The Bouvier Health Foundation Recommends a Change in the Cardiac CHIC Certification Program for the Bouvier des Flandres.
Currently, CHIC cardiac testing options allow for either:
Basic Cardiac Exam - auscultation only, that can be performed by any licensed veterinarian. OR
Advanced Cardiac Exam – physical examination, auscultation, and echocardiogram which must be performed by a board-certified veterinary cardiologist. (DACVIM/Cardiology or DECVIM/Cardiology).
The Bouvier Health Foundation requests that the ABdFC, in conjunction with the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA), accepts only the Advanced Cardiac Exam for CHIC certification of the adult (>12 mo old) Bouvier des Flandres.
The evidence for this proposal:
1. Results of auscultations are subjective and variable over time and the examiner and can miss low-grade heart murmurs, resulting in failure to diagnose a disease which would benefit from early medical intervention.
2. Echocardiography is both objective and reproducible over time.
3. The American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Cardiology group of the OFA has moved to an advanced Cardiac database that requires echocardiography for certification, recognizing that auscultation alone is a poor Predictor of cardiac health and disease status.(https:// ofa.org/diseases/cardiac-disease/.
4. Echocardiography is the gold standard for evaluating the morphology of the heart in the living animal.
5. SAS is a genetic and heritable disease in the Bouvier des Flandres. Recent studies have shown a possible link to a mutation in the Stabilin-1 (STABI) gene to be associated with SAS, and further research in this area is ongoing for confirmation. (Genetics of Canine Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis, Ontiveros and Stern, “Canine Medicine and Genetics” (2021). However, at present, there is no genetic mutation found in the Bouvier des Flandres that can be used as a screening test to determine the possibility of developing SAS. Therefore, we must rely on evaluation of the morphology and function of the heart by echocardiography in the mature dog to determine this potential.
The ABdFC Code of Ethics:
I.A) Members will consider the welfare of the breed when engaged in any activities involving breeding ---- and will refrain from any actions which would be prejudicial to the best interest of the breed.
II. A) The goal is to breed carefully and with discrimination for the purpose of improving the breed.
Therefore, the Bouvier Health Foundation advises that the cardiac evaluation for CHIC certification for the Bouvier des Flandres be upgraded to require echocardiography for the welfare and improvement of the breed.
1. For the breeder, knowing that breeding stock is free from heritable cardiac disease will improve the breed, and over time, eliminate heritable cardiac problems.
2. For the pet owner, knowing the potential for development of SAS and other structural diseases allows for prevention or early detection of life-altering disease and provides the opportunity to start appropriate medical intervention that can prolong a dog’s health-span and life-span.
The BHF is aware that there are cost and locale constraints in performing echocardiography. However, breeders are traveling to regional and national specialty and all-breed shows, many of which offer low-cost echocardiography. The BHF is actively underwriting the cost of these studies at shows – as seen in the most recent national specialty and the upcoming Rose City Classic (Portland, Oregon) in January 2025. There were several people who responded to our questionnaire at Purina by indicating they were interested in helping us partner with regional health clinics. Our Regional Health Testing Committee chair (Georgia Edwards) is following up. Please contact BHF if you would like to help with a dog show in your area that offers a health clinic . Our proposal was written and reviewed by a medical team which included Dr. Joshua Stern PhD, DVM, ACVIM, Dr Georgia Edwards MD, Maureen Benetti FMP and Dr. Denise Bohn DMV.