ACC Health Testing Program

ACC has required health testing for breedable status since its inception. For many years ACC has been the only Coton de Tulear Club in the U.S. to protect the breed in this fashion. As we learn more about the needs to evaluate Cotons for breeding, ongoing revision of the health testing requirements to reflect current knowledge of health issues in the breed is important.

We have in the past required an independent overall health evaluation of the Coton in the form ACC Health Form to be filled out and signed by your veterinarian. We no longer require this test but we still make it available for anyone, particularly novice breeders, to use as a way to involve your veterinarian in the decision making process.

This form is still acceptable for submission to the Breeders Health Registry for those who desire this test listed. The ACC registration application has been modified to allow the owner to supply information previously required on the ACC Health Form.

The Testing Program is given below. Applicants now have a choice of tests, one of which is a Blood Panel. If you are evaluating your Coton with a blood chemistry panel, and even if a blood chemistry panel is not submitted to the Health Committee, please remember that certain blood values can be slightly outside the clinical range, while still being considered normal – similar to taking a person’s body temperature. Blood panels are not designed to reflect breed specific differences. Veterinarians look at the values within the context of one another. Don’t be alarmed if all the values are not in the clinical range but be sure to discuss it with your vet.

The Coton de Tuléar is a healthy breed overall with relatively few serious health issues. The American Coton Club serves as a caretaker and protector of this wonderful breed. To fulfill that role, we take pride in a newly initiated proactive health program led by an active Health Committee functioning in an advisory role on matters related to the health and welfare of the Coton de Tuléar.

In an effort to encourage widespread health testing, as well as ensure all breeding Cotons with an American Coton Club pedigree are healthy and have the best chance of producing healthy and long-lived offspring, the American Coton Club requires a minimum of three (3) health tests performed with a passing or "normal" result, prior to the registration of any resulting offspring.

These three (3) tests must be performed after the Coton reaches twelve (12) months of age, and prior to the first breeding. Owners will submit these tests to OFA and CERF for their written certification. Proof of testing will be taken from the OFA and CERF web sites after the owner has submitted an e-Mail to ACCHealthCommittee@yahoo.com with links to their Cotons page at OFA. Blood test results may be sent any of the following ways:

As part of the requirement of issuing a breeding pedigree, the Coton must meet the following conditions:

I. ACC Age Requirements:

A bitch may not be bred prior to reaching eighteen (18) months of age. Ideally, the bitch would not be bred until she has reached twenty-four (24) months of age. Acknowledging there are fluctuations in heat cycles resulting in variations in timing, valid exceptions may exist. However, it is incumbent on the breeder to exercise good judgment in considering such exceptions and recognize that 18 months of age will be the minimum age accepted without a written explanation from the treating veterinarian.

A male may not be used for breeding prior to reaching twelve (12) months of age.

Although a bitch may not be bred until 18 months or later, both males and females are eligible to receive breedable registrations at or after 12 months of age upon certification of the required ACC health tests.

1. All Cotons will be tested for healthy Eyes by performing a CERF examination and submitting paperwork to CERF for a valid certification number and inclusion in the CERF online database. During the breeding life of the Coton a CERF will be repeated not less than every twenty-four (24) months and reported to the ACC.
2. In addition to CERF, all Cotons will have a minimum of two more important tests performed. While we applaud and encourage breeders to perform as many tests as they feel beneficial for their breeding program, the minimum testing required is a CERF and two more health tests chosen from the following list:

Breeders may choose from the following list, which tests are most important to their individual Cotons and breeding program:

Note: OFA provides for a preliminary hip result at one year of age which is useful and we encourage, but the ACC requires the full certification at two years of age.

Blue Ribbon Litters

In addition to the above mandatory health testing requirements, the ACC wishes to recognize puppies that come from parents at least twenty-four (24) months of age and who have had more than the minimum testing required. These special litters will be given the designation of ACC Blue Ribbon Litter.

Those wishing to have Blue Ribbon Litters registered with the ACC must be ACC COE approved breeders. The sire and dam must be ACC registered and approved for breedable pedigrees before the mating occurs.

An ACC Blue Ribbon will be given to litters resulting from parents who have met the highest standard of health testing available to us and whose breeders have gone above what is required and invested in testing that is considered optional.

To receive the designation of a "Blue Ribbon Litter", the breeder will perform a minimum of FIVE (5) health tests performed on both parents. These tests will include:

The mandatory three tests as outlined in Section II, as well as two additional tests chosen from the following list:

Blue Ribbon Litters will have a special designation on the ACC breeder/puppy availability web page as well as permitting the breeder to use the blue ribbon on their web site for that particular litter.

The ACC wishes to continue our important emphasis on health with the changing times as Coton numbers continue to increase. By performing tests the medical community has developed we can assure up to date information as to the health of a Coton. We wish to keep Cotons a "healthy breed” and the best way to accomplish this is to breed only clinically clear offspring. As medical issues occur, the ACC will keep statistics on those diseases and change testing protocols as needed.

If you have questions please feel free to send us an email to ACCHealthCommittee@yahoo.com, or telephone the ACC at 650-494-0390.

Blood Chemistry Panel must include:

ALBUMIN - Albumin is a common blood protein produced by the liver. Decreased albumin levels are commonly encountered in liver disease (i.e., cirrhosis), certain types of kidney disease or parasitic infections such as hookworm. High levels indicate dehydration and loss of protein.
ALP OR ALKP - ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE - this enzyme is found in many different tissues within the body, primarily liver, bone, intestines, and kidneys. Increased ALP levels can be seen with liver disease and gallbladder disorders. In addition, drugs such as corticosteroids and Phenobarbital can cause increased ALP levels. Very high ALP levels can be seen in dogs with adrenal gland disease as well.
ALT - ALANINE AMINOTRANSFERASE - This enzyme is considered to be liver specific in the dog. Increased levels of ALT are an indicator of damage to liver cells, as this enzyme is contained within the liver cell itself. When the cell is injured, the enzyme is released into the bloodstream and the increased level can be measured.
AMYLASE - Amylase is a digestive enzyme found in the pancreas. Increased levels of amylase often indicate pancreatic inflammation. However, many dogs with pancreatic disease have normal amylase levels.
AST - Aspartate Aminotransferase - an enzyme seen in the liver, heart, kidney, skeletal muscle and brain. The half life of the AST in the blood stream is much shorter than that of ALT; therefore the values of AST tend to drop more rapidly once liver function is resumed. AST elevations and ALT elevations should parallel each other in liver disease.
BUN - Blood urea nitrogen, is produced by the liver and excreted through the kidneys. Elevated levels can indicate kidney disease, but can also be caused by dehydration or urinary tract obstruction. Low BUN levels are seen in patients with chronic liver disease.
CA - CALCIUM - Blood calcium levels are influenced by diet, hormone level and blood protein levels. Decreased levels indicate acute damage to the pancreas or under-active parathyroid. Muscle twitches may occur in decrease calcium levels. Increased levels can be an indicator of certain types of tumors, parathyroid or kidney disease.
CHOLESTEROL - Cholesterol values in the dog are not thought to have as much significance with regards to the heart as they do in humans. Decreased levels are often found in an overactive thyroid gland or intestinal mal-absorption. Elevated levels of cholesterol are seen in a variety of disorders including hypothyroidism and diseases of the liver, kidneys, cardiovascular, diabetes and stress.
CREATININE - Creatinine values are used to evaluate kidney function in the dog. Elevated values are seen in chronic and acute kidney failure.
GGT - Gamma Glutamyltransferase - This enzyme is has its highest concentration in the kidneys and pancreas, but it is also found in the liver and other organs. The major proportion of GGT in the serum seems to come from the liver. Elevations of GGT in disease seem to stem from new synthesis rather than leakage; therefore the changes seen due to disease are not spectacular. Large elevations of GGT are more commonly associated with pancreatitis and bile duct obstruction.
GLUCOSE - Increased blood levels of glucose in the dog often signal diabetes, whereas low blood sugar levels are seen with nutritional problems as well as pancreatic tumors.
PHOSPHOROUS - Elevated blood levels of phosphorous can signify kidney disease, parathyroid disease, or certain bone conditions.
TBIL - Total Bilirubin is a component of bile; bilirubin is secreted by the liver into the intestinal tract. High levels can lead to jaundice and indicate destruction in the liver and bile duct.
TOTAL PROTEIN - Total protein levels are increased in patients with dehydration or chronic inflammatory conditions. Increases indicate dehydration or blood cancer, bone marrow cancer. Decreases indicate malnutrition, poor digestion, liver disease, kidney disease, bleeding or burns.
GLOB - Decreased levels indicate problems with antibodies, immunodeficiency viruses or risk of infectious disease. Increased levels may indicate stress, dehydration, blood cancer, allergies, liver disease, heart disease, arthritis or diabetes.