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The end might be near. Wobbly and not eating.

Basenji Health Issues & Questions
  • She needs to go to the vet now. We had this happen to our 16 y/o Rory about 4 weeks ago. She was 4 days at Tufts animal hospital. They were able to stabilize her and give her fluids and supportive care. She was able to come home, but we have to hydrate her with iv solutions daily, and she is on several other medications. We try to daily access her condition, we don't want her to suffer. Will be sending healthy thoughts your way.

  • Please, please take him to the vet straight away. Let us know how you get on. Loving and healing thoughts to Senji.

  • It could be the end, or simple dehydration from the diarrhea. The vet will know.

  • He still seems to be a little wobbly, but a lot better than this morning. I think it might be something neurological, or maybe he's losing his vision. He's mostly deaf anyway. It seems like shadows freak him out. His tummy seems to be really upset. Not sure if he ate something strange. He finally ate a little bit of chicken breast, but then he wanted to go outside, where he ate a bunch of grass. And he ate a scrambled egg just now. It just seems like something is really making him dizzy. Might be a combination of tummy troubles and an inner ear problem. The vet's office never called me back. I have to work tomorrow. Mom's going to keep and eye on him, and another friend is coming over.

  • Find a new vet…..

  • … And get to one real soon, IMO, I wouldn't wait

  • Thanks to everyone for showing concern for my boy! All your prayers and positive vibes must've helped. :) He seems to be recovering from whatever he had. I suspect he must've ingested something toxic or funky for him to get that sick. His appetite seems to be back, and he had a good BM. He was running around like a pup when I took him out. Senji is kind of "canis non grata" at the vet's office. He tries to bite everybody and needs to be muzzled when he goes. I didn't want to put him through that. It just stresses him out to the max. I was hoping I wouldn't have to take him, and that all this would clear up on its own. These dogs are amazing, aren't they? I want to apologize for overreacting.

  • Do you have any choice of vets in your area? Perhaps a change of scene might improve his attitude. (has he always been bad at the vet, or did some incident bring this on?) Or can you get a mobile vet who will come to your home? I understand your concern over stressing him further, but it is worrisome not being able to get help when you need it.

  • I think you underreacted, not over reacted. He should have been at the vet immediately, even if you had to go to a new vet. Luckily he improved, but that was luck. Please, please promise that you will make the decision to get any sick pet to the vet immediately when they appear that sick– not wait to see if they recover on their own.

  • @eeeefarm:

    Do you have any choice of vets in your area? Perhaps a change of scene might improve his attitude. (has he always been bad at the vet, or did some incident bring this on?) Or can you get a mobile vet who will come to your home? I understand your concern over stressing him further, but it is worrisome not being able to get help when you need it.

    I would agree with this statement. Kananga hated going to the vet until we switched to a different one. The vet we've gone to for the past couple years has been really great with him. They're a lot more progressive with the way they handle dogs. More specifically understanding when a dog is upset/anxious and using calming techniques to help make them be comfortable instead of simply resorting to restraining.

    You'd be surprised how much of a difference there is between certain vets.

  • @Kananga:

    I would agree with this statement. Kananga hated going to the vet until we switched to a different one. The vet we've gone to for the past couple years has been really great with him. They're a lot more progressive with the way they handle dogs. More specifically understanding when a dog is upset/anxious and using calming techniques to help make them be comfortable instead of simply resorting to restraining.

    You'd be surprised how much of a difference there is between certain vets.

    I agree, my old boy OJ hated his first Vet and had bad experiences there since they (the entire practice) really didn't like Basenjis. We changed Vets (when he was 3 1/2) and he was a lamb… he loved all his new Vets and Vet Techs for the remainder of his 17+ yrs.

  • The vet thinks that he may have had a small stroke or spinal stroke. Due to his liver disease, I really didn't want him to be anesthetized for an MRI or CT scan. Senji doesn't seem to be in any pain at this time. He's able to jump up on the sofa and is eating and drinking pretty well now. He seems to walk at a bit of a diagonal sometimes and loses his balance a little when he lifts his leg. Otherwise, he seems to be able to run and climb around the neighborhood hills fairly well. In July, we think he may have gotten shocked when he chewed through an electrical cord. We think he may have had a small stroke from that too. He started to get spooked from shadows after that happened. Senji is going to be 16 at the end of this month. 5 years ago, he was diagnosed with severe liver disease. The vet didn't think he'd live more than a year. Here he is…4 years past his expiration date! He's had a good life. He eats good, mostly organic food, drinks filtered water, and gets lots of walks every day. As long as he's not in any pain or losing bladder and bowel function, I'm fine with the way he is. The vet just recommends palliative care at this point.

17/17

5 Dec 2011, 05:05

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    I'll just add this in case the testing doesnt give you answers. Anorexia exits. Although nearly ALL cases of dogs who do not want food has an underlying medical cause. But some dogs simply have anorexia. There are drugs that work very good for it..At one point they stopped making one type so we had so we had to switch. They increased Sayblees aggression. So from then on i handfed her. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/anorexia-in-dogs
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    I mix a little pumpkin into my B's food several times a week. Most dogs like it, and it's good for their digestive track. I buy organic when it's available, but you can always find Libby's 100% pure pumpkin (no sugar) and it's often on sale for $1 a can. The OP hasn't returned, so I hope that's a sign that the sick little guy is doing better.
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    Hi Shelley – Poppy did the same when she was a puppy with her own and the other dogs offerings but she has grown out of it now with the exception of rabbit droppings and as Scott says cat droppings which most dogs seem to find irresistible!. We have been feeding Royal Canin with no problems, so it may not be down to that. It may be a family trait! Steve.
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    @kipper: Thank you to everyone for the great advice! Kipper is our second Basenji and the thought of loosing him at such a young age is horrific to us. Kip is currently taking metronidazole twice a day. I know the med does make him tired, but it's supposed to help get rid of his virus that in turn will bring back his appetite. I have tried all his favorites like cheese, sour cream and even homemade waffles. His diet is meat twice a day and free feeding of high quality kibble. The vet is very knowledgeable about Falconi and says all his levels are were they should be and the bicarb is all he needs. We will take Kip in again in 3 months for another blood test. Thanks again! Anna I don't want to doubt your Vet, But honestly, I find that hard to believe that he only needs Bicarb and not any of the Vitamins that are recommended in the protocol. If it were my dog, I would contact Dr. Gonto who developed the Protocol and run it by him and he is happy to talk to owners with Fanconi (it is Fanconi, not Falconi) about treatment along with conversations with your Vet. Also Thyroid testing is important for a dog with Fanconi. This would be the fill panel not just the one T4 level that are shown on regular blood work. Dr Gonto's contact info can be found at the bottom of the Fanconi Protocol information http://www.basenji.org/ClubDocs/fanconiprotocol2003.pdf Also you might want to consider joining the Fanconi Yahoo group for people with Fanconi affected dogs. They would also be able to give you good ideas since they are all dealing with dogs with Fanconi. It is a closed group for only people with affected dogs. If he was eating before the metronidazole then hopefully when he is done with that he will begin eating again.
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    My Basenjis do eat acorns with no effect at all. I do find that mine seem to know what they can and can't eat. I suppose each generation has learned from the last. Puppies of course have to be watched (like human babies) because they'll chew anything. Incidentally when I was a child (a very,very long time ago) i too used to eat acorns, - again with no ill effects!
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    How is Cody?