12/01/2022
Woohoo!!!
OFA & RFG/BOAS Testing for French Bulldogs
What to Expect
Great news! The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is working with researchers in the UK and Texas A&M to bring Respiratory Function Grading and brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) to the United States, something that has been sorely missing in the portfolio of health tests available to the French Bulldog Breed.
Coming Soon: RFG screening clinic on January 19-23 in Portland Oregon.
This is YOUR opportunity to have your Frenchie tested. Dr. Jarold Bell indicated that this clinic is free of charge when he presented to the FBDCA in September at their Specialty, although you should probably check to make sure. Either way, this is worth it. The official rollout is at the Rose City Classic dog show cluster in Portland, OR on January 19-23, 2023
♦ If your club wishes to schedule an RFG screening clinic, contact the OFA
♦ If you do not have access to RFG screening, your dogs should be able to go on a brisk 3-minute walk in normal temperature without labored breathing Respiratory Functional Grading to Screen for BOAS
♦ Developed in many countries – most commonly used is the UK Kennel Club/Cambridge Univ.
♦ A veterinary examiner listens to the dog with a stethoscope (pre-exercise) ♦ The dog goes on a brisk 3-minute walk ♦ The veterinary examiner listens to the dog again with a stethoscope (post-exercise)
♦ Listening for excessive turbulence in the respiratory system, as well as rapid recovery from exercise Dogs are graded according to the following system: ♦ Grade 0 – Normal: no turbulence pre or post-exercise
♦ Grade 1 – Mildly affected: Mild turbulence postexercise
♦ Grade II – Moderately affected: Normal to moderate turbulence pre-exercise and moderate to severe turbulence post-exercise
♦ Grade III – Severely affected: Moderate to severe turbulence pre-exercise and severe turbulence postexercise
https://crowdpleazerfrenchies.com/blog/f/ofa-rfgboas-testing-for-french-bulldogs
