Not Interested In Eating His Food!

[eeeefarm]

Has your vet mentioned immune mediated hemolytic anemia? Usually if the cause can't be identified and remedied corticosteroids are used to calm down the immune system.

[Mmasco]

@tanza He's at a hospital with a few specialists/pathologists. This is what was itemized for me.. Unsure what else to request. Looking back at blood work from Nov 2020 (when he was 9 wks) he had a lower hemoglobin and RBC count ... obviously nothing as severe as now. Yes, I moved him to the hospital; I was very concerned that a. they never initially told me how bad his blood test was until I requested it (because something didn't feel right) and b. that vet seemed unfazed by the first readings to just suggest allergies!! I'm glad I read the report to take him this morning.. Who knows what could have happened next

[Mmasco]

@eeeefarm I am leaning towards hemolytic anemia based on google searching and mapping his blood word results.. but I just don't know which is the most frustrating part of the waiting game

[eeeefarm]

@Mmasco, my thoughts are with you. Never an easy time when they are sick. Hang in there, hopefully they will find the problem and start on getting him well!

[tanza]

@mmasco - HA in Basenjis is a recessive gene not unlike Fanconi. I have not seen or heard of HA in Basenjis for over 40yrs.... Same as Fanconi there were Clears/Carriers/Affected. Here is a link for HA in Basenji from many years ago https://www.basenji.org/PUBLIC/BasenjiHealthPages.pdf
HA is different than idiopathic autoimmune hemopytic anemia (IAHA)

Pyruvate kinase-deficient hemolytic anemia was first diagnosed in Basenjis in the 1960s, although
prior to that date Basenjis had died of a then-unknown form of anemia. Research on this anemia
began in the 1960s, culminating with a carrier test available in 1972. At that time, incidence was
around 4%, with about 18% being carriers. The inherited form of the disease now is extremely
rare.
Pk-deficient HA is different from idiopathic autoimmune hemolytic anemia (IAHA), a non-inherited
hemolytic anemia that occurs in all breeds of dogs. Because of the great reduction in the
frequency of the inherited form, the non-inherited form is now the likeliest cause of any hemolytic
anemia in Basenjis
For the owner
The disorder has been virtually eliminated from the breed, and testing has been largely
discontinued. Owners can ask for information about whether or not the dogs have been tested or
are entirely descended from tested clear stock. Because a DNA test is available, a definitive
diagnosis can be made to rule out pk-deficient HA.

[Zande]

@tanza There were five cases of HA in Veronica's earlier litters, Pongo of the Congo was alleged by VTW to be a carrier. Pickapepper of the Congo was a sufferer, as was Petal of the Congo but she lived to a great age. These were in the early 1950s.

@Mmasco I feel for you. There is nothing like not being with them when they are sick. But HA hasn't been around in Basenjis for many years. We have to hope it is not re-surfacing.

[Mmasco]

@tanza / @Zande we got the news that they are leaning towards PK pyruvate kinase deficiency seeing as ultrasound and xray came up empty, bone marrow to make reticulocytes are normal BUT Rbc's not being made. Labs not showing hemolytic anemia. The breeder DID NOT test for PK leaving me either to dig into the entire family tree (which who knows accuracy in testing) or wait 1-2 weeks for the PK test to come back.
Not sure if there is anything you both know that will help sway me away from PK .... or if there is any experimental treatment you've heard about. I just don't know how to process this TBH. His blood transfusion seemed to stablize him w/ numbers back into the 30s for RBC counts.. He will likely come home tomorrow.

[eeeefarm]

It would be unusual but not impossible, not common in Basenjis but not unheard of, either. Apparently more common in Beagle, Pug, Cairn, and West Highland White. DNA testing can detect it, also whether the dog is a carrier, clear, or affected. I would think his breeder would want to know the status of his sire and dam. I am hoping they come up with something easier to manage or cure.

[Zande]

@mmasco You can find the PK test results on OFA website. I don't include them in the on-line database, but if you have that open as well you can then check parents line by line as you will have their registration number in front of you.

Good luck and cuddles and tummy rubs to the little one when he is home.

[tanza]

@mmasco - I put out a couple of feelers to other breeders, will let you know what I hear. You might want to message me directly [removed private email]

[tanza]

@mmasco - I have looked up DNA testing on the OFA site and going back to early 1990's there have been NO afflicted (all clears) (rescessive gene like Fanconi) and while there have been a few testing in 2021 (2) and 2020/2019 again they are all clears. And honestly PK testing has not really been on the radar for Basenji Breeders for many, many years. I have someone checking into aquired PK as that is a possible. If you would please email me privately you can find my email on the web link for my website below. Hope that he is home and doing better.

[Zande]

@tanza From the certificates and things I get in from breeders and owners who have used Zoogen (Russian laboratory) for testing for PRA and Fanconi - PK is also being tested for in many cases. But it is coming up clear.

[DebraDownSouth]

@elbrant No idea why. But it won't let me like your post. But I do.

[DebraDownSouth]

Just sent to vet tech friend.

[DebraDownSouth]

I'll just add this in case the testing doesnt give you answers.

Anorexia exits. Although nearly ALL cases of dogs who do not want food has an underlying medical cause.

But some dogs simply have anorexia. There are drugs that work very good for it..At one point they stopped making one type so we had so we had to switch. They increased Sayblees aggression. So from then on i handfed her.

https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/anorexia-in-dogs