Health testing parents is at the backbone of producing healthy, long lived pupies!
Our adults are health tested to the standards set by the American Shih Tzu Club, to meet OFA / CHIC Certification requirements. As health testing is completed, results are posted on each parent dog’s page. This health testing helps us to evaluate our breeding dogs to ensure we are making responsible choices with the information available.
Find test results and certifications on each dog’s individual page on our website under CHIMERA MOMS & CHIMERA DADS.
Chimera Shih Tzu Health Testing:
- Embark DNA (genetics)
- OFA Cardiac Exam (heart)
- OFA Patella Exam (knees)
- CAER Opthamologist (eyes)
Why do we health test?
We do health testing on our adult dogs to ensure we do not pass on any identifiable health defects.
We do genetic tests to look for any genetic health markers that the parents could pass onto their puppies.
Then after they are a year old, we have their heart evaluated to listen for any heart murmurs or heart defects.
We have their knees checked to make sure they do not have luxating patellas which is unfortunately common in the breed.
We also go to an eye specialist to have their eyes checked and make sure there’s no eye defects they could pass onto their puppies.
These are things that as owners we wouldn’t see any signs of. We would think our dogs are perfectly healthy with their annual exams. It’s only when we have knowledgable veterinarians or specialists looking for specific things that we can identify any known disease or condition that can be passed onto the puppies.
We have a great responsibility to the puppies we bring into the world. That starts with making sure the genetics we put together are not going to cause them health problems. Our breeding dogs are the building blocks of the puppies we produce. It’s important that we are aware of any flaws or conditions. Without testing, we wouldn’t know what potentially negative health genes we would be passing onto puppies.
OFA / CHIC Certification
“The mission of the OFA is to promote the health and welfare of companion animals through a reduction in the incidence of genetic disease.”
What is OFA?
The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals is a nonprofit organization that aims to research and prevent orthopedic and hereditary diseases in companion animals.
OFA is on a mission to reduce the incidence of genetic diseases in companion animals! They are a database for canine genetic diseases, working with veterinarians, breeders, and dog owners around the world to collect health testing information and process it into a database.
These health tests include radiographic hip and elbow dysplasia screening, DNA based genetic test results, soft tissue examinations for cardiac, eyes, patellar luxation, and more.
What is the CHIC Certification Program?
“The OFA created the Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) by partnering with participating parent clubs to research and maintain information on the health issues prevalent in specific breeds. We’ve established a recommended protocol for breed-specific health screenings. Dogs tested in accordance with that protocol are recognized with a CHIC number and certification.
At OFA, we recognize that the more information stored and accessible in these databases, the better it will be for every breed. And so we encourage all breeders to attain CHIC Certification if their breed participates in the CHIC program.
A dog achieves CHIC Certification if it has been screened for every disease recommended by the parent club for that breed and those results are publicly available in the database. See the recommended screenings by breed.”
What health tests are recommended/ required for CHIC certification in Shih Tzu?
Currently, (2023), the American Shih Tzu Club recommends health testing eyes & patellas through OFA for CHIC certification.
Additionally, the ASTC recommends heart testing and hip x-rays as “optional, but recommended” testing. This is not needed for CHIC Certification, but is undoubtedly valuable information for any breeder to know about the dogs in their program.
We do OFA Cardiac Tests on all our breeding dogs at Chimera Shih Tzu.
Unfortunately, I have not yet been able to start the hip xray evaluations. We are in a more retirement community area of the state. Reproductive veterinarian are very difficult to find. Most vets in the area only deal with pet homes and either don’t have the needed experience for these carefully positioned x-rays or they simply refuse to do them. I have found a vet 3 hours away (7+ hrs on the road) that will do the xrays and has good experience. I have physical disabilities that prevent me from traveling as well as needing to take care of the dogs at home. I’m trying to figure this out. I’ve been watching for the OFA health clinics in Tampa (2 hrs away) but the schedule is very sparse since COVID. I have put a lot of thought into this. I do value this information. I do plan on incorporating hip testing into our program into the near future – but I cannot promise a date or timeline just yet. Working on it!
Embark DNA Test
All of our dogs are tested through Embark Vet, a research partner of Cornell Univeristy College of Veterinary Medicine. The Embark for Breeders kit includes tests for genetic diversity COI, health conditions, and traits. These test results are accepted by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) for all conditions where the OFA has an established DNA registry.
Our dogs have been tested for genetic health conditions relevant to Shih Tzu, clinical tools, and 210+ genetic variants associated with disease.
With over 230,000 genetic markers, Embark DNA kits can detect inbreeding farther back in time, across more generations, than pedigree-based calculations.
Embark has expertly trained veterinary geneticists on-staff to help breeders and dog owners interpret results. The geneticists and veterinarians are quick to answer any questions we have sent in.
Thousands of breeders have trusted Embark to help manage their breeding program, from improving genetic health and diversity to screening for disease mutations, understanding coat traits, and more.
The Embark for Breeders dog DNA test kit provides breed-relevant disease screening for purebred dogs. The kit also includes traits testing, (including coat color, body size, and more), DLA diversity testing, breed ancestry breakdown, and genetic Coefficient of Inbreeding (COI) score. Embark’s test results are accepted by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) for all conditions where OFA has an established DNA registry, as well as the UK Kennel Club and many other international organizations.
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TESTIMONIALS
I can’t praise this breeder enough. Follow them on FB and you’ll see why I recommend this family. They have so much compassion for all the fur babies and the moms and dads. Their dedication to introducing the puppies to new experiences and training and to great health is above expectations. I am so happy and lucky to welcome my new little one from Chimera into our home!
— Gail, Zadie’s Mom
I followed several Florida breeders and shelters on social media for months searching for our fur baby and Stephanie and Allyssa are head and shoulders above all of them. They are professional, organized, responsive and most importantly you genuinely love what they do.
I was able to watch Turing (our pup) grow up every day on their page. Any questions I had they responded quickly and comprehensively.
I can tell how much hard work and love they put into their puppies, Turing is an absolute doll. His first day with us, despite it being a HUGE change he was calm, affectionate and such a happy little fella. That kind of security comes from being born and raised in a stable loving environment. Thank you, Chimera Shih Tzu! We are absolutely in love with our little guy.
— Jessica, Turing’s Mom
Chimera Shih Tzu 