SPINE REGISTRY

FRENCH BULLDOG SPINE RESEARCH

SPINE REGISTRY IN THE WORKS

JULY 23, 2006 UPDATE

UPDATE ON WHERE TO SEND FUNDS TO HELP OUT THE
FRENCH BULLDOGS

PLEASE SEND ALL MONIES TO:

OFA/ FRENCH BULLDOG SPINE PILOT
IN C/O DR. KELLER
2300 E. Nifong Blvd., Columbia, MO 65201-3856

Constance Parker
Founder of the French Bulldog Spine Research being conducted at OFA

On November 29, 1999, I asked Dr Keller if OFA would assist the Friends of the French Bulldog Health Newsletter by setting up a Pilot Program for Spine Research on the French Bulldog. The pilot was approve on December 7th, 1999. The pilot will last for 5 years and we will assess whatever recommendations OFA suggested at that point using a Neurologist to help with suggestions. The main objective is to build a database for the breed. The copulation of the information is confidential for the duration of the pilot project.

Owners will send in their spine x-rays taken in 2 views/2 x-rays in these positions: VD and Lateral views and have the dog under sedation so that the spine is as straight as possible. The minimum age to send is 12 weeks of age, there is no maximum age limit. NOTE - if OFA can not read the x-rays, you will have to re-do them, so please make sure your vet have his or her x-ray machine set correctly otherwise they appear gray or foggy.

Breeders who are keeping dogs for themselves may want to wait until the puppies are 5 to 6 months of age for more skeletal development. When selling puppies please continue to send at 12 weeks of age, making sure the x-rays are readable.

SEND X-RAYS TO:

OFA/ FRENCH BULLDOG SPINE PILOT
IN C/O DR. KELLER
2300 E. Nifong Blvd., Columbia, MO 65201-3856
Telephone Number 573-442-0418
Fax Number 573-875-5073
E-Mail Address ofa@offa.org

Application Form

We will leave a space on the form to follow up later or in the computer etc, if the owner called back later to say that the dog had a back problem etc. A new form is being made so we will let you know as soon as it is completed.

No dog will be passed or failed during this time and only a reading of the x-ray to show where the Transitional/hemivertibrae or other anomalies are in the spine. We all realize that a dog could have 4 or even 6 anomalies of the spine and never have clinical signs of pain etc.

I have hopes that this type of registry will help to make the breed as sound as possible.

Constance Parker - FRIENDS OF THE FRENCH BULLDOG HEALTH NEWSLETTER

UPDATE 11-13-02

Dear readers the spine research is growing, thanks to the many breeders out there that are doing their part by x-raying these dogs prior to breeding them and sending them in a NO COST to be read BY OFA.

It is at that point the breeder along with his mentor and vets can best decide what is good for this canine in front of them.

My suggesstion has always been to x-ray and know where your anomalies are and make a education decision when breeding these man made dogs.

It does not suggest that is is a ok to breed anomalies, it suggest we are breeding anomalies and we know it and what are choosing to make educated decisions when breeding!

I wish all of you good luck and wealth along the way when doing the righ thing for the breed, that our forefathers have built for us to work on. Little Tonka Trucks, I call them. They just keep getting stronger.

Thank you also Katherine who sends a check for $60.00 without being asked to do so. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

I sent 6 puppy spines in myself last week and they all had 1 to 3 anomolies, but in the thoriac area and NONE in the lumbar. If I had a dog that have one in the lumbar region, I would be more apprehensive to use that dog and the owner should be careful with him as well, for his health sake.

UPDATE: over 170 spines done as last Friday, October, 8 2002.

Our funds are low, they where $217.00, we have been keeping them around $500.00

I don't want to ask for money around this time of year because of the holidays that most of us celebrate.

I will ask after January for donations again

If you decide to send early:

Please send to

Constance Parker
PO BOX 531533

GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS 75053-1533

On the check please put FRENCH BULLDOG SPINE RESEARCH

Thank you and congrats again to all of those health testing to keep these little beast as helathy as we can make them.

Constance Parker

www.frenchbulldog.com French Bulldog Kingdom

www.constanceparker.com Povrlrd Kennels

www.dogstop.com Dog Stop Web Design

July 23, 2006

This update comes after speaking with Dr Keller.

This is a summary of the vertebral anomalies presented in September 2004 at the French Bulldog National show. The summary data reflects the evaluation of 245 dogs.

1. Thoracic hemivertebra are the most frequent.
2. 81% of the dogs had 5 or less vertebra anomalies
3. 70% of the anomalies were between T5 and T9
4. 76% had 3 or less contiguous anomalies

To date the pilot study has 511 dogs and of these 37 dogs have normal spines.

Through 2005 there has been 354 French Bulldogs submitted for hip evaluation. The cumulative hip status is as follows:

Excellent: 0.9%

Good: 33.3%

Fair: 31.4%

Mild: 19.2%

Moderate: 10.5%

Severe: 2.8%

Cardiac 289 all normal

Elbow Dysplasia 143 1.4% dysplastic

Patella 394 4.1% affected

Thyroid 55 90.9% normal

Sincerely,

G.G. Keller, D.V.M., MS

Diplomate ACVR

Chief of Veterinary Services

ggk/cas

Make a donation to help breeders learn as much as possible about the breed.
Please send your check in increments of $20.00, as it cost $20.00 per dog to have
x-rays read.

OFA/ FRENCH BULLDOG SPINE PILOT
IN C/O DR. KELLER
2300 E. Nifong Blvd., Columbia, MO 65201-3856

Make checks out to OFA, and in the MEMO section please put FRENCH BULLDOG SPINE RESEARCH.

Thank you, French Bulldog Breeders of the
Friends of the French Bulldog We Know and Love E-mail List and
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