Institute for Genetic Disease Control in Animals

GDC PO Box 177 Warner, NH 03278 Telephone: 603-456-2350 Toll-Free: FAX: 603-456-2286 EMAIL: gdc@conknet.com

FOR GDC USE: Ck. No. Dog No. A: E:

INSTRUCTIONS for the VETERINARIAN

For Submitting Films to the GDC

IDENTIFICATION: Ideally all animals are identified permanently on their body, otherwise please state method of identification. The submitted film will be identified permanently with the veterinarian's or hospital's name, date, dog's name, registration number, age, breed and owners name.

MUSCULOSKELETAL DISEASE REGISTRIES & RESEARCH DATABASES: Currently, there are Registries for hereditary dysplasia, osteochondrosis, and arthrosis of the hips, elbows, shoulders, hocks of all breeds; for Legg-Perthes, medial patellar luxation & CMO (craniomandibular osteopathy) in the Terrier Group. There is a Research Database for dwarfism in Pyranees.

AGE: The GDC will certify unaffected at a minimum age of 12 months for the above (except dwarfism = 9 weeks & Cmo = 4 1/2 - 6 mo.). GDC will register affected evaluations without charge at the age of detection.

POSITION:

PELVIS for HIPS (HD or L-P) & STIFLES: Use grid technique for all dogs over 11 cm (4"). Submit a standard ventrodorsal view of real legs extended and parallel to each other. The area must include both the sacrum and the stifles. ELBOWS: A table top, no-grid technique should be used. Submit both fully flexed and neutral lateral views of both elbows. SHOULDERS: Submit a lateral view of both shoulders with the legs extended. HOCKS: Use table top technique. Submit both a normal flexed lateral and an AP (dorsoplantar) or PA (plantodorsal) view of each hock. SKULL: Submit a lateral view as well as left and right oblique positions.

RESTRAINT: Proper positioning of the hips may be difficult to obtain without chemical restraint. Except for the hips, the degree of relaxation does not affect the evaluations of the other diseases.

REPORTS: Written criteria for evaluating the radiographs is included on the evaluation sheet. All Veterinarians who evaluate for the GDC have acknowledged these criteria and their findings are recorded in the computer. Since our system is totally computerized, you can expect your printout to be mailed within thirty (30) days from the receipt of the radiographs.

APPLICATION FOR EVALUATION & REGISTRATION: The owner or agent will complete the signed application form for each dog and mail it with the radiograph(s) to the GDC, Box 222, Davis, CA. 95617

A NUMBER OF GDC SERVICES: Services such as sibling and progeny printouts (to the extent they have been submitted) are available for breeders selecting to improve genetic health.

NORMAL CERTIFICATION NUMBER: For example, GDC 678 (H, or E, or S, etc.) 12 N 10/94. The first number is the dog's GDC record number (it is unique to that animal, independent of the breed); the next letter describes the anatomical site followed by a secondary disease identifier; the age in months is the next set of numbers; the last letter certifies that the quality of that site is within Normal limits (grade of E, G, or A is added for hip dysplasia); the last numbers give date of expiration in the case of some diseases. The different sites are tied together with the same dog number to facilitate retrieval from the file of all evaluations on that dog.

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