Orthopedic Foundation for Animals

What Orthopedic Foundation for Animals does

The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1966 and headquartered in Columbia, Missouri. It operates the largest centralized canine health database and certification registry in the United States, having accumulated over 20 million health test results on more than 2 million dogs and cats. The foundation serves dog breeders, owners, veterinarians, breed clubs, and academic researchers by providing standardized health screening evaluations and certifications for hereditary and congenital conditions that are widely referenced across the dog breeding industry.

OFA's core product is its health screening and certification registry, with evaluation categories including hip and elbow dysplasia, Companion Animal Eye Registry (CAER) certifications delivered in partnership with the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO), cardiac evaluations, patellar luxation, thyroid disorders, DNA-based genetic tests, and the Respiratory Function Grading Scheme (RFGS) for Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS), developed in collaboration with the University of Cambridge. The underlying infrastructure is a centralized database with standardized radiographic and clinical evaluation protocols that supports longitudinal pedigree-level health tracking. OFA transitioned to electronic reporting in April 2020 and launched the Advanced Cardiac Database in 2016.

OFA generates revenue primarily through one-time licensing fees per test submission or registration, with pricing ranging from approximately $15 to $65 depending on evaluation type. The organization has donated more than $3 million to canine health research over its history. Following a merger with the General Diagnostic Center (GDC) in 2002, OFA expanded its diagnostic service portfolio. Key institutional relationships include the American Kennel Club (AKC), ACVO, the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM), and academic collaborations with the University of Missouri and University of Cambridge. OFA implemented a fee increase across its service categories in January 2022.

Name

Orthopedic Foundation for Animals

Legal name

Orthopedic Foundation for Animals

Website

https://ofa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is a non-profit canine health registry maintaining a centralized database of over 20 million screening tests on more than 2 million animals, serving breeders, veterinarians, and researchers through standardized hereditary disease certifications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Health Registry Services

NAICS

Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories (6215), Veterinary Services (54194)

SIC

Services-Medical Laboratories (8071), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Molecular & Genetic Testing (Breed, Hereditary Disease, Oncology) (HLAMADAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Reference Laboratory Testing (Clinical Pathology & Chemistry) (HLAMADAA), Genomic Testing & Genetic Evaluation Services (AFAEAJAC), Veterinary EMR/EHR & Clinical Workflow (HLAMAMAB)

Keywords

• Canine health registry
• Veterinary health certification
• Genetic disease screening
• Hip dysplasia evaluation
• DNA disease testing

Headquarters

HQ city

Springfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Health Test Registration and Certification Fees: OFA generates revenue through fees charged for registering and certifying health screening results including hip dysplasia evaluations ($45), elbow dysplasia ($45), combined hip+elbow ($50), eye certification (CAER - $15), cardiac databases ($15), thyroid ($15), patellar luxation ($15), and DNA tests ($65). Fees also include preliminary evaluations, litter rates, and kennel rates for bulk submissions.
2. DNA Test Kit Sales and Processing: DNA-based disease tests are ordered through OFA website, with $65 fee per test including kit, laboratory processing at University of Missouri, and OFA database registration.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals operates a centralized canine health registry that collects, evaluates, and certifies health screening results for genetic and inherited diseases in dogs. Its core services include phenotypic radiographic evaluations (hip/elbow dysplasia), physical exams (cardiac, eye, patellar luxation, thyroid), and DNA-based disease tests processed through the University of Missouri Canine Genetics Lab, with results entered into a publicly searchable database. The CHIC Program enables parent breed clubs to define breed-specific screening protocols and award umbrella CHIC certification numbers.

Product overview

The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) operates as a centralized canine health database and certification organization, offering multiple interconnected testing databases and health screening services. The core offering consists of phenotypic evaluation databases (Hip Dysplasia, Elbow Dysplasia, Cardiac, Eye Certification/CAER, Patellar Luxation, Thyroid) and DNA-based disease tests conducted in partnership with the University of Missouri. The CHIC Program serves as an umbrella certification that aggregates breed-specific health screening results. Additional services include the Respiratory Function Grading Scheme (RFGS) for BOAS screening (licensed from University of Cambridge), Preliminary Evaluations for younger dogs, organized Health Clinics, and the OFA Online web portal for electronic applications and account management. The organization also maintains a DNA Repository for research purposes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hip Dysplasia Database and Evaluation Radiographic evaluation and certification service for canine hip dysplasia in dogs 24+ months, classifying hips into seven categories (Excellent, Good, Fair, Borderline, Mild, Moderate, Severe) by three independent board-certified veterinary radiologists. OFA numbers are issued for normal results and entered into the publicly searchable database.
• Elbow Dysplasia Database and Evaluation Radiographic evaluation service for elbow dysplasia, grading abnormalities as Grade I, II, or III, with certifications issued for dogs 24 months and older using a modified International Elbow Working Group protocol.
• Cardiac Disease Database (Basic and Advanced) Two-tiered cardiac evaluation system: Basic Cardiac Database for congenital disease screening by any licensed veterinarian, and Advanced Cardiac Database for both congenital and adult-onset disease requiring a board-certified veterinary cardiologist and echocardiogram. Annual recertification required for adult-onset clearance in dogs 12+ months.
• Companion Animal Eye Registry (CAER) Eye certification program performed by board-certified ACVO veterinary ophthalmologists, screening for hereditary ocular diseases. No minimum age required; annual re-examination recommended with results registered in the OFA database.
• Patellar Luxation Database Physical examination-based certification for patellar luxation (kneecap displacement) graded 1–4, with OFA numbers issued for normal evaluations in dogs 12 months and older.
• Thyroid Database Thyroid function evaluation database for dogs 12 months and older, registering laboratory results in the OFA database system.
• DNA Based Disease Tests Genetic testing service for 40+ inherited canine diseases including Degenerative Myelopathy and Exercise Induced Collapse, using buccal swab samples ordered through the OFA website and processed by the University of Missouri Canine Genetics Lab, with results registered in the OFA database.
• CHIC Program (Canine Health Information Center) Centralized health information system partnering with parent breed clubs (200+) to establish breed-specific screening protocols. CHIC numbers are issued when all required breed-specific tests are performed and results released publicly into the OFA database.
• Respiratory Function Grading Scheme (RFGS) Screening program for Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS) in brachycephalic breeds, using a 4-step veterinary clinical and exercise examination graded 0–3 by specially trained and approved veterinarians. Licensed from the University of Cambridge for North American administration.
• Preliminary Evaluations Early screening service for dogs aged 4–23 months (hip/elbow) providing preliminary assessments of hip and elbow conformation before final certification age of 24 months.
• Health Clinics Organized screening events hosted by dog clubs and organizations where multiple health tests (hips, elbows, eyes, cardiac, patella, RFGS) are offered at community venues such as dog shows and breed club gatherings.
• OFA Online Portal Web-based portal enabling electronic CAER applications with participating ophthalmologists, submission of soft-tissue applications, exam pre-registration, account management, and order/test status tracking for owners, breeders, and veterinarians.
• Other Phenotypic Evaluations Additional screening databases for conditions including Legg-Calve-Perthes, Shoulder OCD, Spine, Tracheal Hypoplasia, Deafness/BAER Testing, Kidney Disease, Sebaceous Adenitis, Serum Bile, and Dentition.
• DNA Repository Canine DNA sample storage repository that archives samples from registered dogs for use by qualified investigators researching inherited canine genetic diseases.

Quantifiable outcome

• 94.9% radiologist agreement on hip evaluation classifications across 1.8M evaluations
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1966ACVO diplomates perform Companion Animal Eye Registry (CAER) certifications. The OFA and ACVO are separate cooperating entities; ACVO provides professional services to ensure uniform standards for eye certification. Exam results are shared for aggregate statistical purposes.
• American Kennel Club (AKC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAKC accepts OFA hip, elbow, and eye clearance numbers for dogs with permanent identification (VPI). OFA data is transmitted to AKC registry for inclusion in dog records. AKC CHF (Canine Health Foundation) also partners on canine health research funding.
• American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACVIM cardiology specialists perform Advanced Cardiac Database evaluations. ACVIM Cardiology Specialty Group works with OFA on cardiac certification requirements including echocardiographic examination mandates.
• University of MissouricoreTechnology or IntegrationUniversity of Missouri Canine Genetics Lab processes all OFA DNA test samples. OFA has exclusive arrangement with University of Missouri for DNA-based disease test databases. Results forwarded to OFA for certification.
• University of CambridgecoreTechnology or IntegrationUniversity of Cambridge developed the Respiratory Function Grading Scheme (RFGS) for BOAS assessment. OFA holds North American licensing rights for this scheme. Exam results are shared with Cambridge research team for statistical purposes.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Wisdom Panel (Mars Petcare): Wisdom Panel is a leading direct-to-consumer canine DNA testing brand owned by Mars Petcare. It competes with OFA's DNA-based disease tests by offering breed identification and health-risk screening that breeders and owners can use without OFA registration.
• Embark Veterinary: Embark offers direct-to-consumer canine genetic testing covering breed identification, health risks, and traits. It overlaps directly with OFA's DNA test registry and has built partnerships with breed clubs that historically routed exclusively through OFA.
• PennHIP (Antech Diagnostics): PennHIP is the principal alternative hip dysplasia evaluation scheme for dogs, owned by Antech Diagnostics (a Mars Petcare company). It directly competes with OFA's most economically important product line and addresses the same breeder and veterinarian audience with a different methodology.

Broad incumbents

• IDEXX Laboratories: IDEXX is the dominant veterinary diagnostics company, offering in-clinic lab testing, imaging, and software. While broader than OFA's niche, IDEXX competes for the same veterinarian spend on diagnostic services and represents a strategic threat if it expands into registry-grade health databases.
• Mars Petcare: Mars Petcare owns Wisdom Panel, Antech Diagnostics (and PennHIP), and Royal Canin, giving it a vertically integrated position in canine genetics, diagnostics, and nutrition. Its portfolio directly competes with OFA across multiple test categories and benefits from scale advantages OFA cannot match.
• American Kennel Club (AKC): AKC is the largest purebred dog registry in the US and a strategic partner of OFA that accepts OFA hip, elbow, and eye numbers. It is an incumbent in breed registration and canine health data, with the resources and brand to compete or substitute for some OFA functions.

Emerging players

• Orivet Genetic Pet Care: Orivet offers breed-specific DNA testing and personalized wellness plans for dogs and cats. As an emerging player, it competes with OFA's DNA-based disease tests in the breeder and veterinarian channels, with a particular focus on international markets where OFA has limited presence.
• GenSol Diagnostics: GenSol Diagnostics is a specialized canine and feline genetic testing laboratory offering breed and disease panels. It competes with OFA's DNA testing franchise on price and turnaround time while leveraging direct veterinary relationships similar to OFA's model.

Others

• UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory: The UC Davis VGL is an academic veterinary genetics laboratory offering parentage, breed, and disease-marker testing. While not a direct commercial competitor for OFA's registration model, it is a viable alternative processing partner and represents an academic counterpart in canine genetic diagnostics.

Regional players

• British Veterinary Association / Kennel Club (BVA/KC) Health Schemes: BVA/KC operates the UK's equivalent hip and elbow dysplasia scoring schemes for pedigree dogs. It is a regional peer in the same health-screening-and-certification category as OFA but serves the UK and Commonwealth markets rather than North America.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/OrthopedicFoundationForAnimals

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments1 record

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Frequently asked questions about Orthopedic Foundation for Animals