P.O. Box 177, Warner, NH 03278
Phone: 603-456-2350 Fax: 603-456-2286
EMAIL: gdc@conknet.com

http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/gdc/gdc.htm

 

Instructions: GDC Eye Registry Application

1) The owner will fill out the GDC Eye Evaluation and Registration application form and send it to GDC along with the original or a copy of the opthalmologist's evaluation (one side of the white CERF owner's form). To obtain the application form, contact GDC or download the form from the GDC web site.

2) Mail the completed form, a copy of your CERF report, and a check to: Institute for Genetic Disease Control in Animals, PO Box177, Warner, NH 03278.

3) When appropriate, GDC issues and will mail you a Certificate of Unaffected (valid for one year). Otherwise the affected diagnosis is registered with GDC and the check is returned to the owner with notice of registration. The Open Eye Registry will be maintained in a breed specific manner, depending on the diseases found in each breed and the requests of the sponsoring breed club.

Fees

GDC will register CERF evaluations that are accompanied by the Eye Registry Application Form

No charge for affected entries.

$10 (US) for first unaffected Certification (valid for 1 year only, since symptoms may occur at any time).

$5 (US) for updated evaluations if dog is already registered with GDC

$25 (US) total when 3 or more littermates or related dogs are submitted at thesame time (no refund for affected)


About the Open Registry of Hereditary Eye Diseases

The GDC Open Registry of Heredity Eye Diseases is a tool to use in the fight against inherited eye diseases in all pure-bred canines. The owners of pure-bred dogs may now choose to place the evaluation of their dogs eyes in an open registry where it will be linked to other members of the dog's family. This information can help identify carriers of inherited eye defects among the unaffected animals. A single dog's evaluation determines only the status of that individual dog - its phenotype. The phenotypes of a group of related dogs determines that group's genotype.

In response to a formal request from the Poodle Club of America and with the cooperation of several organizations, the GDC is registering evaluations for inherited eye diseases. Research Databases are established for breeds which have not yet proven inheritance.

The Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF) is not associated with GDC. It will continue to operate as a protected registry by releasing data on normal animals only. Ophthalmic disease data gathered during CERF exams is only released from CERF as pooled information and no diseased animal is ever identified. The pooled data provides information on the prevalence of ophthalmic diseases by breed, age, sex, etc.

The GDC Open Registry will file data for owners who wish to openly share the phenotypic evaluations of their dog, regardless of the diagnosis. The data can be used as the tool to determine genotypic risk factors (including carrier status) of an individual animal by linking all relatives that are submitted to the GDC Open Registry.

Information on Every Dog is Important

When there is data on a sufficiently large size family of dogs, a breeder can evaluate the risk for genetic disease transmission of dogs in that family.

The evaluations of every single dog, whether pet or working dog, become an important data source to increase the accuracy of the predicted risk in a relative being considered for breeding.

Access to the Open Registry

In general, data in the GDC Open Registry is available in the form of a KinReport to people who need support and information which will lead to a reduction of geneticdiseases in a kennel or the breed. All information must be used in accord with ethical breeding standards. All requests for information will be maintained in the file.

Examples of GDC Registry Use

A person (owner of either a male or a female animal) may ask for the evaluations of a disease in the siblings and half-sibs of their dog and a particular dog to be considered as a mate. They may ask for the same records on any progeny produced by their dog.

A researcher might propose a formal study of the data on one of the diseases, the method of diagnosis, the mode of inheritance, etc., with the expectation of publication.

Verification of Accuracy

An owner may request the GDC records on their own dog(s) at any time inorder to verify the accuracy of that information.

What is An Open Disease Registry?

A DATABANK OF GENETIC HISTORY

An open disease registry is a data bank of genetic history for any breed of dog. In an open registry like the one maintained by the GDC (Institute for Genetic Disease Control in Animals), owners (potential breeders), veterinarians and scientists can trace the genetic history of any particular dog.

In order to control the increasing presence of genetic diseases (such as those of the hip, elbow, shoulder, eye, skin, heart), we must know how prevalent such diseases are in the breed and in any particular dog's bloodlines.

The information about each dog automatically becomes linked in the open registry with relatives of that animal. An open registry delivers this information to breeders for the selection of mates whose bloodlines indicate are reduced risk of producing genetic disease.

REGISTERING BOTH AFFECTED DOGS AND THOSE THAT APPEAR NORMAL

The purpose of the open registry is to help breeders and owners reduce the presence of genetic diseases in their breeds. In order to be effective, the registry must record data on as large a group of animals as possible, especially the affected.

Each owner of a registrant in an open registry has agreed to the release of the data whether the evaluation of the animal is affected or not. Each dog registered in an open registry brings crucial information to help support the improvement of the entire breed.


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Institute for Genetic Disease Control in Animals / Revised 10/02