Basenji Health Issues & Questions

The dogs in the picture look so much wilder to me. I liked the smaller ears. also they talk about the dogs had short muzzles. Very cool pictures, thanks for posting the link.

When will we be able to see a photo?

@dmcarty: Especially when basenjis are younger - stripping them often and at different times of the month is good - that way you can see if something is going on. I had some folks who started stripping at 5 and at about 7 the dog was symptomatic but they had never turned strips - turns out that when they stripped the dog for a couple weeks every day - the strip would turn colors only SOME of the time. So essentially the dog was probably spilling earlier but doing it once a month - they missed when he was spilling. So use up those strips! Exactly right… I think the best way to do it is 3 to 4 days in a row... each month... because when they first start to spill sugar in the urine, they don't always show every day.... I remember that Parry's Jaadii did that... one day would spill, next two not... then the 4th he would...

My son also gets red bumps on his inner arms when he holds Magnum. Didn't help any to bathe him (Magnum, LOL!). They don't really seem to itch and go away fairly quickly. My son just doesn't pick him up much anymore. Magnum probably prefers that anyway!

A visit to the vet will be worthwhile. Skin problems can be difficult to resolve. My two actually have a dermatologist now that my vet referred me to to try to figure out why their skin isn't clearing up after two months of treatment. My regular vet did skin scrapings to check for things like mites (which they don't have). Mine are getting more skin scrapings next week to be cultured to see what exact bacteria is there and check for something like ringworm.

Thank you..again! Yeah, it doesn't bother him a bit. It is kinda hard to see, just a dip at the top of his hip. I'll wait it out.:)

Yes this is normal. I posted a thread just like this asking the same question. They are freckles and it is totally normal.

I've never heard of using tea tree oil before. I'll have to give that a try too. With Max, I had to put him in his e collar when I used sprays or creams. With Zoey and Tyler–they don't seem to lick at creams (or sprays once they've dried). An old vet of mine used to put something bitter in sprays to keep dogs from licking after you sprayed--it seemed to work pretty well with Max. He'd take one sniff and wrinkle up his nose.

That is FABULOUS news, Pat!!! Hoorayyyyyy!!!!

@Duke: Would that be Similan?? While writing this info down, my scribble looks like that. I honestly do not remember…..

We use a cool coat on our dogs from time to time, mostly at shows.

@BDawg1005: I thought Lexi has an almond shaped lump– I felt stupid when my hubby pointed out that it was her microchip!! Duh. Miles, however, actually has three lumps-- one is under his arm pit. We were told by Banfield that we should do surgery and then have them biopsied, but we are going to get a second opinion because they feel like fatty cysts to me and I would think the protocol would not be operate first... instead aspirate, send specimens to a lab, and then determine if they're benign... Regarding the armpit lumps, and fatty cysts: Querk had a few of these, and yes, our vet felt them, said the felt like "not tumors" but then she aspirated them. She said all are benign, but we could remove them next time he was under, which is what we did. I definitely wouldn't jump to surgery.

Health concerns can be expensive. I think it is important to make them as comfortable as you can financially as their guardian, but like dmcarty, you may not need to have the tumor tested. Unfortunately, no one can tell you what the right thing is to do. I found great support from the site by sharing my experiences. And it really helped in those powerless moments where I had to decide the fate of my basenji. Please keep us posted on her and you as well. :)

She still seeks out water but not to the degree that she was. As the accidents wane, I have been trying to leave the water out a bit more, but like one of the other members said about their husband, mine also is sick of cleaning up the pee so I have to find a happy medium between the two. All in all I think we are doing fine, and once again thanks for all of your concern. I will be sure to connect with the Basenji Forums again if there are any other questions.

Well Champ only had to get a cortizon shot the first time he developed allergies and now if we see him itching or biting his paws we give him a pill but honestly only had to do it twice (the pills). Good luck with your babies.

Glad to hear all is well…, Get some rest, Mom!;)

thanks I will check.

@MaxBooBooBear: Yes–I was trained how to do it--and did do it at home a couple of times, but it was really a struggle for me. Both my dogs reacted very, very poorly to the procedure--and it really took two people to do it comfortably. Since I live alone, it was best for me to go have it done at my vets who is only about 5 minutes from me. They also got a special contraption for the bag of fluids that expressed the fluid out so it went much more quickly. But I know many people who are able to do it at home because their dogs or cats are more tolerant than mine were. It's much cheaper that way :) One of the best ways is to have a grooming table that comes complete with a "noose"…. It supports the head and keeps them standing.... you can fairly easily hang the IV bag off the same support.... while I agree the first couple of times it helps to have two, one to hold the dog, one to "stick" the needle in.... but once you get the hang of it.. it usually works.... But whatever works... and that is great that you could just run down to your Vet...

I don't know if they are in your area, (I doubt it) but Nala had bites on her from black flies that were red and itchy and more of a ringed look to them. I took her to the vet immediately, only to be told what they were! Boy did I feel silly…I'm sure you'll get to the bottom of it...

@Solomon: I will wait, for a few more weeks, I am going to take him in to have id chip installed and will discuss with my vet. I gues I am just looking forward to have that part of puppy-hood behind us. He is a very normal basenji!!! Thanks for all of the advice! Glenn Certainly you are no different to us.. we are ALL happy when those puppy "needle" teeth finally disappear!:)