INSIDE
Director: Dan Hogan , DVM
dfh@vet.purdue.edu
Greetings,
We would like to take this opportunity to explain some of the specifics of the new CERF policy regarding permanent identification as there has been some confusion.
This policy was instituted to uphold the integrity of the certification process and to bring CERF up to date with the AKC that requires dogs to be permanently identified before it will publish CERF information. The policy of permanent identification is also required by other animal registry programs such as OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals).
The policy states the following: All animals that are presented to a board-certified ophthalmologist for a CERF exam must be permanently identified (tattoo, microchip or DNA profile) to obtain a CERF number. If the animal is not permanently identified but has passed the exam, then they can receive a CERF number that ends in an -N (for not permanently identified) during the grace period. The duration of this grace period has not been decided but notification of at least 1 year prior to the termination will be made public.
If the ophthalmologist does not have a chip reader, then the owner can provide them with the paperwork demonstrating the chip number (this is provided with all chips and should be the official paperwork and not handwritten on a piece of paper).
Any animal that becomes permanently identified after a CERF exam will be eligible to receive the normal CERF number by calling the CERF office and letting them know what form of permanent identification the dog has and the number. If you have questions please call our office 765-494-8179.
It is strongly recommended that you contact your ophthalmologist prior to bringing your dog to their office for the exam to make sure all parties are aware of the new policy. If there are any questions, concerns or confusion, please call our office prior to the dog's exam 765-494-8179.
We have evaluated our registry and this new policy only affects about 25% of the public so we hope this will not cause too much confusion. We hope this helps explain the new policy and allows you to provide the best preventative care for you dog. Again, if you have any questions, concerns or confusion over this policy or any other aspect of CERF, please do not hesitate to call us at 765-494-8179.
I look forward to working with you in the future and welcome any questions or comments you have.
Daniel F. Hogan, DVM, DACVIM-Cardiology, Director- CERF/VMDB
Q: How do I find an ACVO Clinic in my area?
A: You can go to our web site and check under ACVO Clinic List. There you can search by State.
Q: Why can't CERF answer questions about my dog's diagnosis?
A: Unfortunately, we do not have a Veterinary Ophthalmologist in our office. We can help you tell if your CERF exam will pass or fail, but for specific diagnosis questions you need to contact a Veterinary Ophthalmologist.

In order for us to get your registration forms processed in a timely manner please make sure the following are done before you send in the Owners Copy of the exam form:
These breeds were inadvertently left off our February Newsletter list of Dogs that were CERFed in 2000.
| BREED | TOTAL |
| Scottish Terrier | 6 |
| Sealyham Terrier | 7 |
| Shetland Sheepdog (Sheltie) | 368 |
| Shiba Inu | 92 |
| Shih Tzu | 19 |
| Breed | Characteristics | Severity | Age at onset | Inheritance Pattern | Advice to Breeders | |
| Affenpinscher | na | may be | na | na | Affected dogs should not be bred,examine close relatives |
|
| Afghan Hound | 1.Equitorial | often | .4 to 1.2 | R | Affected dogs & obligate carriers shouldn't be bred |
|
| 2.Posterior Cortical | may be | <=1 | R? | Examine breeding stock | ||
| 3.Anterior Cortical | rarely | 1 to 2 | na | na | ||
| Alaskan Malmute | 1.Posterior Subcapsular | rarely | <=1 | na | Affected dogs should not be bred, examine close relatives |
|
| 2.Fibrillar nuclear | mild | 6 | MBA | na | ||
| Australian Kelpie | Anterior Cortical | rare | 4 to 6 | F | Affected dogs should not be bred, examine close relatives |
|
| Beagle | 1.Anterior Cortical | benign | congenital | F | Minor Abnormality | |
| 2.Posterior Cortical | usually mild | mature | na | Affected dogs should not be bred, examine close relatives |
||
| Bearded Collie | Anterior polar Subcapsular | usually mild | 2-5 | na | Affected dogs should not be bred, examine close relatives |
|
| Bedlington Terrier | 1.Posterior subcapsular(early) | variable | 0.2 | R | Affected dogs & obligate carriers shouldn't be bred |
|
| 2.Posterior subcapsular (late) | moderate | 2 | na | na | ||
| Belgian Sheepdog | 1.Suture-line opacitie | na | na | F | na | |
| 2.Nuclear | mild | >=7 | MBA | na | ||
| Belgian Trevuren | 1.Posterior subcapsular | usually mild | >=2 | R ? | Affected dogs should not be bred, examine close relatives |
2.Anterior subcapsular | na | 3 | na | na |
| Bichon Frise | Posterior Subcapsular | may cause visual impairment | 0.5 to 3 | na | Affected dogs should not be bred, examine close relatives |
|
| Black/Tan Coonhound | Y Suture Tips Affected | may cause visual impairment | na | na | Affected dogs should not be bred, examine close relatives |
|
| Border Terrier | Posterior Subcapsular | usually mild | 3-4 | na | Affected dogs should not be bred, examine close relatives |
|
| Borzoi | 1.Posterior cortical | visual impairment common | 1-4 | na | Affected dogs should not be bred, examine close relatives |
|
| 2.Nuclear | usually sub-clinical | 5 | MBA | examine close relatives | ||
| Boston Terrier | 1.Early Severe | usually severe | .15 | R | Affected dogs & obligate carriers should not be bred;test bed suspected carriers |
|
| 2.Posterior cortical | may be | >=7 | na | Affected dogs should not be bred, examine close relatives |
||
| 3.Anterior cortical | may be | >=4 | na | same as above | ||
| Bouiver des Flandres | 1.Posterior cortical | may cause visual impairment | .25 to 1 | na | Affected dogs should not be bred, examine close relatives |
|
| 2.Posterior subcapsular | may cause visual impairment | 5 | na | same as above | ||
| Boxer | Posterior Cortical | may cause visual impairment | <=4 | na | Affected dogs should not be bred, examine close relatives |
|
| Brussels Griffon | na | visual impairment | <=8 | na | Affected dogs should not be bred, examine close relatives |
|
| Bulldog | Nuclear & Perinuclear | na | 1 to 2 | na | Affected dogs should not be bred, examine close relatives |
|
| Cairn Terrier | 1.Posterior cortical | often cause visual impairment | <=2 | na | Affected dogs should not be bred, examine close relatives |
|
| 2.Anterior cortical | mild or sub-clinical | 6 to 8 | na | same as above | ||
| Chesapeake Bay Retriever | na | usually mild | .5 to 2 | D(IP) | Examine breeding stock through 7 years of age |
|
| Cocker Spaniel | 1.Anterior polar | sub-clinical | may be congenital | na | Ignore | |
| 2.Anterior cortical | may impair vision | >=4 | na | Affected dogs should not be bred, examine close relatives |
||
| 3.Posterior cortical | usually impairs vision | 2 to 5 | na | same as above | ||
| 4.Posterior polar | may impair vision | 1 to 3 | na | same as above | ||
| Collie | 1.Anterior cortical | rarely impairs vision | congenital | na | examine close relatives | |
| 2.Posterior subcapsular | rarely impairs vision | 3 to 5 | na | same as above | ||
| Curly Coated Retriever | 1.Anterior cortical | usually sub-clinical | >=3 | na | Affected dogs should not be bred, examine close relatives |
|
| 2.Posterior subcapsular | same as above | 2 to 4 | na | same as above | ||
| Dachshund | 1.Posterior Cortical | rarely impairs vision | 1 | na | Affected dogs should not be bred, examine close relatives |
|
| Doberman Pinscher | Posterior cortical | usually sub-clinical | 1 to 2 | na | Affected dogs should not be bred, examine close relatives |
|
| English Cocker Spaniel | 1.Posterior cortical, early | often impairs vision | 1.5 to 3 | na | Affected dogs should not be bred, examine close relatives |
|
| 2.Posterior cortical, late | same as above | 8 to 3 | na | same as above | ||
| 3.Nuclear fibrillar | mild | 2 | na | na | ||
| English Springer Spaniel | 1.Posterior polar | rarely impairs vision | 1 to >=3 | na | Affected dogs should not be bred, examine close relatives |
|
| 2.Nuclear fibrillar | same as above | >=5 | na | ignore | ||
| English Toy Spaniel | Posterior polar | usually impairs vision | .5 | na | Affected dogs should not be bred, examine close relatives |
|
| Field Spaniel | Anterior cortical | rarely impairs vision | 3 | na | Affected dogs should not be bred, examine close relatives |
|
| Flat Coated Retriever | 1.Nuclear | rarely impairs vision | >=4 | na | examine close relatives | |
| 2.Posterior | na | na | na | na | ||
| French Bulldog | na | often impairs vision | .5 to 3 | na | Affected dogs should not be bred, examine close relatives |
|
| German Shepherd | 1.Anterior capsular | severe | Congenital | D | Affected dogs should not be bred |
|
| 2.Posterior cortical | often impairs vision | .06 to 0.1 | R | Affected dogs & obligate carriers should not bred |
||
| 3.Nuclear | seldom impairs vision | 5 to 8 | MBA | ignore | ||
| German Shorthaired Pointer | Posterior subcapsular | seldom impairs vision | .5 to 1.5 | na | Affected dogs should not be bred, examine close relatives |
|
| German Wirehaired Pointer | Posterior subcapsular | seldom impairs vision | <=1 | na | Examine close relatives | |
| Giant Schnauzer | 1.Posterior subcapsular, early | seldom impairs vision | young pup | na | Affected dogs should not be bred, examine close relatives |
|
| 2.Posterior subcapsular, late | seldom impairs vision | 6 to 7 | na | same as above | ||
| Golden Retriever | 1.Posterior subcapsular | usually sub-clinical | .5 to 7.5 | na | Affected dogs should not be bred, examine close relatives |
|
| 2.Anterior cortical | usually mild | 3 to 6 | na | na | ||
| Gordon Setter | Variable | seldom repairs vision | 2 to 3 | na | Affected dogs should not be bred, examine close relatives |
|
| Great Dane | Posterior subcapsular | may be severe | <=2 | na | Affected dogs should not be bred, examine close relatives |
|
| Ibizan Hound | 1.Posterior polar | severe | <=.7 | R | Affected dogs & obligate carriers should not be bred, test mating feasible |
|
| 2.Nuclear fibrillar | usually sub-clinical | 5 to 8 | MBA | Ignore | ||
| Irish Setter | Posterior subcapsular | usually sub-clinical | .5 to 1.5 | na | Affected dogs should not be bred, examine close relatives |
|
| Irish Water Spaniel | 1.Posterior subcapsular | mild | 5 | na | Affected dogs should not be bred, examine close relatives |
|
| 2.Anterior cortical | mild | 1 to 2 | na | same as above | ||
| Irish Wolfhound | Posterior cortical (young) | seldom impairs vision | 1 to 2 | na | Affected dogs should not be bred, examine close relatives |
(old) | same as above | 5 to 7 | na | same as above |
| Italian Greyhound | Posterior cortical | often impairs vision | 2 to 3 | na | Affected dogs should not be bred, examine close relatives |
|
| Keeshound | 1.Posterior cortical Type 11 | often impairs vision | .4 | na | Affected dogs should not be bred, examine close relatives |
|
| 2.Posterior cortical Type 11 | seldom impairs vision | .5 to 2 | na | same as above | ||
| 3.Anterior cortical | may impair vision | 6 | na | same as above | ||
| Kerry Blue Terrier | Posterior cortical | often impairs vision | <=2 | na | Affected dogs should not be bred, examine close relatives |
|
| Komondor | Posterior subcapsular | seldom impairs vision | 2 to 3 | na | Affected dogs should not be bred, examine close relatives |
|
| Kuvasz | Cortical | seldom impairs vision | 1.5 to 2 | na | Affected dogs should not be bred, examine close relatives |
|
| Labrador Retriever | 1.Posterior subcapsular | usually sub-clinical | .5 to 1.5 | D(IP) | Affected dogs should not be bred, examine parents |
|
| 2.Anterior subcapsular | rarely impairs vision | 5 | na | na | ||
| Lakeland Terrier | Posterior subcapsular | seldom impairs vision | 1 to 3 | R? | Affected dogs & obligate carriers shouldn't be bred |
|
| Lhasa Apso | Posterior cortical | often impairs vision | 3 to 6 | na | Affected dogs should not be bred, examine close relatives |
|
| Manchester Terrier | Posterior cortical | often impairs vision | 5 | na | Affected dogs should not be bred, examine close relatives |
|
| Miniature Pinscher | Posterior cortical | often impairs vision | 1.5 to 3 | na | Affected dogs should not be bred |
|
| Miniature Schnauzer | 1.Posterior cortical (congenital) | severe | congenital | R | Affected dogs & obligate carriers shouldn't be bred, test breed to find carriers |
|
| 2.Posterior cortical (juvenile) | often impairs vision | <=2 | na | Affected dogs should not be bred, examine close relatives |
||
| 3.Posterior cortical (late onset) | severe | 4 to 6 | same as above | |||
Definitions for Inheritance Pattern abbreviations: R-Recessive, MBA-May Be Acquired, F-Familial,D-Dominant, D(IP)-Dominant(incomplete penetrance), na-no information available
American Water Spaniel and Basset Hound are left off due to lack of information.
We use these categories to let you and potential owners know there was a diagnosis and where it was located. These are also listed on the back of the CERF Certificate.
| Category A | Category B |
|
|
| Category C | Category D |
|
|
| Category E | Category F |
|
|
| Category G | |
|
CERF Homepage