Introduction to Scottie Health
In order to take the best care possible of their Scotties, all dedicated owners strive to learn as much as they can about the health of their dogs.
To that end, we invite you to navigate through the pages of the STCA Health Trust Fund website and click on the various links for information on the health issues that can arise occasionally in the breed, as well as a full spectrum of topics on management and welfare, research, health registries, and more.
STCA Health Trust Mission Statement
STCA’s Health Trust Fund (HTF) is a not-for-profit 501c3 organization dedicated to the health and quality of life of the Scottish Terrier. Formally established on October 8, 1994, the HTF has the following mission:
- Identify important health issues in the Scottish Terrier
- Support research to enhance the understanding, the prevention and the cure of these diseases for the betterment of the Scottish Terrier
- Communicate important new health and breeding information and research findings to all Scottie owners and breeders through education and outreach
- Monitor health in the Scottish Terrier using Registries, Health Databases and periodic breed-wide surveys
- Support Scottie breeders with discounted health testing, clinics and screening
- Contribute for the future health and preservation of the Breed.
Please note: The Health Trust Fund is not able to give specific veterinary advice. The articles located in the Guardian Newsletter and the Health Library serve as a resource and provide overviews of various health topics. If available, your breeder may be willing to serve as a health resource and may be an excellent source of information. Whatever other resources you may seek out, we strongly urge you to consult your personal veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment of any health problems you may encounter with your Scottie.
CHIC Registry - Recommended screenings for the Scottish Terrier
Breeding healthy dogs requires a thorough commitment to sound breeding practices and an understanding of several sets of complex information:
• Breed standard and type
• Pedigrees and potential breeding partners
• Health problems that the affect the breed and the particular breeding partners.
How a Registry Benefits All
- By providing a centralized, independently managed repository for recording health data on all Scottish Terriers.
- By providing a readily accessible, open data base for pedigree analysis and research.
- By recording the incidence of many genetic diseases as well as carrier and clear status where DNA tests are available.
- By providing registration for any affected Scottie free of charge.
The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) created the Canine Health Information Center (CHIC), an open and fully searchable registry, by partnering with participating parent clubs to research and maintain information on the health issues prevalent in specific breeds. A recommended protocol has been established for breed-specific health screenings. Dogs tested and registered in accordance with that protocol are recognized with a CHIC number and certification.
The STCA has established a list of testing requirements and elective tests for submission of a Scottie into the CHIC Registry.
DNA Testing
All members of the STCA sign a Code of Ethics which states that STCA Breeders must make use of available DNA testing when needed in order to produce Scottish Terriers free of genetically transmitted disease, and they must disclose known hereditary defects, health, and physical condition of any stock offered for sale or breeding purposes.
Having a more complete picture of the health and background of potential breeding pairs is possible if breeders test their dogs and register the results to enable the best choices for current breeding programs. Since breeders often study many generations of a pedigree, a Registry can be a very useful tool for breeders in the future as more research provides answers to currently frustrating health issues.