Basenji Health Issues & Questions

You really shouldn't treat them both equally - first dog first is always a good rule of thumb. My daughter bought a house and moved in this week and her basenji is having a difficult time of it as well - too much too different - but she's getting it. Kristen had put vinyl down in a small office in the lower level and made it a 'dog room' Thumper has a big pen with warm cozy things, lots of toys and her varikennel should she need to be alone in her cave. IN the previous house she had the run of the house but until Kris is sure that she knows the rules on where to stand if you want to potty, etc - she'll be confined there when no one is home. She is not amused with Pergo floor - too slippery!

No I didn't take pictures but I will if it happens again. The first time it was on the top and side of his muzzle, it made him look like a bull terrier! I spoke to our vet again yesterday, she wants to keep him on benadryl for a few days, and we need to do some careful observation about what he has contact with. The swelling wad completely gone by last night so we are very happy about that.

Phoenix has had a rash like that before i went to the vet I figured a yeast infection is a yeast infection right weather in people or pets so i went and bought some "womans yeast infection meds" those bullet shaped things and just took it out of the wrapper and just rubbed it on his tummy alittle i rubbed it in and made sure he didnt lick at it the next morning the rash was just about gone went to the vet and she said that's what he had and to acaully just use what i did for a day or so and it should be gone it was a surface yeast infection and so as long as i just rubbed that stuff on like it was lotion he would be fine i applaied it 2 more times and it was gone he gets them from time to time and thats all i do it's a alot cheaper in the long run the stuff she said she was going to give me was going to cost me $67. plus the cost of the vet so i figured now i will just save the moeny and go spend 8 :) i would think there might be a problem using that if u have a dog that likes to try and lick it but phoenix could care less he just enjoyed his belly rub while i was rubbing it in :)

Funny you guys mention this as today Dallas had his third vet appointment for his puppy shots [rabies, etc] & when the vet found out I was feeding Merrick's he didn't like it. He kept trying to convince me that Purina, Euk & Science Diet are the best & that Merrick's is too new to really have the quality of food that Euk & the others have been "perfecting for centuries". I like this guy but it kind of annoyed me actually. :mad: He said he would switch him back to Euk if he were me & also said that if I choose to stay with Merrick's I should at least have him on their puppy blend not the regular because of the extra stuff pups need. I didn't bother to mention the fact that adult Merrick's have more protein, fat, etc than any commerical puppy kibble :rolleyes: Less fillers & more concentrated…sounds better in my opinion. Oh & also, I mentioned adding fish oil to his kibble & he said it "wasn't necessary" & that his dry skin in his ears is because I am swbbing them too frequently. That actually may be the case [too much cleaning on my part] but the fish oil could never hurt right? :confused:

Yea my vet told me that during our last appointment. He said not to let Dallas sniff other dogs poop no matter where we are because the poop can contain diseases. I see poop all around our community because people don't pick it up after their dogs but Dallas [so far] never really gets too near ti that I have to pull him away.

@tanza: Weight size, Keoki could use maybe a pound or two… but nothing at his age that I would worry about .... if he is eating well, I would just continue as you are doing... Thanks. Like I said, and is obvious in her photos, Jazz is just a stockier dog and I'm so used to that; I'm not sure what to do with a lanky one. He does eat very well, and is very active {also unlike Jazz, who has a moderate appetite and is quite sedentary, esp. for a Basenji}. So, I'll call it good for now. Thanks again.

Yay! Fingers crossed that all is fine now…LOVE the pics!

It's great to hear a good review of a vet! We know of an excellent emergency/specialty clinic in Largo, a Dr. Oswald , Internist, is amazing and very kind and compassionate. We have had a couple of basenjis over the years that needed his skills, I recommend him if anyone in the Tampa/St. Pete area needs a specialist. Anne in Tampa

@Mia: I don't know who her grandparents are, how would I find that out (website)? I have the registration #'s for both her parents. You can order a pedigree from AKC, www.akc.org and then go to the store link. You can order it on line as an electronic file for 10.00. Most breeders give you an extended pedigree?

That's interesting about the honey. The Whole Dog Journal had an article about honey and dogs http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/10_9/features/Bee-Honey-Products-Help-Canines_15967-1.html in which Juliette de Bairacli Levy says she believes dogs derive the same health benefits from it as humans. Thanks for the tip!!!

See the post on test strips and get the ones they show. Strip test as Least once a month, or more. It will help ease your mind.

And remember everyone, they really do go bad, so please do not use them past the date….. if there are some of you that live close or even you could do it by mail, you might think about sharing the strips instead of just tossing them

Oh boy. Emptying an anal gland? How on earth does one do that? (And why? <- genuine question from a neophyte) :confused: Lori The Z-Pack: Zen, Zoe, and Ziggy

Here's what I do that's successful. I don't use that canine toothpaste, no need as water will do fine. B's love to lick the wet toothbrush.Get a cup of water for dipping the brush in and use a soft toothbrush. Get the dog on the left side of the couch in the corner (if your right handed) so the dog is facing towards the middle and you sit on the edge of the couch in front of the dog. You both should now be facing towards the center. This will give you good control. Just lightly put you left hand over the dog's muzzel and gently lift. Just stick the brush in and gently brush. If the B fights the just let the dog chew on the brush a little as you stick it in the back area. Don't make it a tramatic event!! Dip the brush in the water and swiril/swish to clean. Then try again. Again do not force or fight it. Be carfull not to squeeze the muzzle or lip as that will make it painful for the dog. Keep the touch light and gentle. I've been brush my B's teeth daily for 14 years. Good luck and happy brushing.

My Diego does the same thing, breath hard and irregular, twitch his eyes, shake a little, etc. I never really worried about it because we figured it was dreams, and when we woke him up he would be fine..

@tanza: Could also be a reaction to some kind of bite… here is another thought... when did he have he last round of shots? But in the end, I think I would take a trip to the Vet... could just be a little ear infection going on... they can and do get yeast infections in the ears.. and I have found that puppies for what ever reason get dirty ears... and slight infections. Kobey had one when he was about 4/5 months old... His second round of puppy shots he got on the 7th of this month. His next round isn't until the 6th of March. I am going to call the vet this afternoon & ask them if we should bring him in. His ears do get really dirty with wax buildup. I have actually used a q-tip (he's gotten a little better) & cleaned them almost every other day in the past week because everytime I look down there I see some buildup. Maybe that itself is another sign that something more is wrong. I will check his paws & rear tonight for any signs of an allergy but I examined him a lot last night (after noticing his ears) & didn't see anything else out of the ordinary.

I also recommend that anyone with a Basenji print the protocol and have your Vet put in your Basenjis file

The poor baby! ((Hugs)) to you both. I will keep Cairo in my thoughts and prayers that an alternative treatment or solution can be found.

@BDawg: throws up from butt-juice drinking I didn't need to read that while having my first coffee of the morning…yuck! :D :D :D

Speaking of "desinger" breeds… my dh (for the longest time!) was trying to convince me to breed our Papillion to a mini daschund. All I could picture was huge ears that may or may not flip up at a moments notice, a super long body, and long legs. It would look like something out of a Salvidor Dali picture!!! EEk!