The OFA Thyroid Registry and OFA Certified Laboratories

• The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, which is widely recognized for its efforts to reduce the incidence of inherited diseases such as hip dysplasia, has established a Canine Thyroid Database that can be used to track dogs that have been tested for thyroid disease using a panel of diagnostic tests in certified labs.

• The purpose of the OFA Canine Thyroid Database is to “identify those dogs that are phenotypically normal for breeding programs and to gather data on the genetic disease autoimmune thyroiditis.”

• Breeders can find disease free pedigreed dogs and in determine which dogs are best for their breeding program, by having their dogs tested and by checking the OFA Canine Thyroid Database. Based on the status of the dog and of the dogs’ lineage, breeders and genetic counselors can decide which matings are best for reducing the incidence of autoimmune thyroiditis in the offspring.

• To be listed on the OFA database, a panel of thyroid disease diagnostic tests our TgAA assay as well as TSH and T4 assays) must be performed by an OFA certified laboratory. Dogs that test positive should not be used for breeding programs.

• An OFA breed database number of will be issued to all dogs found to be normal at 12 months of age. Ages will be used in the certification process since the classification can change as the dog ages and the autoimmune disease progresses. The OFA recommends that dogs used for breeding also be tested at ages 2,3,4,6, and 8 years.

• Only a few of the best laboratories are certified by the OFA for use in entry of data into its database. They are chosen based on quality control, quality assurance and reagent certification.

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