I sent my money with the form for my 5 dogs because the form said to.

We are also more than an hour to our vet which can make it hard with so many dogs. I have been looking at the all breed show catalogs and many offer health screenings. We plan on taking advantage of that this year.

Has anything been planned for Nationals this year? We would gladly sign up for those as well.

Deej

I know you said you dont really want to hear from ppl who are doing the tests, and I dont really have any common sense solutions... however I think it is more than just one reason holding ppl back and more likely a variety of things..

Here is my personal take on testing; to start, I use the same clinic as kristie, and yes the xrays start at $120 each....plus I dont know if that is really anyones specialty here in our town....The last X-rays I had done were $405 for hips, spine, elbows, that does not include tax, a slight sedative, and painkillers because he could hardly walk afterwards. He also had blood in is urine for 3 days. and it does not include the submission fees to the ofa, another $60. unfortunately the OFA said the Elbows were not taken at the right angle so if I want those done, again more $$$ for a vet visit and new xrays...

So, x-rays for OFA are now planned on trips out of town to shows, when I have a dog with me that has not already had them done, and is old enough. (aswell , the show must be near a good bulldog recommended radiologist, in Canada we dont usually have clinics at or in conjunction with our shows)Plus I have to stay an extra night in a motel, because I will not take the chance of getting x-rays the day before or days of a show, after how sore my boy was last time.

Then...comes the age factor...Dogs gotta be 12 months for some and 24 for others, I have a bitch that turned 2 last month and an 8 month old.

and the money (seems to keep coming up)...if you have 5 or more dogs you can get the tests done here and there, but hold off on sending them in, then it is half the price to submit them to OFA, and less in shipping for sending all together....So when my youngest boy and 5th bulldog reaches 1 yr (June), I will be sending in all 5 of their cardiac, thyroid and Patella tests. Tracheas have been done here but waiting on my girl currently in the US to have hers done and sent to me to send in with the others. I am guilty of not getting CERF done, only comes here 2x per year and I never remember! I do however get annual eye exams.

I think money is a BIG factor for many....especially when most vets(not mine) tell you not to waste your money because they can test the same areas, by way of less costly testing,(mind you not as thorough), and tell you if your dog could pass or definitely would fail a specific test. Many ppl do not seem to see the full benefit of health registries, like that you can actually see common ailments that affect a particular breed, rather than just thinking that since their bulldog has it they all must, and might aswell breed anyway! like I hear all too often "it's just part of the breed", a very sad and unhealthy way of thinking, IMO.

Well there's my excuses for not having all my tests in as of yet...slowly but surely, I will get mine in. The best thing so far has been the refund offered for the trachea study and free submission of them, but it is clear by the few sent in, that money is not the only issue...I tend to think that ppl who do not test their dogs at all, be it by their vet or OFA, probly dont bother because they know their dogs wont pass!

Also, I emailed the contacts the same day you posted those last 2 blood collections, but havnt recieved either of the kits yet... another thing to consider with the testing database's is turnaround time.
All I can suggest is that everyone participating in testing, continue to educate others on the importance of it.

http://www.ThunderBullies.com

study about? I have not heard of it. If someone reads this could you please enlighten me??
thanks,
Andrea and Ruby

unfortunately for me its been a money issue at the moment. Any x rays at our vets cost 120.00ea, x that by 2 each , then by 3 dogs that I want done. It's a huge help that they refund the 50 dollars, but kinda like our benefit package and why I haven't got new glasses in 10 years... I will have them done before summer.

Kristie Barwick
http://www.symarunbulldogs.com

please email me so we can get it straightened out.
Thanks
e
celticdogges@atlinkwifi.com

I am guilty of not taking the time to learn the systems for submissions...

I always x-ray my dogs for hip/spine issues before breeding, have my vets check the hearts, thyroids, and other organ functions, but have never learned about the different registries. I got the general idea it just wanst done by bulldog people so I didnt do it.

I see I need to get on the ball, esp since I do most of it anyway....

Elizabeth I sent the twenty dollars for Marley's trach study to OFA because the form said to include it. I guess I misunderstood. Sorry. I do have a bill ready to send to BCACF for the x-ray reimbursement. Marley has a CHIC # and I intend to have her hips and spine x-rayed soon now that she is 2 yo. I will also be taking her mom Mildred in for some of the testing soon. Like some others, finding time to take off work when the vet can fit them in to their schedule is a major issue for me. I live about an hour away from the vet that I use. I also used to be able to bring the dogs to the library where I work but I can't any more. That made things much more convenient for me. Silly rules.... Anyway I guess if I can take off work a day here or there and go to a dog show, I should be able to take off and take the girls in for health screenings.
Mary Grider

I did send my in with the money.. It does not matter to me either way, I just thought I would pay it since I do it anyway. Thought I would let the BCA pay for someone who would not normally do it? Sorry..

Sonny
www.armadagroomandboard.com Sonnyduebulldogs
Detroit Bulldog Rescue
http://groups.msn.com/DetroitBulldogRescue
A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves
himself.
-Josh Billings

just ry to do something with each vey visit. We certainly do not want anyone to make a super human effort. My own vet is an hour away so I cannot do all the testing as fast as I woulod have liked.
Remember to look for clinics at your all breed shows in the premium list, or at OFA
http://www.offa.org/
look under "upcoming health clinics" for low cost health testing near you
e

our vet does it for cost ($50.00), so the only money I am out is gas money.

http://bcahealth.homestead.com/
yes, send your xrays with the form to OFA, no money
e

I must say, with all honesty, it has been a time issue for me. My vet is a 2 hour drive each way, so I have put off the trip thinking that I'll be needing to make the trip soon anyway...just wait and do it all at once. I am ashamed to say that although I have the best intentions for getting the registered tests done, it has not happened yet. Thanks for the gentle reminder that I need to get off my a$$ and get it done.

Cathy Miller
www.marshillbulldogs.com

What your saying is this cost little or nothing Right ??

And only 30 participated ? Are you kidding me ? How sad .

I thought I missed the boat with everything we had going on here.I'll call our vet this afternoon .

Thanks E

Margie

http://www.jambullsbulldogs.com/

http://www.myspace.com/jambulls_bulldogs

do i just send in the x rays without a check? i didnt see alot of info onhow to do it, any info will help.

judy/wilson

sorry for the double..
e

I know for hips, they like to wait till a dog is 2...what about the other studies? What ages are best/most accurate to get readings? Like Kathy said, sometimes we just need a good reminder, too!