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Health Issues

LRC Partnership With AKC Canine Health Foundation

The LRC Inc is committed to health research and partners with the the AKC Canine Health Foundation.  In the past 28 years, through our Donor Advised Fund and our club bank account, The Labrador Retriever Club, Inc. has made charitable donations totaling over $750,000 to support the health of your dogs.   You can find out more information about these research funds at https://www.akcchf.org/. For details on our support, see LRC AKC Canine Health Foundation Research Support History.

Health Glossary

Some Labrador Retriever terms may be new to you or you may need refreshing on their meaning and purpose, that is why we developed a helpful Glossary to show the meaning of common words and phrases.

View Glossary

Recommended Health Clearances for the Labrador Retriever

The minimum necessary health clearances we expect from reputable breeders of Labrador Retrievers are those required to get a “CHIC” number from the Canine Health Information Center. They are listed below but for ease of access, please see the page at the
CHIC website.

Hip Dysplasia

  • OFA Evaluation

Elbow Dysplasia

  • OFA Evaluation

Eye Examination by a boarded ACVO Ophthalmologist

  • Results registered with OFA

EIC (Exercise Induced Collapse)

  • EXERCISE INDUCED COLLAPSE – DNA based test from an approved lab (This has been added as a CHIC requirement per the LRC as of 6/15/13)

D Locus (Dilute) DNA Test

  • DNA based D LOCUS results from an approved lab – *NOTE – This has been added as a CHIC requirement per the LRC as of 11/1/16)

Centronuclear Myopathy (Optional)

  • DNA Based CNM Test – results registered with the OFA

Cardiac Evaluation (Optional)

  • Advanced Cardiac Exam
  • Cardiac exams are not required, but are recommended as follows: Females – congenital or advanced cardiac database exam. Males – for males being used at stud, recommend advanced cardiac including an echo.

Prcd-PRA DNA Test (Optional)

  • DNA based prcd-PRA test from a licensed lab (currently PawPrints) – results registered with the OFA

*Note – In addition to the breed specific requirements above, a CHIC requirement across all participating breeds is that the dog must be permanently identified via microchip or tattoo in order to qualify for a CHIC number.

Research Programs

The Labrador Retriever Club support the use of OFA Data Bases, Penn Hip, CERF and other individual tests such as the test for CNM1, the Optigen tests for the prcd form of PRA in the Labrador Retriever, and the new test for EIC. 

Library Links

The LRC wants to make sure you have as much information at your disposal as possible, that is why we provide some additional helpful links for you to browse:

  1. The American Kennel Club
  2. Orthopedic Foundation for Animals
  3. PennHip website at the University of Pennsylvania
  4. Eye Certification Registry
  5. Bird Dog Foundation
  6. Working Retriever Central
  7. Dog Care from Day One
  8. Sporting and Animal Owners Voting Alliance (protecting your right to own, and hunt over, your Labrador Retrievers!)