Basenji Health Issues & Questions

Here is the test information that Missy had done and an article with the portion that includes Melatonin for treatment. I have inlcuded the webpage for the entire article. She has not been on the Melatonin long and I am slowly increasing her dosage but she is definitely not as puffy in the intestinal area as she was. The Adrenal Panel with Combined Dex Supp/ACTH Stim Test for Dogs: The following hormones are tested in the adrenal panel: Cortisol, Estradiol, Androstenedione, 17-Hydroxyprogesterone, Progesterone and Aldosterone. REVIEW ARTICLES Steroid Profiles in the Diagnosis of Canine Adrenal Disorders Jack W. Oliver, Proceedings 25th ACVIM Forum, Pp. 471-473, Seattle, WA. 2007. http://www.vet.utk.edu/diagnostic/endocrinology/pdf/Steroids%20Profiles%20in%20the%20Diagnosis%20of%20.doc Melatonin. Results of in vitro cell culture (human H295R adrenocortical carcinoma cells) studies in our lab55 revealed that both 21-hydroxylase and aromatase enzymes were inhibited by melatonin. Also, in dogs with adrenal disease that are treated with melatonin, and repeat adrenal steroid panels are done, cortisol levels are consistently reduced, and estradiol levels are variably reduced.29 Inhibition of the 21-hydroxylase enzyme would lower cortisol levels, and inhibition of the aromatase enzyme would lower estradiol levels. Estradiol levels were decreased in a prior study of dogs treated with melatonin.31 Results of in vitro studies with human MCF-7 breast cancer cells also revealed that melatonin inhibited aromatase enzyme, which resulted in reduced estradiol levels.56 Melatonin treatment for cases of mild adrenal disease in dogs may be effective, and particularly in cases where sex steroids are increased. Jennifer

Yep in Australia its ok as well. Is Iris to Iris PPM in both eyes 'cerf-able' ???

Bless all of these aging angels :)

I totally agreee with Pat - the vet should know what's going on. Also the fact that the diarrhoea is black is a cause for concern, in my opinion.

@Kris_Christine: It already passed! :D Whoot! Whoot!!!

Check with Iris Craven, Kasai Basenjis. She is in Maryland and might know of a vet in your area… and also might be able to help you with the IPSID dx. She is a long-time Basenji breeder and has been around to see many many things happen in Basenjis.

Cody has never wagged his tail. EVER. Having only had happy tail waggers previously (a Golden retriever mix for example - they are exemplary tail waggers), I initially found this very disconcerting, but I have learned to read his other signals to know when he is happy. It's weird to me, but his tails never moves with his emotions. Sometimes it relaxes and straightens when he is relaxed, but that's it. So, I just watch the rest of his body language to gauge how he's feeling. From what I see on this forum, it's not that uncommon. But - I am insanely jealous of those folks whose Basenjis wag!!!! LOL!

I certainly have to be more careful in selecting his treats because I dont think they mix well when given for variety.. I have tried the Instinct treat bones which are venison and those are "iffy", then I use soft baked treats for training. But on any given day its normal for him to get a treat based with venison, another cheddar cheese and liver ( I cant imagine that to help a lot but he gets bored with only one treat and that leads to motivational issues) Thanks for the info :)

Here is the website, when you get there just enter funky dog on the search line. http://greengirlsmarket.blogspot.com

Any product made for babies will work on your B's. Aloe gel is fine if they do get pinked up out there. We keep an aloe plant growing in our yard (of course that's probably not possible in Canada) and break a shoot off, slice it, and put the aloe directly on us when we get it. So far though, even at the Florida beaches, our girls have not shown any sign of sunburn. (Fingers crossed)

You guys are great - thanks for the responses. We are most often dealing with high humidity (being on the coast), so 80 degrees can feel much warmer. I think I will use 75 degrees as Kipawa's upper range. Also, the heat yesterday came on with a bang - no buildup to it. It just happened. So there was no time for man or beast to get used to it. Anne, your comment about "a dog will keep going with you till they collapse from heatstroke" is exactly what would happen to Kipawa. He just loves his outdoors and running so much. Once outside, he does not have a "slow" setting if he is off leash.

@JoT: Salis, Please contact Liz Hansen at the research lab and inform her of this situation. She will need the full names of your dog and both parents. Please send her an email at : HansenL@missouri.edu, Liz is very nice and quite helpful. She will help you understand the results. She will investigate your test. JoT, thank you! I've already wrote Liz Hansen:-) I'm a bit unlucky with it test, i made order in January and after half a year I got this result! Lucky it's not affected!

I haven't had a lot of experience with it. But I am researching it because I think the Boxenji has it, and, for those interested, here are some items about Cushing's Disease. There are different types of Cushing's as follows. Pituitary Dependant Hyperadrenocorticism-Most common Adrenal-based Hyperadrenocorticism Iatrogenic Hyperadrenocorticism The most common symptoms include: • increased/excessive water consumption (polydipsia) • increased/excessive urination (polyuria) • urinary accidents in previously housetrained dogs • increased/excessive appetite (polyphagia) • appearance of food stealing/guarding, begging, trash dumping, etc. • sagging, bloated, pot-bellied appearance • weight gain or its appearance, due to fat redistribution • loss of muscle mass, giving the appearance of weight loss • bony, skull-like appearance of head • exercise intolerance, lethargy, general or hind-leg weakness • new reluctance to jump on furniture or people • excess panting, seeking cool surfaces to rest on • symmetrically thinning hair or baldness (alopecia) on torso • other coat changes like dullness, dryness • slow regrowth of hair after clipping • thin, wrinkled, fragile, and/or darkly pigmented skin • easily damaged/bruised skin that heals slowly • hard, calcified lumps in the skin (calcinosis cutis) • susceptibility to infections (especially skin and urinary) • diabetes, pancreatitis, seizures There are three tests they use to diagnose Cushings-depending on what type of cushings they have. Either there is too much cortisol or too little in the blood. Urine Cortisol/Creatinine Ratio Test ACTH Stimulation Test Low Dose Dexamethasone Suppression Test High Dose Dexamethasone Suppression Test The high dose test is generally used as to diagnose which type of cushings the dog has. The low dose test is the one generally used to diagnose that the dog has cushings and is said to be about 90-95% accurate in diagnosing.

I use the Clinistix because to me there was a more drastic change in the colors. There's only 3 color variations and it goes from pink to purple..not green to a little darker green in the first color change.

@tanza: Debra, I think the comment about age (puppies under a year) can not be counted as accurate yet is because Fanconi is late onset, so if they were to develope Fanconi, it would not be know now. But not sure if that is what you are asking? I think I said clearly his results are seemingly about TESTING results, not actual development. So his results are accurate for TESTING, which is what he was posting, which has nothing to do with the age of the animal tested but only if it shows expected outcomes based on the sire/dam. Age only has to do with outcome, not what his chart/results were about (ie if the linkage test results for sire/dam match what the offspring linkage test RESULT (not if they actually develop the disease)). Not sure how to make that clearer.

Yes, it could be worse, so Carrier is better then Affected….. and you are right, it is really NOT that bad! In regards to Arwen, even if her papers were not sent in, you listed her (what would be registered name/sire/dam) for the data base, right? So the only thing that is missing is the AKC number. Honestly, most time I seach by the name or part of the name.

Butu has shot up at least an inch since he was 5 months…

It's very possible something has started growing that she has a slight allergy to. My Gemma sneezes when we first go into the fields in the morning lately because everything is coming up and it's dewy as well. She also did this during pollen season, but seldom any other time. Of course our A/C is always on because the days are so hot now, and that may be the answer for you. If she had something up her nose, I think she would be "blowing" trying to get it out, but a vet visit would answer that for you.