Health Information for New Basenji Owners

[tanza]

@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.

[Guest]

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

[kimyko]

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.

[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! :)

[tanza]

@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

[lisastewart]

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.

[kimyko]

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!

[kimyko]

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

[Chealsie508]

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

[curt12345]

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.