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# How do I add orthopaedic, eye, heart, and respiratory clearances to a dog profile?

While DNA screening tests for single-gene recessive conditions, many of the most prevalent canine health challenges are **polygenic** (governed by multiple genes) and influenced by structural conformation and environmental factors. These conditions cannot be diagnosed with a simple cheek swab; they require specialised clinical screening by veterinary specialists.

BreedBuddies enables breeders to upload and display official clinical clearances across five major veterinary categories: Orthopaedics, Ophthalmology, Cardiology, Respiratory Function (BOAS), and Spinal Health.

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## 1. Orthopaedic Scoring (Hips & Elbows)

In medium, large, and giant breeds, hip and elbow dysplasia represent significant welfare concerns. Australian breeders utilise two primary evaluation systems:

### Australian Canine Health Scheme (CHS / AVA-ANKC)
* Evaluated by a panel of veterinary radiologists.
* **Hips**: Scored from 0 to 106 (the lower the score, the better the joint conformation). Compare your dog's score against the published **5-year breed average**.
* **Elbows**: Graded from 0 (normal) to 3 (severe dysplasia). Ethical breeding guidelines recommend breeding only from Grade 0 or Grade 1 elbows.

### PennHIP (Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program)
* Measures passive joint laxity via a Distraction Index (DI) from 0.0 to 1.0.
* A DI below 0.3 indicates joints with minimal risk of developing osteoarthritis.

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## 2. Eye Clearances (ACES Scheme)

The **Australian Companion Animal Eye Scheme (ACES)** is administered by registered veterinary ophthalmologists:
* Screens for hereditary cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), corneal dystrophy, and persistent pupillary membranes (PPM).
* **Annual Renewal**: Unlike DNA (which is constant for life), eye certificates must be re-evaluated annually because late-onset cataracts and retinal conditions develop with age.

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## 3. Cardiac Evaluations

Breeds predisposed to subaortic stenosis (SAS), dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), or myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) – such as Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Boxers, and Dobermanns – require cardiac auscultation or Doppler echocardiograms conducted by a registered veterinary cardiologist. Dogs with structural heart defects or significant murmurs must not be bred.

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## 4. Respiratory Assessment (BOAS Grading for Brachycephalic Breeds)

Brachycephalic (flat-faced) breeds – including French Bulldogs, British Bulldogs, Pugs, and Boston Terriers – carry a disproportionate risk of Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS). Clinical screening evaluates respiratory function before dogs enter breeding programmes:

* **BOAS Functional Grading (0–3)**: Assesses respiratory noise, inspiratory effort, and exercise tolerance before and immediately following a standardised exercise tolerance test.
  - **Grade 0**: Clinically unaffected; normal respiratory effort.
  - **Grade 1**: Mild respiratory noise; no exercise intolerance. Suitable for breeding.
  - **Grade 2 & 3**: Moderate to severe respiratory compromise. **Dogs with Grade 2 or Grade 3 BOAS must never be bred.**
* **Airway Surgery Exclusion**: Dogs that have undergone surgical intervention to correct airways (such as nares widening or soft palate resection) must **not** be bred under any circumstances.
* **Nares Conformation**: Dogs must possess open, patent nostrils rather than stenotic (pinched or slit-like) nares.

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## 5. Spinal Imaging & Hemivertebrae Screening

Certain breeds (particularly screw-tailed brachycephalics and chondrodystrophic breeds) carry genetic predispositions to vertebral malformations:
* **Spinal Radiographs (T3–L3)**: Screening for hemivertebrae, block vertebrae, and butterfly vertebrae.
* **Minimum Standard to Breed**: Dogs must be free of clinically significant hemivertebrae, show no signs of spinal cord compression, and have no history of hind-limb weakness or incontinence.
* **Patella Evaluation**: Stifle examination confirming stability (Grade 0 or Grade 1 only; dogs with recurring luxating patellas requiring surgical trochleoplasty should be excluded from breeding).

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## 6. How to Record Clinical Clearances on BreedBuddies

To ensure trust, health certificates cannot be manually typed in without supporting veterinary documentation:
1. In your dog profile, navigate to **Clinical Health Records**.
2. Select the clearance category (e.g. *CHS Hip/Elbow Scoring*, *ACES Eye Scheme*, *BOAS Functional Grading*, *Cardiac Clearances*).
3. Input the official scoring numbers, test dates, and examining veterinarian or specialist radiologist details.
4. Upload a clean, legible PDF or high-resolution photo of the signed certificate displaying the dog's registered name and microchip number.
5. The Woof Team verifies the submission against laboratory and veterinary registers, adding verified clearance badges to your dog's public profile.