Basenji Health Issues & Questions

Thank you for the information. I will let you know if we get one. Thank you. Rita Jean

@eoy: Just as an update, I've been in contact with Marjukka and hopefully I'll be getting a tri girl this winter. I was also at my first basenji show today, and Klassic's Daydream Believer (Faruk) came first, not only in his group but overall (sorry I don't know the correct terms). I hope to be able to post some pictures here in some months :) Good for you! Can't wait to see puppy pics in a couple of months!! And Faruk is a really nice male!

I am so very sorry if I in any way bad you feel bad or upset. I know US our HOUSE we get going so fast sometimes Spring would be here and we would forget. We do not mean to we just look and time is gone. Yes weather can just be crazy here here in Ks myself I wish it could be 70 everyday of winter and even warmer if it likes I hate cold. Rita Jean

@ramseyclea: I didn't know incontinence was one of the symptoms of hypothyroidism. So, I'm kind of glad to hear that. I know the weight gain and low energy level are definitely symptoms (I suffer from hypothyroidism myself). I will tell the vet to do the ful panel. Thanks for all the advice! This is such a great resource! There are many things that can be a result of low thyroid…. maybe not directly connected, but a off shoot of the condition. My OJ was loaded with hives... and regardless of what we gave him they would come back over and over... finally tested his thyroid and it was very, very low... put him on Soloxine and never another hive.... so while hives is not generally a symtom of low thyroid, the fact that it lowered immunities in other respects, hives popped up.... Not saying this is the cause... but again her age is pretty young for this problem, IMO. So best to rule out other things before moving on to hormones... and again I would still not rule out a UTI

I have the same idea Maya. I have heard that there are very few carriers left in the world, and that the disease appears to have nearly been erradicated, BUT, to my way of thinking, if there are even a few carriers left in the world, then Im sure I would be the "lucky" one who would put carrier to carrier, so testing for me was VERY important… Im actually a bit anal about testing anyway :D

@Benkura: Unfortunately, without actually re-typing the breed notes I can't post them on the forum. You need to either get the paper or subscribe to that part of the website. Health testing is a big talking point in the UK and the breed is very divided over these issues. The KC doesn't recognise any health problems in the breed, therefor there are no tests that can be forced upon breeders here. Is there a way you could possibly take a digital pic of the notes and post them on the forum?

ooh i havent looked at DW this week.. Shall have to check that out :)

Do you live in the country in MN? My 4-year-old hound mix, Priss, has problems in the summer months starting about August. She will lick her feet until they are red and the fur is almost gone. I have tried all kinds of medications, shots, and changed her diet, but it is something environmental. I've even taken her to different vets to see if someone might have a solution. Most of the medications are steriods; they work for a week or so, then are ineffective. I won't use them anymore. Priss bloats up like a balloon! My vet thinks it is either a particular weed that grows this time of year or possibly a mite or small insect that is invisible to the naked eye. I wash her feet in vinegar and water when she comes in the house and have started using Willard Water, http://www.dr-willardswater.com, too. Sometimes, I use a diluted solution of tree tea oil to soothe the itching. Priss smells like a dirty sock from licking her feet when she is troubled by allergies. Also, she runs a low-grade fever, especially in the morning. I give her 1/2 a baby aspirin and wash her face with cool water.

@Schouiffy: Hey Tanza, No she hasn't had much of anything done as of recent. My parents have had a really wild last 2 years so I think thats contributed to the lack of vet work. Happily, and thanks to Dan, we have an appointment set up for tomorrow morning with the vet. yay. And I'll restrain on the food front. I mean its not awful food, but there are a lot of grains… hmm. It's really kinda difficult to see them at this age, I think this last year as been a hard one for her too... Again.. at her age.. I go back to "if it ain't broke" don't try to fix it… I can tell you that is exactly what I would do... period.... and yes, there might be better.. but at her age... it is not going to make a difference.. again IMO

Good news…

@noodle: I have had my dogs tested for PPM and Fanconi. What is HA? I have heard of it, but don't know what it is. Are there any other tests that you would recommend I do? Hips and Thryoid should be done IMO… there is Hips problems in our breed, while low right now but that could be because owners do not have to permit the results if dogs are dyplastic to be on the open data base. Hemolytic Anemia Description Pyruvate kinase-deficient hemolytic anemia was first diagnosed in Basenjis in the 1960s, although prior to that date Basenjis had died of a then-unknown form of anemia. Research began in the 1960s, with a carrier test available in 1972. Testing and inheritance The gene is a simple recessive. Affected dogs may faint, typically have very white gums and mucous membranes, are likely to have low energy levels, and have light, "golden" colored stools. Affecteds typically die by age 2, with age 4 being the outside limit of survival. Most Basenjis are now descended from tested clear stock. A few carriers still exist in the gene pool, so it is a good idea to use only dogs descended from tested clear stock or dogs that have themselves been tested. A DNA test, available by cheek swab, is available from VetGen and the University of Pennsylvania. A blood-based test is available from Dr. Johnson at the University of Missouri. OFA has an open registry for hemolytic anemia DNA status. DNA testing gives an actual reading of the dog's status as a clear, carrier, or affected, so the testing does not have to be repeated.

I use canned pumpkin with solid results. No pun intended. (-:

Oooooooooops… That does ring a bell, I will check and get back to you :o:o

@Buana: Good luck with the test! Did it go well this morning? Yes, it went well, thankfully! He was still asleep when I first started the swab. He woke up for just a few seconds, looked at me, then went right back to sleep. I actually had to reswab him because I didn't feel like I got enough the first time and he didn't even wake up! Now I'm waiting anxiously with my fingers crossed!

Congratulations on your great news!

Sounds like it makes sense. I guess I was giving them too much. Just wonder if anybody else ran into this. Nika had too many bladder infections. Every time I saw her squatting a lot I thought "oh no not another infection". If they get a bladder infection you'll know if you see them squatting a lot. Then just get a small jar and catch some when they pee and if the urine is cloudy it's probably a bladder infection.

I no longer use the spot-on products - the last time it "burned" off the hair where it was applied. Fleas are not as big a problem up here in the north unless Gossy catches a flea-infested rabbit or chipmunk or is exposed to feral cats (as at some friends) (in which case I give her a vinegar bath right away) .

How is Cody?