Benjis Mama, how is your dog? Has he recovered? Did he block again? And have you found any treatments or diet that seemed to help?

I was lucky enough that oakleys breeder dremeled so I carried on with it and after routinely doing it he is very good about it. Even at three I still make a big deal after he's done by telling him he's a good boy and give him a cookie. At any point in time he can decide he doesn't want to do it or doesn't like it so I find keeping it positive keeps him on the hook! I also got mine via petedge.com.. I got the grey and blue one; I believe it's actually the Dremel brand

Olive oil works very quickly; cleared up my dogs dry skin in less than two weeks (though I put it in food) and is relatively cheap. Three table spoons a week I think is what vets have recommended. The high fat can cause some laxative issues though. You don't likely need fish [cod] oil after that, though if you have a decent fish source….never hurts as a supplement. Especially salmon. If you're neurotic about your dog's health [ as there is some controversy surrounding Olive oil], and wanting to pull out all the stops, just go straight for the fish oil.

I decided not to use the plaque off..I have been brushing more but not everyday as I will going forward. I think I decided not to because last year a I expected to have his dental and sort of fix the problem that way and start good habits..then his surgery happened and really it's taken a good long while to get him back on track…I didn't want to add anything that could throw off his system.

Most Vets will not recommend spay during season and unless there is a medical reason for doing it now, will recommend waiting till she is at least 3 to 4 weeks past the end of her season. I would also agree you should put it off and wait. Keep in mind however the neutered males can achieve a tie with a bitch in season, however considered "safe sex"… but since you have two males, this could present a problem, so something to keep an eye on

Alex, did you find a vet in the Bay Area (or somewhere in the South Bay) who specializes in dental work for B's? Pat (Tanza), do you know any vet near the South Bay who specializes in dental work for B's? My B has a cracked tooth/molar which I found and took a photo, showed it to my vet and he suggested tooth extraction. Since he missed it during the physical last week and he hasn't even suggested an x-ray or something to confirm if extraction is the only option (he seems to just base it on the photo and nothing else), I'm suspicious and would like a second opinion from another vet. (I did ask for blood work and the vet said the results are fine, no issues.) Your help is appreciated!

One of my Basenjis has always had issues with vomiting and seems sensitive to food coloring and food with beef in it. You might need to play with his food some to see if it is better, assuming the vet doesn't find an obstruction. We also find that feeding them twice a day helped mine keep her food down.

@DebraDownSouth: Any vet who is not aware of the guidelines and titres isn't one who stays informed enough to be my vet. Any vet who PRETENDS they don't know and tries to push unnecessary vaccine– ditto. Thanks for the post, will share in other dog groups. You're VERY welcome. Thank YOU for sharing with other dog groups!!

http://drjeandoddspethealthresource.tumblr.com/post/66693331640/dodds-dog-vaccination-protocol-2013-2014#.UoS3Uo0Vxux 2013 and 2014 Canine Vaccination Protocol - W. Jean Dodds, DVM Dr. Dodds has made only slight, minor changes to the basic, core Canine Vaccination Protocol she established in previous years. Dr. Dodds bases her decisions on numerous factors such as presence of maternal immunity, prevalence of viruses or other infectious agents in the region, number of reported occurrences of the viruses and other infectious agents, how these agents are spread, and the typical environmental conditions and exposure risk activities of companion animals. Dr. Dodds considers infectious canine hepatitis (adenovirus-1), canine adenovirus-2, bordetella, canine influenza, canine coronavirus, leptospirosis, and Lyme regional and situational. Please research the prevalence in your area, and discuss it with your veterinarian. 2013 and 2014 Vaccination Protocol Note: The following vaccine protocol is offered for those dogs where minimal vaccinations are advisable or desirable. The schedule is one Dr. Dodds recommends and should not be interpreted to mean that other protocols recommended by a veterinarian would be less satisfactory. It?s a matter of professional judgment and choice. 9-10 Weeks Old: Distemper + Parvovirus, MLV (e.g. Merck Nobivac [Intervet Progard] Puppy DPV) 14-16 Weeks: Same as above 20 Weeks or Older (if allowable by law): Rabies 1 Year: Distemper + Parvovirus, MLV 1 Year: Rabies, killed 3-year product (give 3-4 weeks apart from distemper/parvovirus booster) Perform vaccine antibody titers for distemper and parvovirus every three years thereafter, or more often, if desired. Vaccinate for rabies virus according to the law, except where circumstances indicate that a written waiver needs to be obtained from the primary care veterinarian. In that case, a rabies antibody titer can also be performed to accompany the waiver request. See The Rabies Challenge Fund www.RabiesChallengeFund.org website. W. Jean Dodds, DVM Hemopet / NutriScan 11561 Salinaz Avenue Garden Grove, CA 92843

http://drjeandoddspethealthresource.tumblr.com/post/58271237209/titer-vaccine-questions#.UoS6II0Vxux Frequently Asked Questions about Titers and Vaccination Protocol by Dr. Dodds We frequently receive questions regarding Dr. Dodds? Canine Vaccination Protocol and thought we would put together a short FAQ to help your dog. We also invite you to explore the section tagged "Vaccines" ?on our blog as we have several posts about specific vaccines, viruses, and titers. Question: The breeder vaccinated before nine weeks of age. How do I start your vaccination protocol now? Answer: Just continue with the regular minimum vaccine protocol of Distemper and Parvovirus at 9 and 14 weeks. Question: It is difficult to find a veterinarian who gives only the DPV (Nobivac Puppy-DPv) per your vaccination protocol. Can you recommend a vet? Answer: You or your veterinarian can purchase it online from such places as Revival Animal Health or KV Vet Supply. Your vet can then administer the shot. Question: We purchased a puppy from a breeder who only vaccinates for Parvovirus. Should my dog also have Distemper? Answer: Your dog does need a distemper virus shot ? in fact two doses are needed 3-4 weeks apart. You can purchase it yourself. The only monovalent, single distemper shot on the market today is NeoVacc-D by NeoTech ? available online from such places as Revival Animal Health or KV Vet Supply. (Note: you can also purchase a single shot of Parvovirus from the same places.) Question: What kind of rabies vaccine should I get? Answer: The rabies vaccine should be thimerosal (mercury) ? free ? i.e. Merial IMRAB TF. Question: Are there any methods to stop the potential side effects of vaccine reactions? Answer: You can pre-treat dogs with the oral homeopathics, Thuja and Lyssin, to help blunt any adverse effects of the rabies vaccine. For other vaccines, just Thuja is needed. These homeopathics can be given the day before, the day of, and the day after the vaccine. Some product protocols suggest a different regimen for them. Question: Why won?t my state take my dog?s rabies titer test so he can avoid the vaccine? Answer: At this time, no state will accept a rabies titer in lieu of the shot. Additionally, a rabies titer does not satisfy any state?s medical exemption clause. For a list of states with medical exemptions, please visit The Rabies Challenge Fund www.RabiesChallengeFund.org. There are currently 18 states that officially recognize exemptions from rabies booster, but only on a justified case-by-case basis and following the specific requirements of that state. Question: What is the point of a rabies titer test if my state won?t accept it as a medical exemption? Answer: There are two reasons: Rabies titer results are required by many rabies-free countries or regions in order for dogs and cats to qualify for a reduced quarantine period prior to entry. Some of these regions are Hawaii, Guam, Japan, St. Kitts and Nevis, Australia, New Zealand, France, and the United Kingdom. Always check with the destination authority to verify the pet importation. The CDC states that a rabies titer of 0.1 IU/mL or higher is acceptable to protect a person from rabies. Further, the results of the 5-year Rabies Challenge Fund Study showed that immunologic memory for rabies vaccination remains at or above that level of immunity. This information is helpful for pet guardian peace-of-mind in areas where clinical rabies cases occur, and the dog or cat is medically exempt from further rabies boosters. Question: Every year, the titer shows them as low on their distemper antibodies. What should I do? Answer: I do suggest titer testing your dog every three years for both distemper and parvovirus. Additionally, any measurable titer to either distemper & parvovirus means that the dog has specific committed immune memory cells to respond and afford protection upon exposure. If your dogs consistently have no measurable titer to canine distemper virus, it means mean that they are distemper ?non-or low-responders?, an heritable trait where they will never mount immunity to distemper and will always be susceptible. These dogs should not be used for breeding. As non-or low-responders to distemper are rare (1:5000 cases), my suggestion is that you retest at least one of them at Hemopet. Question: My veterinarian believes anytime dogs are in contact with water that they are at HIGH risk for contracting leptospirosis. Answer: Not so. Most Leptospirosis strains (there are about 200) do not cause disease, and of the seven clinically important strains, only four ? L. icterohaemorrhagiae, L. canicola, L. grippotyphosa, and L. pomona serovars ? are found in today?s vaccines. So, exposure risk depends upon which serovars of Lepto have been documented to cause clinical leptospirosis in the area where you live. You can call the county health department or local animal control and ask. W. Jean Dodds, DVM Hemopet / NutriScan 11561 Salinaz Avenue Garden Grove, CA 92843

My first Basenji had 2 heats a year, and then she'd always have a false pregnancy after each heat. And she was bitchy for the month she was in heat… and bitchy for the 2 months she was "pregnant". So that meant, with 2 heats a year, she was bitchy for 6 months out of the year. Talk about a good reason to spay a dog! And Pat is right, there is no good reason to keep a bitch whole if she doesn't need to be. Never mind just the convenience of it,,,,, Pyometra IS a threat. I had 2 bitches get Pyometra. I lost one, the other was saved with an emergency spay. -Joanne

"_Is Your Pet Receiving Any of These Useless Vaccines?" Dr. Karen Becker interviews Dr. Ronald Schultz about pet vaccines: http://www.nutritionw.com/2013/11/is-your-pet-receiving-any-of-these-useless-vaccines/ Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tghhWzD0ym8_