Skip to content

How to test, exactly…

Basenji Health Issues & Questions
  • Forgive me if this question has been answered elsewhere…but I ordered some Diastix and will begin to test my 1 1/2 year old B for fanconi. Does anyone have any tips for getting the urine sample? I have read that you need to place the test strip in the flow of urine - I cannot imagine my boy standing still for that!! LOL! Any advice would be most welcome!

  • Straighten out a wire hanger and make a loop at the end to hold a small plastic/paper cup. You can then stick the cup into stream. I've done that several times to get urine samples.

  • We have a long ladle, but if you aren't short (like my 5 ft daughter) you can attack it to a wooden handle or something to make it longer.

  • Medjai stretches out to pee and doesn’t care who moves around him, he just keeps going, so I can get real close without fright of getting peed on.

  • @bewler:

    Forgive me if this question has been answered elsewhere…but I ordered some Diastix and will begin to test my 1 1/2 year old B for fanconi. Does anyone have any tips for getting the urine sample? I have read that you need to place the test strip in the flow of urine - I cannot imagine my boy standing still for that!! LOL! Any advice would be most welcome!

    Have you had the DNA swab test for Fanconi done? If you have not, you might be able to avoid testing if he is Clear or Carrier.

  • @ Tanza:

    I thought that even if you had that test, you still had to do monthly checks. Am I incorrect? Cody is my first B so I am new to all of this.
    And thanks to everyone for your help!!!

  • If the test comes back carrier or clear, there is no testing required as your dog won’t get it. Also, I think 18 moths is a little early to test anyway as Fanconi wouldn’t develop that soon. It is great that you’re vigilant in trying to do the best for you dog though. Keep learning and having fun.

  • @bewler:

    @ Tanza:

    I thought that even if you had that test, you still had to do monthly checks. Am I incorrect? Cody is my first B so I am new to all of this.
    And thanks to everyone for your help!!!

    Nope, if the test comes back Clear or Carrier, then you should not have to test, also if you do have to test, recommended is usually 2 1/2 to 3yrs old

  • Thanks so much Michael & Pat!

    I can do the DNA test now, at 18 months, correct?

    I did read that you don't need to strip test until 2 years old, but I remember reading somewhere that there have been cases of Basenji's getting it earlier. I think I may be an over-protective Basenji mom! LOL! I hope this box of Diastix will keep - I think i ordered a jumbo box - yikes!

    I really appreciate your taking the time to answer my questions - as Michael said, I Am trying to do the best for my little guy. I might a little over-zealous, though! :)

  • They can be tested at 4wks, so yes he can be tested now… it is just a cheek swab that you order at www.offa.org (and for more info on the test and fanconi www.basenjihealth.org)

    The box will come with an expiration date, but if opened, they will only last about six months.

  • This is why I love this board - you guys are SO helpful! THANKS!!!!

  • It has been a while since I have been on here but I would like to correct some of the advice given here.

    If your dog has tested as a CARRIER, and has come from untested dogs, or ANY breeding that could produce an AFFECTED, YES YES YES you need t strip test your dog.

    There have been 5 (this might be 4) dogs that have tested multiple times as a Carrier, but are AFFECTED. They were from untesteds or from breedings that could have produced an Affected.

    The only way to be able to catch Fanconi as soon as the dog starts to spill is to test. The earilest I have heard of spilling is 2.5 years of age.

    Also, pups can be tested as early as 2 weeks of age, I have done this and their was more than enough DNA for the tests to be ran.

  • Can someone post the brand/type of test strlps needed to use for testing? thx

  • I saw a recommendation for these on the BBR list. I bought something similar looking at the drug store a year or so ago but have not recently.

    http://www.craigmedical.com/urine_diagnostics.htm

    Edit: It was the 10 parameter strips.

  • You do not need the full strips unless you are checking for other things. Just make sure you get the strips that test for glucose not ketones!

    You can buy Bayer Diastix or Bayer Clinistix for strictly glucose urine testing.

    Jennifer

Suggested Topics

  • Test Results

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    26
    0 Votes
    26 Posts
    16k Views
    DebraDownSouthD
    Kathy, I sure didn't mean to indicate it isn't a godsend or fantastic! Of course it is. I just meant… well as the Arabs say, Trust in G-d but tie your camel. Get the testing, use it to help guide breeding, retest if necessary, but keep doing the strip test. It's an easy if annoying process that protects your dog against testing errors or human errors.
  • When to test?

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    4
    0 Votes
    4 Posts
    2k Views
    tanzaT
    @AC~Akeyla: I was wondering when we should have our 1 year old B's checked for Fanconi? For some reason I thought they had to be a certain age. And what is the best way to go about getting them tested? And you are most likely thinking of the urine test strips, which was the only way to detect Fanconi before the DNA Test that is now widely used. Since Fanconi is a late onset, usually it was recommended that Basenjis be strip test with urine test strips beginning no later then age 3 (and tested once a month, every month). If you have a Basenji that DNA tests for Affected, then you still will need to start testing them monthly no later then age 3.
  • What Exactly Do i Need to Do?

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    13
    0 Votes
    13 Posts
    5k Views
    khanisK
    We did the puppies at 3 wks of age. They would like the babes to be off momm for at least a few hours. I did mine overnight to be sure the only DNA in the mouth was their own. With adults, doing it right when they wake up is the best way to go. Let hte FTA card dry an hour + then package and mail. Do NOT send blood samples for the Fanconi test. You will be asked to order a swab if you do. They are running all the fanconi tests [on live dogs] on swabs ONLY. Jon has requested this via several lists.
  • Thyroid Testing…

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    4
    0 Votes
    4 Posts
    1k Views
    sabaS
    Thanks once again Tanza ;). Again I will have to wait for this test to be done… Khani's, our dogs first birthday pressie was info on how to be a good doggie, and follow all the rules Mummy has laid down for them ;););)... I cant believe that they wont follow the manual...
  • DNA Testing

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    5k Views
    tanzaT
    @wizard: I've looked at that website but still don't understand the reason behind doing this test. It doesn't check for genetic defects just parentage. It seems it undeniably verifies parentage, but isn't that what the AKC registration does? There must be something I'm missing. It is to prove parentage… as you could put any name of any dog on a set of papers and sent them it.... which in cases of Puppy Millers and some BYB's that is was was being done..... so the parents were NOT the parents of a given puppy. If you read the minutes each month on the AKC site (Secretary's page) you can see how many litter registrations were reversed "due" to DNA parentage.
  • Fanconi Test

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    4
    0 Votes
    4 Posts
    2k Views
    QuercusQ
    @etzbseder: Thanks, I've seen that before, but forgot about it. After looking at that, it shows that my answer would be: Clear pups ONLY means that neither parent is affected, and that does not change with multiple clear pups. The only thing that shows any determination of the parents is a test of the parent themselves (or if their grandparents are clear). correct. The more clear pups (with no affecteds or carriers) you had from the breeding of the same two animals, the more LIKELY it is that the parents are clear…but it certainly would not be a for sure.