You know now that pugs are prone to certain hereditary health problems, some of which can be tested for. Just as the AKC registers purebred dogs, health registries maintain databases of the results of health tests for various genetic diseases or disorders, including hip dysplasia, patellar luxation, eye problems, and more. The best known of these registries are the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA), the Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF), and the Canine Health Information Center (CHIC). The breeder from whom you purchase your pug should provide proof of the parents' health certifications from one or more of these registries. The most important health certifications for pugs are for hip dysplasia, patellar luxation, and eye disease.

Orthopedic Foundation for Animals

The OFA was established in 1966 to help breeders address the problem of hip dysplasia. Since then it has added databases for other conditions, including patellar luxation and Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, both of which can affect pugs. It also has DNA databases. The OFA's goals are to gather and disseminate information about orthopedic and genetic diseases in animals and to encourage and finance research in orthopedic and genetic diseases in animals, so that the incidence of those diseases can be reduced.

Canine Eye Registration Foundation

The veterinary school at Purdue University in Indiana maintains the CERF registry. In addition to registering dogs certified free of heritable eye disease by board-certified veterinary ophthalmologists, CERF collects data on all dogs examined by these ophthalmologists. The foundation compiles this data into a database that helps researchers spot trends in eye disease and breed susceptibility. To maintain their CERF registration, dogs must be re-examined and recertified on a regular basis.

At the CERF Web site (www.vet.purdue.edu/~yshen/cerf.html), you can see if the sire and dam of the puppies you're interested in are listed simply by submitting their registered names. You can also search the kennel name of the breeder you're considering to see which of his dogs have been registered. The CERF Web site also provides a directory of board-certified veterinary ophthalmologists and materials on eye disease in dogs that can help you understand the eye problems that might affect a pug.

Canine Health Information Center

The Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) is a relatively new database that's a joint effort by the AKC and the OFA. CHIC's mission is to provide a source of health information for owners, breeders, and scientists. It works with breed clubs to identify health issues that should be included in a central health information system and maintains a centralized database to help researchers investigate canine diseases and provide health information to owners and breeders. Currently, however, pugs are not among the breeds that are included in the CHIC database.