Just keep an open mind but go with what you think is best for you and Oakley. Living in RI most of us here try to avoid Ocean State if at all possible. It tends to be more about the money then the animals, That's not referring to the specific doctor is just how a lot of us in RI feel about Ocean State as a whole. Please let me know how you guys make out no matter what you decide 
I do know the stigma of OSVS…which is why when Oakley needed to be hospitalized for the xylitol I chose It's sister hospital, baystate vet hospital and found they are friendlier and less expensive but also have the time moreso than OSVS whose facility is geared towards emergency med on a larger scale..But I figured their specialists would be different and if nothing else I've heard from many that Dr.Aubin is wonderful. I do however really like Dr. Abrams resume and his family practice is enticing. I think their resumes stand up to each other and the distance/time is about equal so it may come down to cost... I like to have options rather than settling for what I can find. Tomorrow I'll be able to better tell, appreciate the advice and will update tomorrow with more info.
Thanks again everyone
…so I got to talk to dr. Abram and also really like the staff that I got to speak with, and since I wouldn't be able to speak with Dr.Aubin I felt much more comfortable with going with Abrams optomologists practice, on the upside the exam is a little less coming in at 155$. The extra money practically pays for his frontline ( this years Mosquitos and ticks are AWFUL since we didn't get a deep freeze this winter). Another plus is I was able to get an appointment this Friday which so happens to be on my day off. Appreciate the advice Sonnyboy, I'll throw dr. Abram a hello from Sonny! Definitely more excited to get a personal feel where I might like the practice enough to continue maintenance eye exams there.
Sounds like a good plan Chealsie508…. still high compared to California where everything is totally higher in price... Our CERF exam last year was 58.00 for each bitch...
But then our hips/elbows/thyroid just done Sunday was 385.00 for each... that did include the OFA fees and also the fact that is was with a mobile Vet on the Show Grounds and on a Sunday... and done "natural"... in the end I didn't have to pay for sedation so it works out to about the same price considering.
When people think that "health testing" or just keep proper upkeep on any dog is a cheap proposition.. they are totally mistaken. The price of the pup to begin with is the cheapest.. when you think about it
Oof, even at 58$ I'm sure we still make out better by average $/ regular maintenance fees…I guess I don't bat an eye at the cost because "it is what it is", for me it's like gas, no use in ranting about it since it won't change the fact that it needs to get done.! Glad I can get it done Friday so we can go for a long jog beforehand go wear him out a little more.
And so this is what forums should be about. Helping each other help our dogs. Now we just have to wait to hear how it goes!
I hear that….
I'm so glad you got to speak with him directly…When he gave me Sonny's PRA diagnosis and I fell apart in his office he was so sweet and comforting to me. Good luck on Friday and I know Oakley will be in good hands
Today Oakley and I went to the opthamoligists and he was diagnosed with corneal dystrophy. It usually presents with opaque or cloudy spots and while he only has it in one pupil the doctor said its likely he will get in in the other eye. The spots are actually cholesterol deposits, Good news is that it's never been shown to cause blindness an the dr said its not affecting his vision and is causing no pain. The downside is that the deposits can get gritty causing irritation and then I'll have to use a lacrilube. Overall he said it is fairly common in our breed and they don't know the cause of it but it had a good prognosis.
Glad I have an answer and it will just be something to keep an eye on.
Peace of mind
I have not heard that it was a big problem in our breed? Maybe in certain bloodlines and maybe because a certain bloodline might be concentrated on the East Coast it is more widely seen by some Vets. It is considered genetic but in our breed due to the incident being low (as far as I know) there has not been a lot of study.
However, goes to show that health testing is important and even for pet owners Eye Exams are importand as is reporting the results to breeders.
Question for Oakley… was a CERF done? Reason that I ask is that ACVO does keep records of eye disorders by breed.
Glad you found a specialist you like. And got a good prognosis! Oakley is lucky to have such a devoted mom.
We have a big expensive vet specialty place here but when Nicky had corneal ulcers, we we're told we could either go there or to a Dr. Wolf, former professor, now semi-retired, very small practice, ophthalmology for animals only. OMG he was wonderful and much less expensive than the 'Taj Mahal" of vet practices. Best was that he was so wonderful with Nicky. Finding him was a miracle, and we have referred several other people to him.
Love word of mouth references from satisfied customers.
Pat, according to the opthamoligists his exact words were, the basenji is one of the breeds more prone to corneal dystrophy…. I asked of it was genetic and he said it could be but there really isn't a definitive answer. In Oakleys case he didn't think it was but he did say it starts showing up around his age (16months), if so he would have classified it as corneal degeneration.
He didn't get a CERF exam but can I still submit the information to the database? They did the same tests as te CERF so I bet I could get the dr. to write up a CERF if I have to...
It is really important that people do the official CERF exam because that is how we get our statistics about eye anomalies. The CERF data we have does not support your opthamologist's claim that corneal dystrophy is something basenjis are prone to, with only 2.6% of exams showing corneal dystrophy. If he is seeing dogs with this but because they are not having CERF exams the data is submitted then there is no way for the fancy to know it is an issue.
From the BCOA Health Pages:
Corneal Dystrophy
Epithelial/stromal corneal dsytrophy occurs occasionally in about 2.6% of Basenjis with CERF exams (using 2006 statistics.) This is a condition where the cornea becomes clouded. It is believed to have a hereditary component, but does not normally compromise vision.
For the Owner
I'm so glad to hear that Oakley is okay and that his vision is not impacted! I don't know much about corneal dystrophy, but it sounds like it won't create a problem for him.
Ironically, I found all vet care cheaper in CA. Office visits, tests, x-rays are all more expensive in TN than in CA. There were so many vets in LA that the prices were more competitive. Spencer's blood tests and gases are twice as high here, and I can only get the blood gases done at UT. At least it isn't far!
Lisa, I'll have to call on Monday to see if he can write up the CERF because he did all the same tests during the exam, no PPM just the corneal dystrophy in the left eye. Hopefully they'll just write it up, charge me of necessary but i hope they don't need to see him again since they just saw him Friday…It's a drive, plus my schedule doesn't necessarily match the hours of the clinic but I do want the results posted. It may just be that opthamoligists sees a higher incidence in the patients he sees, not sure. No matter what, I'm jut happy it's diagnosed, its manageable and most thankful it won't impair his vision.
Our ophthalmologist, Dr. Wolf, relayed to us that he was at a conference and there was a big discussion about 4 breeds of dogs who were very slow to heal. I can't remember the others, but one of the 4 was the basenji. Nicky had a deep pitted abrasion/injury that took about 4 months to heal, required 2 debridements, but eventually healed perfectly. A year later she had another smaller abrasion, that is when he told us about the discussion at the conference. No one knew why those particular breeds eyes healed slowly, all agreed that quality of the final healing was not impacted, just the time it took to get there!
I found that very interesting, another unique quality of our breed.
That's probably why it takes so long for the fur to heal back when they get scratched an the scab comes off, I always notice on Oakley for at least a month or two, never happened with my other dogs ( although they had hair not fur)
So the last few days since the doctors I've been contemplating whether I should be switching Oakley to a low fat diet. In the research I've been doing it seems that many say that you should lower the fat/cholesterol but when I asked the opthamoligists at the appointment if I should consider changing foods (currently feed Fromms) he said it wasn't necessary. Id like to get opinions from those who know about corneal dystrophy or those who have dogs with it. Currently Oakley gets a cup and a half total a day in 2 feedings but the last two month I've been going him a bully stick a day as well from best bullysticks.com
Thanks
Personally, I would just watch it and avoid higher cholesterol treats like beef liver. That was the recommendation of the specialist I went to, and she has a lot of experience with basenjis (not that it is a basenji thing, necessarily). I really didn't change the food too much and it didn't seem to get worse over the several years that Nemo had it. He had the deposits on both eyes right in the center of the cornea. It never seemed to be an issue for him.
Anyone else have any advice on switching Oakleys food to a lower fat?? Still really thinking about it…he gets a mix of Fromms with a current protein %33 and fat content of 21%.... It's listed as a 5star food but also as having higher than average protein and fat content...that coupled with his one bully stick a day (my only moment of peace!) and treats..I feel like I may be tipping the scales with the fat....I could but down the bully sticks to one every other day and maybe look for low fat treats ( currently gets Fromms cookies,Dry cCloud Star sweet potato buddy biscuits and cloud star soft and chewy cookies...I vary his treats for different activities)
Thanks nemo...I'll keep that in mind during my research!
