Bichon Frise CHIC 5 Star Award

The BFCA health committee initiated the BFCA 5 Star Health Awards in 2010 in conjunction with CHIC certifications.  The award reflects high health quality, as in a 5-star hotel, and commends the efforts of breeders who augment health testing of their Bichons prior to breeding with at least 5 tests passed.

To qualify, the Bichon Frise must have:

  1. At least one owner who is a BFCA member.
  2. A CHIC number that indicates 3 tests (eyes, hips, and patellas) are completed and published. See the CHIC web site for more information: http://www.caninehealthinfo.org/bichon.html
  3. Passed eye OFA certification and patella OFA certification within 1 year of the date of this application.
  4. Passed OFA or PennHIP requirements that rule out hip dysplasia.
  5. Passed at least 2 other tests listed in the BFCA optional tests on the CHIC web site:
  • DNA registered with AKC for parentage verification
  • Legg-calve-perthes disease OFA
  • Cardiac disease OFA
  • Dentition OFA
  • Thyroid OFA
  • Urinalysis to assess for infection, diabetes, bladder stone crystals, urate crystals (liver shunt)
  • Bile acid blood test for liver shunt
  • Standard veterinary blood panel including:
    • CBC (complete blood count): WBC, RBC, hemoglobin (to check for anemia, blood cancer, infection)
    • Electrolytes, BUN, Creatinine (to assess kidney function)
    • Blood glucose level (to rule out diabetes)
    • Liver enzymes (to rule out liver disease)
    • Pancreas enzymes (to rule out pancreas disease)

Therefore, the Bichon Frise must pass 5 health tests (DNA registration with AKC constitutes 1 test) to receive this award. Like the CHIC certification, once a Bichon receives the award it cannot be revoked.  A certificate will be sent to new award recipients, and an ongoing list of recipients of this award can be viewed on BFCA’s health website.

NOTE:  Send application to Vickie Halstead
Mail or email the application to Vickie Halstead at victoire2@mac.com
5 Oak Ridge Trail, Circle Pines, MN 55014