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CERF & EERF Examinations CERF (Canine Eye Registration Foundation) Examinations There are many heritable diseases in animals. The Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF) was established in 1974 to track heritable eye diseases in purebred dogs. A database is maintained through registered purebred dogs examined by board certified veterinary ophthalmologists (Diplomates of the ACVO -- American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists). This database helps breeders and ophthalmologists monitor eye diseases. A dog that is registered by CERF has been examined by an ACVO diplomate and found to be unaffected by a major heritable eye disease. CERF examinations are performed annually. The ophthalmologist fills out a computerized form and gives a copy to the owner. This copy can be sent to CERF by the owner (if the dog has been found to be unaffected, as previously described) along with the registration fee to receive a CERF registration number, which can be used by the owner for show purposes, breeding, and AKC pedigrees. Registration is good for one year and it must be renewed annually by examination, to maintain an up-to-date CERF number. Many ocular diseases do not appear until later in a dog's life, such as progressive retinal atrophy and some forms of cataract, so annual examinations are necessary to rule out heritable disease. In an effort to educate the public, CERF also publishes a quarterly newsletter about eye diseases in dogs. It contains current information about the frequency and heritability of eye diseases in dogs, and gives tips for healthy breeding practices. The goal of CERF is to identify those conditions that should be selected away from when breeding. To simplify, dogs with bad hips should not be bred, and dogs with inherited cataracts and certain other eye diseases are not suitable for breeding either. Other problems result from facial conformation considered desirable by breeders. For example, breeding for prominent eyes and facial folds in dogs might lead to corneal irritation, scarring, and eventual blindness (see Macropalpebral Fissure Syndrome). CERF works with the ACVO genetics committee to determine ocular conditions that are identified with certain breeds. A book is available that lists all the known ocular disorders of dogs: Ocular Disorders Presumed to be Inherited in Purebred Dogs. It is updated as new information becomes available, and can be ordered from CERF. Please contact CERF if you need more information, or wish to view the many services that CERF provides for dog owners:
CERF examinations are annual examinations performed at Animal Eye Care and at our CERF clinics by appointment. The exam is performed after drops are placed in the eyes to dilate the pupils. The CERF exam consists of indirect ophthalmoscopy and biomicroscopy. It is not a comprehensive ocular health examination, but rather an ocular screening exam. For example CERF exams do not entail measuring tear production, staining the eyes for the presence of corneal ulcers, or measuring intraocular pressures. If a serious ocular health problem (such as glaucoma) is suspected during the CERF exam, the exam may need to be "converted" to a comprehensive ocular examination if circumstances warrant this action. There is and additional charge for a comprehensive ocular examination. If you have more than 2 animals to be examined, we can mail or fax you our
CERF Intake Form, for you to fill out the information on each dog. Please bring this form to your exam, and it will greatly help in your filling out the owner's section of the CERF forms.
Other items to bring: Your dog's AKC or CKC registration number,
owner's name, dog's full name, date of birth, sex, breed/variety, color, and a permanent form of ID (microchip number, tattoo number, or DNA profile number). Starting January 2001, CERF adopted a policy that permanent identification in the form of DNA profile, tattoo, or microchip is needed for any dog to be registered. Dogs not permanently identified will continue to be CERFed for an indefinite grace
period that can end at any time. However, these dogs are issued a number suffix "N" indicating that the dog has no permanent identification. Please notify CERF when your dog receives a permanent ID and they will update their records and re-issue a certificate.
If you do not wish to register your dog with CERF, the essential information
to bring to the exam is sex, birthdate, breed, variety, color, and
registered name.
Animal Eye Care provides microchipping (see below, "Microchip Identification Service") as an optional service for our CERF patients. Please let us know when you schedule your CERF appointment, if you would like any of your dogs
microchipped.
We cannot examine more than 12 puppies or more than 6 adult dogs at a time. Puppies must be at least 8 weeks old to be examined.
If you are presenting a large number of dogs, the dogs must stay outside or in your vehicle until ready to be examined, and brought in one at a time. If more than 4 puppies or more than 3 adult dogs are being examined, you must bring someone to help you, as we don't have enough personnel to assist larger groups of dogs. Please arrive 30 minutes early for your appointment, to allow time for the pupils to dilate. Please refrain from bringing male dogs together with bitches in heat.
Also indicate if any of your dogs have difficult temperaments while their eyes are being examined.
The dilating drops will keep the pupils dilated for 6-8 hours. If your dog is a working dog, such as a Dog Guide or other type of certified assistance dog, please arrange for someone to assist you while your dog's pupils are still dilated, as the dog may not be able to safely care for you, until the pupils are no longer dilated.
We wish to make your visit to Animal Eye Care pleasant!
Please let us know how we can best help you and our patients during your visit.
Microchip Identification Service
The Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF) requests permanent identification of each dog registered by CERF. As a service to dogs undergoing CERF examinations, Animal Eye Care offers microchipping by Home Again Animal Companion Retrieval System. Microchipping also gives owners a means to identify pets PERMANENTLY with your name, address and phone number, in the case of a lost pet. The microchip cannot be removed once placed and provides permanent identification of your pet. The microchip allows any humane society/veterinary clinic to scan your pet between the shoulder blades to help ensure proper retrieval of your pet. The humane society/veterinary clinic is given a 10 digit code through the scanner. This is the same code that on the microchip in your pet. The humane society/veterinary clinic then calls Home Again and your information is given to the humane society/veterinary clinic. At this point, the humane society/veterinary clinic would attempt to contact you to reunite you with your pet. The microchip GREATLY increases the chances of being reunited with your pet if you are ever separated.
The microchip is injected, similar to a vaccination, just under the skin between your petıs shoulder blades. This microchip is extremely small and generally cannot be felt by touch once injected. You are given a registration card that you mail to the Home Again Companion Animal Retrieval System along with a registration fee in U.S. funds. If you ever move or change your phone number you must call Home Again to update your information. If you give your pet to another owner after having that pet microchipped you must contact Home Again to change the identification information---the new owner will not be able to do this. You are also provided with a tag containing your
pet's 10 digit code with the Home Again phone number on it for your pet's collar, along with an identification card for your family veterinarian to keep in your
pet's file. The Home Again microchips can be scanned in both the U.S.
and Canada.
CERF Clinics
Animal Eye Care is pleased to offer scheduled CERF clinics, in which several dogs (50 or more) are screened as a group, usually on a Saturday or Sunday. These clinics are set up, organized and run by professional groups, usually local dog breeders, or local kennel clubs. CERF clinics are also sometimes held in conjunction with dog shows. CERF clinics by Animal Eye Care cannot be held in Canada, but certainly can be held in U.S. communities very near the Canadian border if this is feasible for the Canadian
breed club/kennel club.
Animal Eye Care also offers a CERF clinic in May and November each year, at its own hospital in Bellingham. These are held on Saturday afternoons, with microchipping also available.
If you or your breed club/kennel club are interested in hosting a CERF clinic in Northwest Washington, please call our office and speak to
our office administrator. She would be happy to discuss the details and mail you a packet of information to help you in setting up the CERF clinic. You may also call Animal Eye Care to see where our next scheduled CERF clinic will be held, and who the contact person or kennel club is for the event.
EERF (Equine Eye Research Foundation) Examinations
EERF is the Equine Eye Research Foundation (www.vmdb.org). The purpose of EERF is to eliminate heritable eye disease in
purebred horses through registration, research, and education. Diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists examine horses, and if the eyes are clear of heritable eye disease, the horse can be registered with EERF.
If you wish to have an EERF examination for your horse(s), please call Animal Eye Care and speak to
our office adminstrator. She will assist you in scheduling the
examination. (Please see the section in "About Us > Our Services" regarding Equine Examinations).
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