How old are the parents? If they are young-under 2 or 3, the owner is probably not even urine strip testing them for Fanconi Syndrome which is done monthly if the parents have not been DNA tested for Fanconi Syndrome. The average age for Fanconi Syndrome is 6-7 years old although there have been dogs as young as 3 being diagnosed. You need to read up on Fanconi Syndrome and other genetic diseases in Basenjis including eye problems, hypothyroidism, etc. If a dog has Fanconi Syndrome, it can never be cured of it only managed. I have taken care of 3 Fanconi Affecteds so far and my present girl is taking about 15 pills in addition to all the supplements I put in her food. The dog needs to drink lots of water and urinate a lot. It is a genetic kidney disorder and basically the dog urinates all its nutrients away and one must supplement with Sodium Bicarbonate and the nutrients. Here is the Fanconi Disease Management Protocol: http://basenjirescue.org/Fanconi/FanconiProtocol.pdf
If you have the pedigree you can look on the OFA website if the grandparents or other relatives have been tested for it or go to the Basenji Pedigree Database for related relatives. Some of us on this forum know of kennel lines and pedigrees that have Fanconi Syndrome in them. Do you have a pedigree for your puppy or know the grandparents?
There is no excuse for a breeder to breed Basenjis without being DNA tested for Fanconi Syndrome! The test costs only $75 dollars per dog. There is also no excuse for anyone to purchase a puppy without at least the parents being tested as it will only encourage these breeders to breed more untested pups in the future. I also have a problem with puppies and their parents not being eye tested since many of my rescues have had genetic eye problems at younger ages.
Jennifer
