Health Committee

Welcome to BCOA Health

The Borzoi is a wonderful breed with a low incidence of health problems. No population of living organisms is free of disease, genetic or otherwise, so it is important to realize, as you scan through these pages, that the fact health problems are discussed does not mean the Borzoi is an unhealthy breed. In fact, as of 2016, based on the Borzoi OFA health survey, the most common health issue in the breed impacts only 7.2% of males and 6.2% of females. No other specific health concern of Borzoi approaches that frequency. Despite the excellent overall health of our breed, you will read about a number of health problems seen in Borzoi as you go through this health section. This information is more a direct result of breeder focus on maintaining the good health of Borzoi than an indication of poor breed health. Breeders and Borzoi lovers have donated a substantial amount of money over the years allowing Borzoi Health the opportunity to work with the Canine Health Foundation toward securing a breed-specific heart study. In addition, Borzoi breeders and lovers donate enough money annually directly or through Borzoi Health Fund Calendar purchases for Borzoi Health to support research overseen by Morris Animal Foundation and Canine Health Foundation in various areas of concern for Borzoi breeders and owners.

So, far from a sign of a sick and ailing breed, the information on this website is an expression of the dedication and hard work of breeders as they work to make these relatively rare health issues even less frequent in our beloved breed. Another way to see the dedication Borzoi breeders have to the improvement of breed health is the number of Borzoi who have undergone health testing listed on the OFA website (www.offa.org). Borzoi are a relatively rare breed yet you will find many, many Borzoi who have been tested for health issues. The number of Borzoi tested who have undergone various OFA screening tests rivals those of far more populous breeds. These screening tests are expensive, especially when one realizes that most of the tests must be repeated over the lifetime of the dog. Breeders use the information gained from the screening tests, researching pedigrees and information shared from pet owners and with each other in order to reduce the risk of producing Borzoi puppies who will develop health problems over the course of their lifetime.

Donate to Health Research!

How can you help support the health of Borzoi into the future? You can donate money to the Canine Health Foundation BCOA Donor Advised Fund or directly to BCOA Health. Your donations will be used to support research, and provide low-cost screening tests. Second, share information. Information can be shared by participating in OFA screening clinics and requesting the information be placed into the open database. Without any cost to you, information about your Borzoi's health can be shared through the OFA Borzoi Health Survey. This survey has been considered by OFA as the Gold Standard for their breed-specific health surveys. Further, information must be shared with your Borzoi's breeder so that he or she can make informed decisions in the future. You can also participate in Borzoi-related research whenever possible. Also, if you utilize the BCOA Holter Rental Program, you will appreciate significant savings if you share the Holter report with BCOA Health and provide updates on your participating dog's future heart health.

We all value the overall great health enjoyed by Borzoi. It is only with your help and support that we can ensure that the Borzoi of the future continues to remain one of great health and vitality.

Canine Health and Pet Care Links of Interest

Veterinary Oral Health Council Accepted Dental Products for Dogs .

AVMA Animal Health Studies Website gives people the ability to search for research studies when they have an ailing dog.

AKC Canine Health Foundation

AKC/CHF Discoveries - Spring 2020

American Society of Veterinary Ophthalmology

Bartonella Information

American Veterinary Medical Association - Care For Pets

Canine Influenza Virus Surveillance Network

Collaborative Brain Tumor Research for Dogs

Companion Animal Parasite Council - They provide guidelines for the optimal control of internal and external parasites. They also maintain parasite prevalence maps that show the prevalence of specific parasites in the USA and Canada. One can view these maps by nation, state, or county.

Disease Prevention in Canine Group Settings

Dog Owner's Guide

Holistic Veterinary Medicine

Lyme Disease

Orthopedic Foundation For Animals, Inc.

Penn Hip

Purdue U. Gastric Dilitation-Volvulus Research Project and "Bloat Notes"

Summary of Canine Health Bytes Webinar: “Canine Degenerative Myelopathy: From Gene Mutation Discovery to Clinical Trials.”

The Role of Aging and the Immune System in Canine Degenerative Myelopathy

USFDA Center for Veterinary Medicine

Veterinary Specialist Search

Virtual Library: Veterinary Medicine

Health Committee

Committee Chair: Virginia (Ginger) E. Jones

Committee Research Liaison: Virginia (Ginger) E. Jones