Basenji Health Issues & Questions

@jinxed_1980: My lovely Beau has developed a naughty habit… I came home from a festival and apparently he destroyed my blinds trying to follow me, then he opened a sentry bag that was on the dinner table and pulled out a brand new loaf of bread and he and our gorden setter, Walker, ate the whole loaf. Also when I leave him he leaves bowels in my daughters bedroom floor. How can we only have had the little guy about 2 weeks now and he already has seperation anxiety? Is it because I'm a stay at home mom and dont get out much? He watches me like a hawk and has to be where I am. If my fiance' is home he is a good boy but he paces and will just sit in the window waiting for me to return. I think he might be scaired of the dark too. Can dogs be scaired of the dark? It is not at all uncommon for rescued/adopted dogs to develop separation anxiety. When I adopted Ruby (as a 2yo retired show dog - never been an only dog), she bonded so strongly within a week that she wouldn't let me take a shower with the curtain closed…had to always see me and would follow me wherever I would go. She had to be crated for her own safety whenever I would leave the house...she would be frantic if she actually saw me walk out the door...once I was gone about 15 minutes, she could be let out of her crate, but she would still search for me for a while or if she heard any noise at all. Luckily, she was crate trained...but I also made her crate a super happy place, special treats (marrow bones, liver, kongs, etc.) so that she wouldn't watch me leave. One thing we also did was have my brother feed her and walk her...so that she would develop a stronger bond with him and less dependence on me. Ultimately though, her real end to her separation anxiety came when we added Brando (another retired show dog - 1 mo. difference in age). So you can do what I've been doing...add a basenji a year (I'm up to 3) :D:D:D...that should do it. Oh, right, you have other dogs already! :D:D Oh, and regarding being scared of the dark...yes, Ruby was afraid of the dark at first...wouldn't go pee or poop at night...would hold it until daylight. We put lanterns outdoors at the edge of the dog pen so that she could see what was on the perimeter of the property, pointed the outdoor flood lights into the dog pen...and would also walk her in the dark. Eventually, she was fine without the added light.

The good thing is she is crate trained. Nika was not so it made it more difficult. She slept on the couch and I had to put the cushions in plastic garbage bags and then a water proof mattress pad on that as a few times she peed in the middle of the night and I would hear her yelp like she was upset for having done that and jump off the couch. I would just remove and replace the sheet, comfort her and tell her it's OK and put her back on the couch to go back to sleep.

It is scary that they have to do this for the safety of peoples pets…BUT on the flipside we can't even be sure the human foods we buy at the store is safe for us...after all those recalls and such last year and years before that. We are the greatest country on this planet, yet we lack in so many areas...even though I am not american (still swedish, my mother would die if I changed my nationality, that is all she has left...lol), I still see myself as an american, and United Staes of America is my home.. Thanks for posting this, Pat, I don't use it myself, but will ask around among my friends and relatives to make sure pets stay safe..

You're very welcome!

@Kris_Christine: Dr. Dodds is in California, I live in Maine. Despite having had Lyme myself twice, I do not vaccinate my dogs against it. None of them has ever contracted the disease or tested positive even though they get hundreds of deer tick bites every year. Under a separate thread, I'll post some information on Lyme. Great…thanks for that!

If you can video her while she is doing this, it might help a vet to diagnose, if indeed it is small seizure-type activity.

Fair enough. Thanks for the advice.

Treating heartworm infected dogs.. http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?A=610 No offense intended, but the Beloved Bulldogs site was not written by a vet and seems a bit dated to me. Having had a dog treated for heartworm years ago, believe me the arsenic treatments can be dangerous and painful. (See above link)

When in doubt see the vet. Animals can be good at seeming not in pain when they are.

@Basenjimamma: Ok, I got it. So basically the only way (as far as we know with the test available today) to get affecteds is if the "breeder" either don't test prior to breeding or breed affecteds and carriers together, and not using a clear in the mix. Right, Affecteds and Carriers and IND (between a Clear and a Carrier, so should be considered a Carrier) should only be bred to Clears, period With the very, very few inconsistant results excluded, looking at the test results, what we are seeing is what we would expect to see, especially in looking at tested sires and dams and then their offspring.

@tanza: Found this under Florida law on rabies (2) A dog or cat shall not be required to be vaccinated against rabies if a licensed veterinarian has examined the animal and has certified in writing that at such time vaccination would endanger the animal's health because of its age, infirmity, disability, illness, or other medical considerations. Such exempt animal shall be vaccinated against rabies as soon as its health permits. And it also seems in Florida, it can change from county to county on if required yearly or 3 yrs.. Good to know that about an animal with health issues - and yes, it does vary county to county. Hillsborough, where I live, requires it yearly.

Every dog reacts differently to food, so what works for some isn't the best for others. There is a general concensus though on what foods you should look for and what to avoid. Yes, fish oil is a great additive to help out the coat. But Basenjis DO shed. Not nearly as much as other dogs, but they do shed. Could yours be blowing it's winter coat finally? Also they get flaky when they are more stressed/nervous. Has anything changed in/around your home lately?

@Benkura: Puppy teeth are lovely but it is a relief when all the little 'needles' go. :) Ain't that the truth! :D:D

Wow, I fees so bad for Jonny, and y'all. The runs is horrible to have to live with. I guess you found what works, so stick with it..

I have never used those products but I have and do use Azodyl for my elders and I have seen a difference in their BUN and Creatinine, I have not used the Epakitin with it http://www.vetoquinolusa.com/pages/pro_azodyl.html

When our Older Akita got Cancer they will only pay so much and they will not pay for some test's if they find that they do not beleive it will help. They really do not like and in some cases will not pay for blood for your dog. I am not sure I care for animal insurance. Rita Jean

@taryn121: I just switched Ripley from ProPlan to Evo yesterday, and he's had diarrhea last night and all today. I was wondering if that was normal because he had a food switch? And if it is, how long does it normally happen? I put a little plain yogurt in with his meal this morning and it seemed to help some. Is there anything else I can do? It is usually recommended that you change foods slowly… over the course of at least 2 to 3 weeks... increasing the new food with the old with each feeding.

I would give the full course so you that you make sure you kill the bacteria population completely or consult the vet to see if a shorter course would be alright.

Insurance is really popular here and for good reason. Lycia's random medical spill cost me around 15,000 dollars. I WISH I had sprung for the insurance then..

@shankara_n: I am trying to locate a photo of the canine genome. The double helix with full colour and letters. This is for a tattoo up my spine. Really?? Interesting!