Skip to content

Super Senior Issues

Basenji Health Issues & Questions
  • I have a 14 year old female. She's in great health according to my vet so no worries there. But she can be exceedingly whiny at times -- she wants to go potty but its too wet out so she comes and whines; she whines because she wants to go to bed but she wants me to go too; she whines because I'm talking on the phone; she whines because I'm in the kitchen preparing dinner and she wants me in the other room (but she doesn't want to sit in my lap or lay next to me on the couch, she just wants me in the room). She has no problems getting around, up/down stairs, etc. - I take her for walks and and to events (she still likes to sprint race and goes to a senior agility class) but the whining is getting obnoxious.

  • Perhaps she is telling you that she is near the end? Despite the good report from the Vet and what seems like more than reasonable activity levels for a senior, maybe she just feels a little "off" and wants "Mom" nearby? Or one of her senses (hearing, or vision) is changing? The Vet may not have picked up on it, but she might have...

    Of course, I could be totally off base. Just trying to put myself in her paws.

  • @wizard - I think it is just her age and she may now start having "senior issues"....

  • @wizard After 14 years, I am surprised you find anything about your Basenji 'obnoxious' ! Surely patience with this old doggie is more than deserved after so many years. She might well be telling you it is her time - my Basenjis have almost always told me - or she might be warning you of the impending time.

    If you find her whining obnoxious, could it be that your behaviour towards her has changed ? Are you being abrupt, less affectionate, changed in any way which could be confusing her ?

    Time to start analysing your own attitudes, perhaps ?

Suggested Topics

  • 0 Votes
    41 Posts
    20k Views
    ZandeZ
    @channingsmom said in Gallbladder/liver issues: He is getting enough to eat that he hasn’t lost weight That in itself is very good news. It can be very difficult to keep weight on a picky, elderly Basenji. Once they really start to lose it, often there is no putting weight back on. Good luck !
  • Eye issue

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    71
    0 Votes
    71 Posts
    36k Views
    DebraDownSouthD
    Pat, yeah, it was many but the specialist from GA (who does CERF btw, or did, could be retired at this point) said all were iris to iris and none should cause her issues. But you can still see them. I am comforted to know that a lot of strands don't pass as I honestly don't remember seeing that limitation, only on placement. Been a long time since I looked at CERF. But the issue was and then, the person LIED. She sent me a puppy for my child, who already had more on her than any child should with my health issues, that she obviously had no clue about– a puppy she had no clue about it's eye health. And then wanted her back if I wasn't going to breed her as she would. Yeah, over my dead body.
  • Liver issues

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    3
    0 Votes
    3 Posts
    2k Views
    nobarkusN
    @tanza: These kinds of problems are not uncommon when your Basenjis start to reach their "golden" years. You might want to try him on Dr. Dodd's liver cleansing diet. http://www.canine-epilepsy.com/Liver%20cleansing%20diet.htm Many have used it and had great results regardless of what you find out the issue might be. Good Suggestion Pat as I had an older B with liver issues in 2008 and that diet brought it down into normal range.
  • Liver issues

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    74
    0 Votes
    74 Posts
    39k Views
    tanzaT
    And in the end, just treasure your time together and give him the best care you can.. which to me sometimes means just keeping them comfortable…. that is the best any of us can do...
  • Kidney Issues

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    8
    0 Votes
    8 Posts
    4k Views
    tanzaT
    You know, at his age (and in my opinion) any elder dog, the goal is to get them to eat and keep them eating… so I don't stress out about kcal's too much particularly since I use Vit Supplements.
  • Incontinence Issues

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    6
    0 Votes
    6 Posts
    6k Views
    tanzaT
    @ramseyclea: I didn't know incontinence was one of the symptoms of hypothyroidism. So, I'm kind of glad to hear that. I know the weight gain and low energy level are definitely symptoms (I suffer from hypothyroidism myself). I will tell the vet to do the ful panel. Thanks for all the advice! This is such a great resource! There are many things that can be a result of low thyroid…. maybe not directly connected, but a off shoot of the condition. My OJ was loaded with hives... and regardless of what we gave him they would come back over and over... finally tested his thyroid and it was very, very low... put him on Soloxine and never another hive.... so while hives is not generally a symtom of low thyroid, the fact that it lowered immunities in other respects, hives popped up.... Not saying this is the cause... but again her age is pretty young for this problem, IMO. So best to rule out other things before moving on to hormones... and again I would still not rule out a UTI