By Isabel Ososki

Published in the 2024 Fall edition of the Collie Club of America Bulletin

Over 8 years ago CHF Board President Robette Johns along with Board Member & Grants Committee Chair, Dr. Nancy Kelso, DVM, had a dream. A dream to partner with a prestigious university who was dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of animals, especially dogs, through research programs and reliable and accredited laboratory services.

Through countless hours of conversation between Robette, Nancy, the veterinary researchers at the University of California-Davis, and its Veterinary Genetics Laboratory (VGL) director, that dream came to fruition this Spring with the announcement of a new Collie Health Panel now being offered at UC-Davis which zeroes in on the most important genetic health tests for our collies. This panel is available to anyone who wishes to test their collie and can be found at https://vgl.ucdavis.edu/panel/collie-genetic-health-panel. To receive the CHF cost-saving subsidies discussed below, consider joining CHF >>.

The Collie Panel currently includes the following tests:

  • CN – Cyclic Neutropenia
  • CEA – Canine Eye Anomaly
  • DMS – Dermatomyositis, including A, B, and C loci
  • MDR1 – Multidrug Sensitivity
  • DM – Degenerative Myelopathy
  • rcd2-PRA – Rod-Cone Dysplasia Type 2

The Veterinary Genetics Laboratory is a non-profit self-supporting part of the UC-Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. It was established in the 1950s and became one of the first animal genetics labs to pioneer DNA marker development. It synergistically provides highly accurate results to clients as well as contributes to the education and research mission of the school. It has the highest level of accreditation available to testing laboratories (in both genetic and forensics testing from the American National Standards Institute National Accreditation Board and is a ranked #1 by U.S News and World Report. For further information on its accreditations and affiliations see https://vgl.ucdavis.edu/about/accreditations-and-affiliations.

More information on this collaboration, how to request the needed code, and ordering information can be found on the Collie Health Foundation at Test Your Collie >>

CHF Member Subsidies

The CHF board has approved a $100.00 Subsidy for CHF members to take advantage of the full VGL Collie Panel described above (normally $185.00). This will allow CHF members to order the full panel for their purebred rough and smooth Collies at a reduced cost of $85.00. For members to obtain the subsidy, a request must be sent via the CHF website >> .

The required code will be supplied by the CHF Testing Coordinator upon receipt of that request and is for CHF members only. The subsidy code must be added at the time the panel is ordered from VGL for the discounted price to be received.

Additionally, specific panel tests are available as individual tests with a $25.00 subsidy from CHF or a multi-test discount from VGL. A coat length test may also be added for an additional $25.00 when ordering the Collie panel (regularly $55.00). The CHF website link for ordering individual tests is found at https://www.colliehealth.org/apply-for-member-subsidies/. We hope to add a Collie coat color test in the near future.

CHF member subsidies have been approved through the end of 2024.

Sample Collection

VGL provides swabs as part of the cost of these tests, and CHF strongly recommends the use of that option (which is pre-selected on the order form) rather than using other swabs. This will prevent any delays in results. For information on best practices for collecting DNA samples, including step-by-step directions, see the information provided by UC-Davis VGL at https://vgl.ucdavis.edu/sample-collection/dog. See information included with this article on DNA sample collection from VGL.

CHIC/OFA Certification

UC-Davis also provides a service to directly submit tests for CHIC/OFA Certification. VGL has an option toward the bottom of the order form to have Collie test results sent directly to OFA from UC-Davis for CHIC Certification and only charges the same amount that submitters would be charged ($10.00 per test) if they submitted the results themselves. CHF encourages members to click the boxes for all tests to be submitted, but at a minimum, the three tests required for certification (MDR1, rcd2-PRA, and DMS). Remember that, in addition to the subsidy, CHF will reimburse its members for the certification submission cost up to $30.00 per dog (up to 19 dogs per year). Once you receive your dog’s CHIC certificate you can request subsidy reimbursement for the MDR1, rcd2-PRA, and DMS submissions through the CHF website at https://www.colliehealth.org/apply-for-member-subsidies/#chic

We are excited about this expansion of our partnership with UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine!

See VGL frequently asked questions information at the end of this article or at the VGL website at https://vgl.ucdavis.edu/services/faq.

For additional information or questions please contact Isabel Ososki, CHF Testing Coordinator at testing@colliehealth.org.