RATIONALE:
Health screenings have been proved to be beneficial means for
improving the health of future generations of dogs. Some screenings
are also
beneficial to individual dogs and their owners. With the exception
of hips, Great Pyrenees dogs have not generally been screened for
health problems.
The purpose of the Great Pyrenees Club of
America Health Awards program is to encourage both breeders and pet
owners to have their animals screened and to provide recognition for
those who do. This program is NOT to be considered a mandate for
screenings, but an encouragement and an incentive. Much of this
proposal is based on a similar program run by the Mastiff Club of
America with good results. The Mastiff Club reports
that health screenings have increased since the awards program was
implemented.
DISCLAIMERS:
All breeders and owners are encouraged to have their dogs screened
for potential health problems. However, receipt of a GPCA Health
Award should not be construed to mean that a dog should be bred.
Health clearances alone are not sufficient reason to breed your
Great Pyrenees. Other factors, such as temperament and breed type,
also should be considered in any breeding decision.
A GPCA Health Award does not constitute an endorsement of a dog's
health. Some clearances, such as those for eye, cardiac and thyroid
diseases, are not permanent clearances. There are other health
problems, such as most autoimmune diseases, for which there are not
clearances.
THE AWARDS:
GOLD AND SILVER AWARDS
The GPCA Health Awards recognize two levels of screening. GOLD
Awards are for the owners of dogs that have undergone six of the
recommended screenings:
hips, patellas, elbows, heart, eyes, hearing
and thyroid.
SILVER
Awards are for owners of dogs that have achieved three of the
screenings.
STAR AWARDS
These are recognition for owners and breeders who have achieved Gold
or Silver Health Award status for multiple dogs. An owner shall
receive a Star Award upon having three dogs achieve Gold or Silver
Awards.
A breeder shall receive a Star Award when
five dogs he or she has bred have achieved Gold or Silver Awards.
REQUIREMENTS:
COPIES (not originals) of health certifications should be mailed,
along with the dog's registered name, AKC registration number,
owner's name, mailing
address and e-mail address (if available), and breeder's name and
address (if available), to the GPCA Health Committee. Registered
name, registration
number and breeder information are not required for spayed or
neutered stock. However, proof of spaying/neutering must be
included.
The owner sending in the data will receive an Award Certificate. It
is up to the owner to provide copies to other co-owners or breeders.
Additional
original duplicates of a certificate may be purchased by the owner
for $5 each.
GPCA Health Awards are available only to dogs owned by GPCA members,
associate members or members of GPCA-affiliated clubs.
Recipients of GPCA Health Awards will be published on the Health
Committee website and in the GPCA Bulletin.
To receive a GPCA Health Award, the dog must receive a passing grade
on its screenings. Although further screenings of failed dogs are
strongly
encouraged, GPCA wishes to avoid the potential confusion that
presenting a Health Award to a failed dog could create.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
OFA hips and elbows to be based on X-rays taken at, or after, 24
months of age. GDC certification also accepted.
OFA heart and patellas to be examined at 12 months or older.
Hearing must be certified by brainstem auditory evoked response
(BAER) exam.
CERF exams must be performed at or after 24 months, and OFA thyroid
exams must be performed at or after 12 months. Certifications for
CERF and OFA thyroid exams must be presented with 12 months of
examination to qualify for GPCA Health Awards.
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