New to forum worried about my baby

[Isabob]

I have a year and a half basenji , when I got him at 8wks he was very petite ,he goes to the vet often, and she can't find anything wrong with him, but he almost looks emaciated, is that normal for a very, very active basenji. He has a bowl of food available all the time, and he eats it. He always seems hungry for treats of any kind. I am not sure what to do . He also has something the vet says she never saw before, it is an elongated dry red spot on his tummy in the area of his naval. It gets lighter and then darker switching back and forth. If someone has ever encountered these problems I would appreciate some feedback thanks so much.

[2baroos]

Have you had him dewormed?

[eeeefarm]

What kind of food are you offering? Personally I don't believe in free feeding. Better to feed what he will clean up, 2 or 3 times a day. Is there water always available? They will not eat a lot of dry food if they don't have free access to water. I have no idea about the red spot. Is it some kind of rash, or just colouration?

[Isabob]

He has been dewormed and is current on all medical. The vet doesn't seem to think he has anything physical wrong, but she is not familiar with the basenji breed. I sent a picture to his breeder and she also thinks he is to thin. She has been trying to help me figure it out long distance.

[tanza]

I don't agree with free feeding either… picture of the "red" spot might help us see what is going on, but typically I would guess yeast infection... What color is he? Have you talked to his breeder? That should be your first course of action

[Isabob]

Are you saying that I should just pick his food up and let him have access to it a few times a day, I feed him Pet Smart authority lamb and rice. I also feed him a couple tablespoons of canned food a day ,he also gets training treats and other treats. I am going to try the vet again to see if he has lost any more weight. He lost a few oz. the last few times I have had him to the vet. He is very hyper active as I guess most Basenji's are. I tried to send a pic. of him with my first message but have a hard time figuring the photo page out. I am communicating with his breeder long distance I text her a pic. of him and she also thinks he looks thin. She is trying to help figure it out.

[eeeefarm]

@Isabob:

Are you saying that I should just pick his food up and let him have access to it a few times a day,

I put out fresh food in an amount that my boy will eat immediately and he cleans it up in a minute or two. Is your dog anorexic? Active Basenjis normally have a good appetite and will eat themselves fat if given the opportunity. Have you tried feeding a different food? One that doesn't have corn in the ingredients? And when you say he is hyper active, I am wondering if he is abnormally so. Most Basenjis will calm down and relax after they have had sufficient exercise.

[tanza]

You might want to try a better quality of food and try grain free… many dogs don't really do well on lamb.... I love Fromm's Surf and Turf

[Isabob]

@tanza:

You might want to try a better quality of food and try grain free… many dogs don't really do well on lamb.... I love Fromm's Surf and Turf

I think It may be owner error , When everyone started throwing questions at me I got to thinking about his eating habits, he does eat his food but I wondered if he was eating enough as he has gotten a lot of treats through out the day, for doing good things, maybe to many which have no nutrition to speak of. So I have cut back on them, and since he would rather have them then his food. I give him some canned food with the hard food and he thinks it is a treat. So hope this works. I think I can tell a difference already or maybe it is wishful thinking. We are still taking a trip to the vet also, to check on red dry spots on his tummy. So thanks for all the input it has helped me think more clearly on this.

[tanza]

Red spots could be yeast infection, quite common in all dogs… and I would still recommend a better quality food, grain free

[agilebasenji]

@Isabob:

I think It may be owner error , When everyone started throwing questions at me I got to thinking about his eating habits, he does eat his food but I wondered if he was eating enough as he has gotten a lot of treats through out the day, for doing good things, maybe to many which have no nutrition to speak of. So I have cut back on them, and since he would rather have them then his food. I give him some canned food with the hard food and he thinks it is a treat. So hope this works. I think I can tell a difference already or maybe it is wishful thinking. We are still taking a trip to the vet also, to check on red dry spots on his tummy. So thanks for all the input it has helped me think more clearly on this.

For my picky eaters, i find if i can get them started eating, they will usually clean their plate. So my current teenage boy (Silken windhound) gets dry food with some canned to entice him.

[DebraDownSouth]

@eeeefarm:

Active Basenjis normally have a good appetite and will eat themselves fat if given the opportunity.

Would it were so. I know many like my first and 3rd who eat only to stay alive. I ALWAYS ALWAYS believed that picky eaters are made, not born. Sayblee proved me wrong by reaching skeletal range.. massive testing.. nothing. We started her on cyproheptadine, no problems from then on. Now, Cara also a problem.

I do agree with everyone though… free feeding is rarely good and never with a problem eater. And that higher quality food is very good. They need less to get far better nutrition.