Congenital Cardiac Disease

General Information
Information about congenital cardiac disease and the OFA's cardiac database.

The cardiac physical exam
Examining the dog for cardiac murmurs

Using Echocardiography
The echocardiographic exam, diagnostic findings

What do the cardiac grades mean?
The differences between grades given for heart murmurs.

Breeder guidelines
Breeder info for dogs with murmurs.

Cardiac statistics
By breed, ranking, etc.

Cardiac Number Key
Interpret the meaning of the OFA cardiac certification number assigned to your dog.

Cardiac application
Online Acrobat pdf form. Fill the top part of this form out online, print, and take to your vet to use when he takes an radiograph to send to the OFA for cardiac evaluations. Fees are listed on the form or may be found in the OFA fees section.

Cardiac Report Sample
In order to assist buyers and breeders in researching and verifying health history, the OFA is providing sample report forms. Any form presented as an "OFA Report" which is not on an official OFA form should be held as suspect.

The Congenital Cardiac Database is for dogs 12 months and over. Examinations performed on dogs less than 12 months will be treated as Consultations and no OFA breed numbers will be assigned.