Basenji Health Issues & Questions

so, I just read this and my guys were eating grapes yesterday, LOL….I have heard that grape stems are bad....my guys are okay with a little bit of fruit from time to time....they love watermellon as far as the vets say science diet is good.....well, it may be the best stuff they sell in the petstore.... i can tell you first hand from watching beta die and doing research with her foods as she deteriorated, here are some things to think about.... corporations say a dog should eat the same food all of their life, every day....it sells a basenji in the wild doesnt do that....they may eat all kinds of different things to stay alive... the doctors told me that when beta was getting ill to remove grains that were not found in the wild such as corn (major filler in pet foods), wheat, and rice... the next thing they told me is that when basenjis have sensitive stomachs (IPSID or IBS) it is the intestine becoming allergic to the food....my doctors have said that it is healthiest to change the diet every 4 months to prevent this reaction in an intestinally challenged breed.... beta could eat anything and have solid poop. then she became ill so fast that there was nothing we could do. she was fed eukanuba performance or premium for 3 years before i ran into her illness..... this does not mean switch dog foods without doing a little mixing and weening them off....try to avoid the squirts per se.... i fully agree with this idea....that is how they would be in the wild....always changing what they eat.... the changes will help their bodies become stronger immune wise and less likely to have the time to create an allergy to the food. I add boiled chicken, fresh garlic, eggs, pumpkin (great fiber to make poop solid) and some natural fruits like watermellon or anything that is pretty bland... when beta was at her worst, i used cottage cheese as her main food....it was the only thing she could hold down... i dont think you will have to worry unless you feed grapes all day every day... everything in moderation... Let them eat gwapes!! LOL My favorite dog food: Natural Balance Duck and Potatoe and Innova Evo I can only find it in a feed store less poop, smaller scoops, richer food no preservatives, no rice, no corn, no wheat, no soy....

Puppies usually "blow" their baby coat after teething and the color fo the coat will change at time…. So yes their coats to change, but not a lot... just like some pedigrees have black masking aroung the face (muzzle and eyes) that will fade with age. Also on Basenjis, the white never changes size... so a big white spot will be much smaller when full grown. Looking at the picture of your Kona, I would say that the white between his eyes was almost the entire area between the eyes when born

Well, your vet would let you know if heartworm was a concern in your area. And I would use whatever he or she recomends. If there is any possibility that it is heartworm, you don't want to use a preventative now. You have to get the treatment from the vet. It probably isn't heartworm, as she is pretty young to have built up enough to cause a cough I think. Could it be that she is sneezing, not coughing? Sometimes sneezes sound like a string of coughs.

LOL.:D You must have been a beautiful baby…with beeautifooull eyes and a curly tail!:) BaMicas Mom

Yes it is very fustrating… and then you have to wonder about our food sources... There are many filliers put into things these days... anyone ever read packages and notice how many things have High Fructose Corn Syrup in it??? Even Raisin Bran..... sigh....

Lexi's nose always turns pink when she's sleepy. I think it's SO cute!! It's like she gets all warm and nuggly and then her nose turns pink. So cute!!! :) :) :)

@Quercus: Important update from the Basenji Club of America: The Basenji Health Endowment is pleased to announce the establishment of its own website and information portal for the Basenji Fancy. The BHE can be found at: http://www.BasenjiHealth.org or http://www.BasenjiHealthEndowment.org. To inagurate our new website, the Basenji Health Endowment is pleased to announce that it has directly funded Dr. Gary Johnson of the University of Missouri to develop a marker-based test for Fanconi Syndrome. You may read the complete press release at: http://www.BasenjiHealth.org/bhe042007.pdf And also there are links if you would like to donate to the Health Endowment… this is a very important break through for our breed and especially for breeders. For anyone that has had or knows of a Fanconi Affilicted Basenji.. knows what a terrible affilication this is.... and for us to finally start to get a handle on it is something we have been waiting for..... Please all remember strip test your Basenjis... at least once a month....

Hmmm.. I would have to say that I would be very surprise that it was Strangles… I know at least with foals that bloodwork would show that they had an infection.... I think either a second opinion or your wait and see is the way to go.... Also, I don't remember how old she is?.... if a puppy and at the teething stage... stange things can happen.. just like with human babies... that is just connected to teething...

If you are having trouble finding it, you may want to feel around the front of their neck and chest as well. My Doberman's had migrated to his neck.

Just a word about pyo….the ones that are the most deadly are called a 'closed pyometra'...meaning the infection is sealed in the uterus...nothing comes out..the dog just crashes. When their is fluid leaking you can catch it, and treat it. I think it is unlikely that Jazzy has a pyo, because her activity, and appetite are still relatively normal. A lot of bitches change a little during estrous...some get more crabby, some more clingy. Then when the added change of bringing in a boy, I would imagine she is just subdued :)

Well his coat is finally coming in nicely and his shedding has lessened although still sheds. He loves his new food IVD especially since daddy heats it up for him. I guess it was the allergies and the season.

I have not tried acupuncture myself- or for my dogs… they are still young, but I had a very dear friend whose lab had severe arthritis... she found great results with acupuncture; granted they were not long lasting- she had to keep taking her dog for more sessions, but she did find that it helped relieve some of the painful symptoms. Best of luck to you guys... Sorry for your pain... :(

Thank you, Tosca is ok now, but I think I will write this down for future reference, 55 is a lot to pay otherwise for a phone call!

To my knowledge, dogs don't get Posion Ivy….. As far as Fleas.... while we don't have a big problem here in No. California... I do need to use flea protection.. at times.... To be on meds for heartworm is responsible... and I would never take a chance... Liver problems with Basenji is not uncommon... that to me is the biggest plus for blood work up at least once a year... especially with our old Basenjis... some as with the Kidney's starting to shut down... my 15 1/2 yr old has been Kidney failure (nothing to do with Fanconi, but just old age) for almost the last year.... we have kept her going to SUBQ fluids since we found this out... and while I would do no more then this, since she accepts the fluids well (we at this time give fluids 2 to 3x's a week...) we take each day as a bonus day until the time she is ready to cross the bridge.... As far as flea meds.... if they don't have fleas... I would not worry about it.... of couse different then meds for heartworm... since that is a mosquitos born problem...

Diana…. I totally agree that we seem to be seeing IBD alot more in our breed again........ And Janet, you should also point her to the Basenji Club of America site www.basenji.org and then she can go to the health section …. read more about health concerns in Basenjis

If you go to Omaha Vaccine site… and then seach for 3V caps you can find these... I am fairly sure it is the same thing that is being talked about... they are prettty cheap on here.... and I know from experience, buying from the Vet the price is "really" pushed up.....

My vet told me I could give a whole benadryl tablet for his seasonal allergies. I sometimes give him half a tablet and hide it in some cream cheese. I boiled a chicken leg with some rice, carrots and green beans. His stool seems to be getting better since I gave him 1/2 an immodium last night.

he's allergic to corn, peas, chicken, soy, the list continues so it's hard.

Very happy to hear the great news. Keep strong and healthy Rocket!

Sometimes there's a loose baby tooth in there rattling around and he may be trying to get rid of it.