BREED
CERTIFICATION
EXAM
WHAT
TO EXPECT
WHAT
TO BRING
REQUIRED
FORMS
SCHEDULING
THE OFA/CAER
EXAM
Breed certification exams can only be performed by a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist. Due to the time that it takes to allow your dog's eyes to dilate, we ask that you arrive at least 30 minutes prior to your appointment time. This will help us to keep on schedule for your appointment and for following appointments.
Upon arrival, a technician will dilate each of your pets' eyes. This is done by simply applying a drop to each eye. Once dilated, Dr. Beaumont will perform an exam on each eye to evaluate for any potential hereditary ocular diseases.
-Dog's date of birth
-AKC registered name
-AKC registered number
-Microchip number
You MUST fill out your OFA paperwork online prior to your appointment. We will need this form done in advance for each pet you are bringing so that we are able to complete our portion during your visit. You do not need to bring anything! We will be able to see all of it on the OFA website. You can create a new account or log in at: https://www.ofa.org/online
Click here if you need additional help filling out the OFA form online.
An appointment is required to have a OFA exam performed. We do a maximum of 4 puppies or dogs per appointment. Due to a high number of no shows for OFA exams, we require a pre-payment for the visit to hold the spot. This deposit is non-refundable if your appointment is not cancelled 48 hours prior or if you no show.
In order to have an exam done, the patient needs to be at least 6-8 weeks of age. Certification is good for 12 months from the date of the eye exam. Annual re-examination is recommended because an ocular abnormality can appear at any stage in your dog's life. All findings will be documented on the OFA form. We will not omit abnormalities. If the patient has any current eye problems that you wish to address, a full exam & diagnostics will be required at the initial exam fee.
If more information is needed about OFA certification, please visit https://www.ofa.org/diseases/eye-certification
For more information about DNA-based diagnoses of inherited diseases of dogs, please visit http://www.optigen.com/