@lustopher No ! they will gum them if they can't chew and it all helps with teething.

Not sure how Xylitol is being marketed. It is an alcohol found in a lot of plants, including birch wood, which is the source of Xylitol used in medicines. And it is toxic to dogs, even in small amounts. Most of the time you find it in sugarless gum and candy.

Here is an FDA warning "Paws Off Xylitol": https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/paws-xylitol-its-dangerous-dogs

Thanks for posting.

Hello,
I recommend reading:
Early Kidney Disease - Difficulty Getting Her to Eat
at https://basenjiforums.com/topic/15616/early-kidney-disease-difficulty-getting-her-to-eat/13
What may guide your path:
Kidney values relative to normal.
Is there proteinurea?
For homemade, read DogAware and accompanying websites.
Good luck!

@tanza Agreed ! I am quite appalled by the suggestion to let the dog put its head out of the window of a moving car ! Crate is essential if you are travelling with a dog. OR, if your car really won't accommodate one, some sort of secure harness.

Thank you everybody so much! I appreciate all the info. I had some vanilla Breyer's all natural and gave my guy a taste of that... boy does he seem to think that's a great treat! Obviously, though I don't want that to be the only thing I do. I'm going to follow up with our vet on getting a draw for the full thyroid panel at hemopet once next pay check comes through. You were right he was only checked for T4. Thank again basenji forums!

I was looking back at pics from when he was younger and weighed more. I think he's always been a bit taller than standard and had a little barrel chest. Used to call him a basenji bouncer at the dog park. He was all about playing with the labs, pits and other big dogs - probably because he knew he could outrun them if they ever got too rough. He's much more about slow walks with me and lap snuggles these days ❤

I'm trying to keep up with comments directed towards me but I just want to thank everyone for your experiences and recommendations about food and everything else on this thread. I appreciate all of you!

I had a somewhat similar experience. Joey had a seizure which I correlate to taking Simparica. He looked terrible so took him to the vet when the first seizure happened and he was late Stage 2. Put him on Royal Canin kidney kibble and Hills kidney wet food and 4 years later he has only had 1 more seizure and his kidney values have remained constant. I will believe your homemade version is most likely better if you have the correct proportions. All the best to your Bs! Joey will be 15 in November.

8 mos old is still on Royal Canine medium size puppy as recommended by vet. Very interested in how you change up their food. Glad to hear that because I would like to change him from chicken based to something else as adult. Had always been advised not to keep changing food as it was hard on their system. Breeder advised to use high protein and fat dog food (60% protein, 30% fat). What is your opinion on this? I am starting to add 1/2 tsp coconut oil daily to dog food for winter feeding. Advised it had ingredients similar to mother's milk. What say you about this?

I know this topic is old, but I give my B freeze dried salmon bites as treats. I usually find them in the cat section

@mika said in Suddenly not eating raw food.:

I wonder how stubborn are other basenji

Just about 99.99% of them

Hello,
I think its all depend on dog's age. [deleted spam url]

Hello,
My pups love stella and chewy brand food.
But I never heard that they suffered from diarrhea coz of that food.
I will soon update you with some experiments.

Thank you.
[deleted spam URL]

@elbrant said in Brown rice versus White rice:

@redial said in Brown rice versus White rice:

Instead of rice, try barley.

hmmm.... I don't usually have barley in the pantry, but I'll give it a go.

Quick follow up: I made barley for the first time tonight... well, technically I made a Homemade Vegetable Barley Soup. The entire family chowed down and then doodle passed out for the night. 😉 I'm sure we will have Barley again (and I'm not just saying that because there's easily 4 servings left).

@tanza I don't generally buy bottled water, but I can see the benefit of using bottled water when traveling (or in areas where the water may present an issue). Great idea! Thank you!

BTW - kong toys come in different sizes - I can see the problem occurring if the wrong size if given to the wrong dog - I have never had any problems with my dogs using these (I would stuff peanut butter plus kibble in them)

My Basenji mix has been eating Orijen Original for over three years and his stool is normal. I can tell when he eats something different, (visiting relatives) because then his stool is soft and mushy and hard to pick up.

Orijen Original Ingredients

85%
POULTRY | FISH | EGG INGREDIENTS
15%
VEGETABLES | FRUIT | BOTANICALS
0%
GRAIN | POTATO | TAPIOCA | PLANT PROTEIN CONCENTRATES

@tanza I agree entirely ! I never minded plump puppies - but they need to achieve correct weight and maintain it through maturity and into old age ! I don't make any distinction between 'show weight' and anything else. A Basenji carrying too much weight is putting unnecessary strain on the organs and it is as harmful to them as to humans, for the same reasons.

I clouded up and rained all over my puppy people who allowed their Basenjis to put on too much weight.

I am still laughing about an incident after I judged in the Czech Republic - after the show I heard one exhibitor tell another 'my dog is not fat ! He is carrying too much weight !' Which is an expression I often use when judging - it conveys the message without offending the handler !

Condition is key - mine run free for miles most days and even my two current oldies are of correct weight and fit as fiddles - they are probably fitter than I am.

Logical, not "chicken little the sky is falling" thinking. Thanks DonC. I hate companies being gutted without evidence.

And I agree, if I had dogs - especially prone to the disorder -- on just grain-free, I might switch for added protection.