Skip to content

1year10month old basenji

Basenji Health Issues & Questions
  • Hey guys,

    My almost 2 year old just had seizure last night. We aren't sure of the causes. He has comfy home, good food, and good dog friends to play with in our neighbourhood. We think it might have been stress or over excitement from the day he had with us going out. He was napping with us in bed when all of a sudden he started to convulse and twitch. We think he was dreaming about chasing or running. This quickly turned into his body freezing up, his eyes very dilated, all while a bit of drool came out. A second later he looked up at me and screamed a high pitched, shrill and loud, then fell off the bed somehow and proceeded to put himself in a corner. It took me about 20-25 minutes to calm him down, but all while he would bark at me anytime I spoke to him. I could see he was confused, frightened, and panicked. He lost a bit of bowel function and bladder control too. After managing to calm him down he walked around the apartment a bit, and finally came back to me. Sunday came around and he seemed almost back to normal, but he has shown more energy, alertness, and heightened sensitivity to seeing/ smelling dogs and squirrels. We are going to keep monitoring him, but will take him to the vet this week to run tests again. He has had one seizure previously back in april/may of this year, but last time his blood work all checked out and he was fine.

    Anyone else have these issues? So hard to see him go through that.

  • Did you take him to the Vet after it happened ?
    The longer they stay out the more brain damage can occur.
    Vet ASAP

  • Waiting to hear back from my vet at the moment for a booking.

  • Sadly most of the time, they don't know what causes seizures. Once you rule out him getting into mushrooms or licking frogs or chemicals used on the lawn or cleaning, when blood results are bad then you just work on controlling them. Once every 5 mos may not be frequent enough to medicate, but that's a discussion for you with your vet. I do know there are some good groups for people with dogs that seizure. Hopefully Pat or someone will post them.

    With seizures though, staying calm yourself and allowing him space and time to work it out on his own is probably less stressful for him than you trying to calm him. Talk normal, stay back, use a happy up tone and just wait til he orients.

  • Thanks for the advice debra, I appreciate it.
    I did just that on saturday night and made sure not to give him any reason to be worried. Took everything in me to remain calm and talk normally, while keeping my distance.

  • Ours had seizures at 7.5 and required Keppra and Phenobarbital. I would take this seriously and get the pup evaluated ASAP and on medication as each seizure can damage sight and brain cells.

Suggested Topics

  • 0 Votes
    9 Posts
    8k Views
    wizardW
    My Teddy had/has what I would call a rash as well. My vet said it is an allergy (he does occasionally lick his paws also) - at first he thought it was a food allergy but it would go away when the spring rains came. It appears to be related to molds and dust mites instead. I give him salmon oil (not the pills but the real oil), freeze his kibble, regularly clean his blankets etc., and give him oatmeal shampoo baths when it really acts up. I also use dermacton cream if his skin gets too dry. We seem to have it under control.
  • 0 Votes
    7 Posts
    9k Views
    elbrantE
    @dogo-0 said in 8 month old basenji pup with hair loss on the ear tips: when I scratch the tip of her ears, it looks like dirt is coming off If you live in a particularly cold climate, the edges of your pups ears may have a touch of frostbite. That would explain the dark skin cells that are sloughing off when you scratch or rub at her ear tips. Try to protect her ears in the cold. Be gentle when you rub the ends. Depending on the severity, consult your Veterinarian, antibiotics may be needed.
  • 3 1/2-year-old Basenji

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    37
    0 Votes
    37 Posts
    34k Views
    tanzaT
    He is in a better place… just remember you will carry his soul in your heart forever... All of my Basenjis that have passed before me are here in my heart
  • Sick Basenji

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    10
    0 Votes
    10 Posts
    5k 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!
  • 0 Votes
    10 Posts
    8k Views
    agilebasenjiA
    Here's my neosporin trick. Quickly without a fuss put it where needed, then make a HUGE show out of putting a little neo somewhere else that is easy for him to lick - I like to use the top of a front foot. I say things like "OH my goodness, look at this foot!!!! We are going to have to put this stuff right here on this foot. Whatever you do DON'T lick you foot" etc. I drag this out (time wise) with as little neosporin as possible but go on about how much this foot needs the neo. So, when the dog is released, he'll go lick his foot and forget about the owie place. It's sort of a game. Basenji thinks he got one up on you and you think you got one up on him. (Yea, I'm easily amused.)
  • 0 Votes
    12 Posts
    4k Views
    S
    It will be best for you and for your girl b… Let us know when you get her home. I think you will be surprised how little she changes after this surgery.