Skip to content

Health Information for New Basenji Owners

Pinned Basenji Health Issues & Questions
  • Can anyone point me to research regarding fanconi testing accuracy?

  • @DebraDownSouth:

    Can anyone point me to research regarding fanconi testing accuracy?

    I don't know where published results are, but I e-mailed OFA to ask a while back. I was told that it's 98% accurate. I know there have been incidences, including on this forum, where owners were told that their tests were redone and they got different results back. I thought in those cases, it wasn't the test itself that was deemed inaccurate but something in the lab process that went wrong.

  • Ty, I guess I'll write OFA. Anyone who had test redone, obviously must have been a positive or would have retested. So a few false positives. Still, worthy test.

  • Thank you so much for this thread. It's been so long since I've been owned by a B–I have a ton to catch up on.

    Within the next 3 paychecks I will will be ordering a test for Nayru. She's spayed but I want to make sure I know what to watch out for in case she's positive for Fanconi's.

    I do have a question (and I haven't searched the forums yet so I'll go do that first. LOL) I'll be back if I don't find my answer.

  • @lvoss:

    I agree that it is very important that any dog from untested parents should be tested using the DNA Marker Test for Fanconi.

    I just also want everyone to know that there are other heritable diseases in basenjis that can also effect their quality of life and can lead to disasterous outcomes for the dog if not diagnosed and treated. Untreated hypothyroidism can lead to seizures, cartiledge breakdown, and other preventable problems. Blind dogs often become confused and scared when furniture is suddenly rearranged and they can not navigate areas that were once familiar to them.

    We have a marker test for Fanconi because of dedicated breeders and owners. It is also because of the willingness of so many in the basenji community who submitted not only blood samples for DNA extraction but also detailed health surveys and health records for the dogs they submitted that researchers are interested in working with us to find markers for other diseases. The more each of us does to collect information on our own dogs and keep the information in the Canine Phenome Project up to date the closer we can come to having markers for the other diseases found in the breed.

    Can you please supply a link to where and how we can check and rule out Fanconi in our Basenji? thanks in advance.

  • @Buddys:

    Can you please supply a link to where and how we can check and rule out Fanconi in our Basenji? thanks in advance.

    www.offa.org

    You can search by name, as long as you know the registered name, but some people tested litters so registered names are not there… in some cases the AKC litter number might be there....

  • @tanza:

    www.offa.org

    You can search by name, as long as you know the registered name, but some people tested litters so registered names are not there… in some cases the AKC litter number might be there....

    I adopted him without any papers. The owner promised to send me the AKC papers, but never did…...I just want to find out if Uzie has the gene and/or propensity for Fanconi. Is this what I am supposed to do when he is about two years old? I need to know if he carries the gene and will get the disease. I still am a little confused....

  • @Buddys:

    I adopted him without any papers. The owner promised to send me the AKC papers, but never did…...I just want to find out if Uzie has the gene and/or propensity for Fanconi. Is this what I am supposed to do when he is about two years old? I need to know if he carries the gene and will get the disease. I still am a little confused....

    You need to order and do the test. It is a cheek swab that you order from OFA. Since he is a rescue, then you can just make up a registration number and use his call name as the registered name. Price of the test is 65.00.

    Here is the link: http://www.offa.org/dnatesting/fanconi.html

    Then click on the Order OFA DNA Test, scroll down to the Fanconi DNA and then click to add to your shopping cart

    Again since a rescue, just fill in the blanks as best as possible.

  • Fantastic information! Ill print this list out for the timeframe info.

  • After doing Urine Test Strip tests for years, we had the Fanconi DNA test done on our girl. Now, she is a rescue dog (from an abusive puppy mill situation >:( grrr), and is fixed, but I was wanting to not have to do the urine test every month for the rest of her life, especially since we can no longer get the test strips locally.
    The test came back as "carrier," but not as "affected." According to the data included, the disease will never manifest and I no longer have to do the test strips. I am wondering if anyone else is in this situation. I want to trust what the paper said, but I am thinking of doing the urine test periodically anyway - is this overkill?
    Thank you for any responses.

  • Well, I've just read through some more information (sorry, I'm not that experienced at forums (I haven't even been on here in a loooong time!) and my first search confused me).
    So, people are generally still strip-testing frequently after having the test done, it seems. My girl is 8 1/2, I'll keep on keeping on! :)

  • @kimyko:

    Well, I've just read through some more information (sorry, I'm not that experienced at forums (I haven't even been on here in a loooong time!) and my first search confused me).
    So, people are generally still strip-testing frequently after having the test done, it seems. My girl is 8 1/2, I'll keep on keeping on! :)

    If they are tested with the Direct test and they are Clear or Carrier, no need to strip test

  • I do not strip test, we have the results from the direct test, the dogs status is not going to change. Next step is to get your PRA DNA test to find out if your dogs is at risk of blindness.

  • Oh that's good to know - thank you! Here are her results - is this the direct test?

    http://www.offa.org/display.html?appnum=1555268#animal

    I will get the other test done as well - thank you all so much for the information!

  • Okay - I've just read that all tests done after a certain date are direct… woo!! Thank you all so much!

  • It is the direct test and you do not need to retest with strips. Congrats on not being affected

  • Out of Africa, the Basenji dog breed was originally found in the Congo. He uses both scent and sight to hunt and was originally used to flush small game into a hunter's nets and to control village rodent populations.

Suggested Topics

  • Basenjis and their nails...

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    18
    3 Votes
    18 Posts
    2k Views
    ZandeZ
    @sanjibasenji My saw is getting blunt ! I had a job sawing up yesterday's bone into manageable pieces ! But they do last weeks, sometime months.
  • Sick Basenji

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    10
    0 Votes
    10 Posts
    4k Views
    O
    Yes, Spencer is much better now, but he is still very thin. He lost six pounds. Even strong antibiotics cannot fight a severe abscess. I'm sure your vet found and resolved the problem under anesthesia, so that should put Egyn over the hump. SubQs and a few weeks of antiobiotics will hopefully get him back on the road to health. I had to feed Spencer critical care dog food through a syringe for several days after the surgery, then make him special soft food– the aforementioned meatballs-- for weeks after that. Good luck to you-- and positive thoughts to Egyn!
  • My basenji

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    10
    0 Votes
    10 Posts
    2k Views
    nobarkusN
    @snorky998: Were you thinking of Vestibular syndrome, Dan? http://www.basenjiforums.com/showthread.php?t=8577&highlight=vestibular+syndrome That's it Snorky!! :D
  • Those Basenji ears?!?

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    8
    0 Votes
    8 Posts
    3k Views
    BarklessdogB
    Our red girl dog has the same problem. Freaks out when you touch her ears with a swab, but loves the inside of her ears rubbed when petting her. You know the two handed ear & cheek rub. That gave me an idea!. I found some real soft white - tight gardening gloves (unused), gave her an ear massage and cleaned her ears out. it worked well. I was extra careful not to push the dirt down her ears, but did kind of a wiping motion out and away from her inner ears. She loved it!
  • Contemplative new owner

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    31
    0 Votes
    31 Posts
    13k Views
    tanzaT
    I agree Robyn, there is lots of mis information about Basenjis on some site out there but there are also sites that have the correct information. On think too is that many people will "read" only what they want to hear… but I am glad that she at least call to talk to someone that has them and also made that visit. When I get inquiries I always tell people, Please visit in person with Basenjis.....
  • Sick Basenji

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    9
    0 Votes
    9 Posts
    4k Views
    B
    An update on Ben's condition. He had his teeth cleaned this morning and the vet had to remove several teeth. A large tooth in the back of the mouth had a cavity that went all the way to the root. He never lost his appetite during the whole ordeal or seemed to have any sensetivity of his mouth. I hope this is the end of the suffering he was going through. He was a rescue dog so we don't have the previous owners records as to dental care he had in the past. You can be sure he will be monitored from here on out for any sign of tooth decay or tarter build up. Thanks to everyone who replyed to my inquiry on Basenji health.