA Health Committee” marked "Certification", with COPIES of your tests enclosed. The deadline is January 31st, 2008. Mail everything to:

Sue LeCalsey
BTCA Health Committee
4125 Dollar Lane, DePere WI 54115

Summary of requirements for each level are as follows:

Silver Certificate

1. Have your veterinarian complete the BTCA Health Examination form
(Send the original copy). The form is located Here
2. Send a COPY of your CERF Certificate.
3. Send a COPY of your OFA Patella Certificate.

Gold Certificate

In addition to the 3 previous documents, you must send a COPY of your OFA BAER Certificate.

You will automatically receive your CHIC Certificate after your results for the CERF, OFA Patella and OFA BAER Tests have been registered with CERF and OFA. No additional fee is required for the CHIC Certificate.

Further References: (Permanent Identification must be implemented prior to any testing.)

BAER Test Sites may be located at www.lsu.edu/deafness/baersite.htm

The BAER (Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response) test needs to be performed only once in a dog’s life, sometime after it is 35 days of age. OFA recommends this test should be performed by a Board Certified Veterinary Neurologist, but will accept results from experienced veterinarians and audiologists.

Bilateral hearing PASSES.
Unilateral or bilateral deafness FAILS

Application fee is $15.00 per dog unless you qualify for the Litter Rate of $30.00 for 3 or more littermates. Kennel Rate is $7.50 for 5 or more dogs owned by the same person. Equivocal and affected dogs are registered at No Charge.

CERF Test Sites may be located at www.vmdb.org/clinic.html

Puppies can be examined as early as 8 weeks of age and CERF will also register them at that time. Send owners copy of the physician completed CERF Exam form in with your $10.00 fee. Re-certification charge is $7.50. Permanent Identification at time of exam of your dog (must be by microchip, tattoo or DNA profile) is required as of 1/1/01 to register your dog. Certification is good for 1 year from date of exam. Dogs should be CERF'd annually.

Patella Examination form can be located at www.offa.org/plappbw.pdf

The Patella Examination is performed on dogs 12 months or older by your veterinarian and should be registered in the Patellar Luxation Database with OFA. Puppies examined younger than 12 months will be treated as Consultations and no OFA breed numbers will be assigned.

Fee for dogs over 12 months of age is $15.00. The Litter Rate of $30.00 applies to 3 or more submitted together. The Kennel Rate of $7.50 applies to 5 or more submitted together, owned/co-owned by the same person. Patella's should be re-examined bi-annually and there is no charge for re-certification.

Miscellaneous Web Sites:
BAER
CERF
OFFA
CHIC

If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact me.

Sue LeCalsey
Member - BTCA Health Committee