Skip to content
Basenji Forums
  1. Home
  2. Basenji Health Issues & Questions
  3. Older Basenji question

Older Basenji question

Basenji Health Issues & Questions
  • S

    Greetings to all Basenji fans,

    I have two older basenjis and the oldest (almost 16) has started a disturbing behavior. She circles as if she were going to lie down, but only sits for a moment and then starts over again. If she does lie down it is briefly. I don't think it is senility, because she has been blind for several years now and can still find her way around the house and land (2 acres), just very slowly.

    She isn't displaying any signs of discomfort, and doesn't mind being picked up.

    Any ideas?

    0
  • eeeefarmE

    I am scratching my head over this. You ruled out the two most obvious reasons…..senility and discomfort......that I can think of. Perhaps she is getting absent minded, like many of us who aren't quite to the stage of senility but do often forget what we were about to do. I can relate! :)

    "In order to get along with a Basenji, you have to be at least half as smart as the dog!"

    0
  • nobarkusN

    Welcome to the forum. Maybe it's just an older dog thing trying to get comfortable. Just curious when she last had a physical and blood work done?

    Buddy, Paolo and Dan

    0
  • S

    Could it be an ear issue? Glad you found us, I love the older b's…they are a treasure.

    Sharron Hurlbut

    BRAT, basenji rescue

    Evergreen basenji club

    Seattle Purebred Dog Rescue

    0
  • P

    My old girl although not senile does get confused at times and will keep circling and sitting until finally she does lie down. But she doesn't keep on for long - eventually settles to sleep.

    If this has suddenly come on I would suspect that she needs a veterinary visit.

    0
  • D

    Circling can be a symptom of a neurological problem. I would definitely have her thoroughly checked by a vet.

    Jennifer

    0
  • S

    Thanks for all the replies, she had a checkup about a month ago and the vet said she was (despite her age) in good shape. On the chance it could be aches and pains, since she's a pretty stoic dog, I gave her a tiny aspirin before bed and she's slept quietly two nights in a row. This might be the solution, but time will tell.

    I still believe she's got her wits about her, she usually acts confused only after it rains and her "map" of the property is erased. A day later, she's back to it.

    I'll keep you informed.

    0
  • bewlerB

    I have a 16 ear old border collie mix and she has begun to do the same thing in recent months. She has been checked by a vet as well. I think it's a combination of being a little less mentally acute and having more difficulty getting really comfortable. My girl is on daily rimadyl, but still suffers from aches and pains. In her case, it's nothing serious - just the stuff that comes with old old age. And I can so relate - I have to toss and turn a bit a night before I find the perfect position too!

    0
  • P

    Jewel (now 17) has homeopathic Rhus Tox - just one tablet a day and she and she seldom suffers aches now.

    0

Suggested Topics

  • A

    Age of your basenji?

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    42
    2 Votes
    42 Posts
    10k Views
    DebraDownSouthD
    Yeah you told me about that before and I'm clueless, but I'll try it if I need to, lol. could be the noise of occasional thump, could be they can hear it even tho we can't. My chow would be drooling buckets before we got a mile away. I just had to keep towels down and take off and bag along the trip. But I took her for a 7 hr trip to atlanta and she threw up and threw up, then stopped. Never threw up again. :( on your back. I had been getting radiofrequency ablations in the US, and they really helped. But doctors here will only do them once or twice. I have had at least 6 on one side, 3 on the other. :( But it's miraculous pain relief when it is done right. Maybe your dog acupuncturists knows of a human one they'd recommend?
  • R

    Sick Basenji :(

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    8
    0 Votes
    8 Posts
    5k Views
    P
    I too am sorry for not seeing this thread sooner and hopefully the poster will return. My Basenji had some teeth removed and the vet prescribed Carprofen as the follow up antibiotic. My Basenji turned out to be allergic to Carprofen which caused her liver to fail. I went through the same scenario you are describing. She gradually quit eating over the course of several days and then her water consumption started to go down. The eating had me worried since she had an excellent appetite upon return from the vet and the final purging of the anesthesia from her system. Nevertheless, her condition started to degrade. I followed her outside and watched her urinate. Her urine was a very bright yellow. I suspected then a liver issue. Once back inside she was shivering - off to the vet we went. LIver panel blood work up showed very high on specific indicators for failing liver. Vet prescribed Denamarin (containing SAM-e and silybin). SAM-e helps protect liver cells from cell death and aids in cell repair and regeneration. The Vet also started fluid injections. Fluid injections were everyday for two weeks. My Basenji showed a remarkable response to the fluid injections becoming much more her normal self even after the first day. She hated the injections and I could hear her cry when receiving them at the vet (believe me that will tear you up). But she was doing better and she (me) were going to have to tuff this out. Also a different antibiotic was prescribed to prevent liver infection during recovery. The Denamarin comes in dosages based on weight (medium for us). It is the size of a large human like solid oblong vitamin pill. Instructions want you to give it on an empty stomach and preferably not to cut it or place in something similar to a pill pocket however you can if necessary. My Basenji would not take that size (can't blame her). Cutting and disguising it did not work either. I was frantic and got the SAM-e in powder form. I couldn't slip her that either. All though some folks had success with peanut butter and liverwurst. I finally after three days had to have the vet pill her along with her fluid treatments. A week later another blood sample and her liver panel indicators were coming down. The pilling would last for a month and it took two people to get the pill down her. The important part is - she fully recovered from the liver failure. She is 13 1/2 yrs old. My experience after having 5 Basenjis is that the breed is sensitive to medications (anesthesia also). Many of the medications work just fine in most other breeds and mixes. The vet, if not that experienced with the Basenji, must be cautioned. Mine was not. Before accepting any medication have the vet go over any contraindications with you and to double check their resources for potential side effects when dealing with Basenjis. They may switch to something else if a medication has a bad track history with Basenjis. Know what to watch for should your Basenji start to react in a non-positive manner. The poster did not indicate if there were medications in play when the dog started showing degenerating conditions. I sincerely hopes this helps in some way and helps other Basenji owners
  • Q

    Two questions..

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    16
    0 Votes
    16 Posts
    13k Views
    Q
    Butu has shot up at least an inch since he was 5 months…
  • ComicDom1C

    Questions about Basenji Vision

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    4
    0 Votes
    4 Posts
    3k Views
    tanzaT
    @ComicDom1: The reason I asked the question is because I read a general article in regard to color and range of vision that dogs have. There seems to be some controversy in regard to near or far sighted conditions in dogs. One thing that most agreed to is that dogs have a wider field of vision that a human but also sees less color and suggest that a dogs vision is about 20 degrees off. So being a photographer, I would think that like a camera lens, that 20 degrees would certainly affect a dog depending on the distance to the object they are looking at. I did not look at articles for a long time but I did see it suggested that there may be some differences from breed to breed. I also did not see any information that was specifically related to hounds. Miranda and I did discover that there are two different type of PRA. Early onset that effects the dogs before the age of 2 and late onset affects the dogs between 4 and 6 years old. These are both genetic. The dog gradually goes blind and there is no treatment for this. It is painless for the dog and most go on to live long happy lives without their sight. Jason and Miranda And Basenji are in the "late" onset group. Sometimes as late as even 9 or 10… first clue usually to PRA is not being able to see at night...... There are a couple of breeds that they have DNA test for PRA, however not yet for the type Basenjis get. It is on the BCOA list of genetic tests we would like to see worked on...... Again, this is way it is important to have your B's eyes checked by a board certified Ophthalmolgist and one that is familar with Basenjis.
  • S

    Question

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    23
    0 Votes
    23 Posts
    13k Views
    S
    Oh, I am sorry about the loss of your b to cars. Sadly, when they get out, the are often not car smart. Hugs.
  • ZenGrrrlZ

    Homeopathy for Basenjis?

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    5
    0 Votes
    5 Posts
    2k Views
    MaxBooBooBearM
    Yes–I forgot that there are actually homeopathic vets available. We are so lucky here in the Bay Area--we have great vets, specialists and also UC Davis veterinary school/drs not too far away--and believe me--I have used all of these resources over the past 18 years.....