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  3. My basenji Rusty is very sick and my vet doesn't know why

My basenji Rusty is very sick and my vet doesn't know why

Basenji Health Issues & Questions

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  • R

    Sick Basenji

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
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    DebraDownSouthD
    I agree with Buddys Pal… if they didn't do either urinalysis or xray, I'd get them done. If you have a sick dog and the vet just sort of says "oh well, blood work looks okay".. may be time for a new vet. Something is obviously wrong.
  • R

    Sick Basenji :(

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
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    P
    I too am sorry for not seeing this thread sooner and hopefully the poster will return. My Basenji had some teeth removed and the vet prescribed Carprofen as the follow up antibiotic. My Basenji turned out to be allergic to Carprofen which caused her liver to fail. I went through the same scenario you are describing. She gradually quit eating over the course of several days and then her water consumption started to go down. The eating had me worried since she had an excellent appetite upon return from the vet and the final purging of the anesthesia from her system. Nevertheless, her condition started to degrade. I followed her outside and watched her urinate. Her urine was a very bright yellow. I suspected then a liver issue. Once back inside she was shivering - off to the vet we went. LIver panel blood work up showed very high on specific indicators for failing liver. Vet prescribed Denamarin (containing SAM-e and silybin). SAM-e helps protect liver cells from cell death and aids in cell repair and regeneration. The Vet also started fluid injections. Fluid injections were everyday for two weeks. My Basenji showed a remarkable response to the fluid injections becoming much more her normal self even after the first day. She hated the injections and I could hear her cry when receiving them at the vet (believe me that will tear you up). But she was doing better and she (me) were going to have to tuff this out. Also a different antibiotic was prescribed to prevent liver infection during recovery. The Denamarin comes in dosages based on weight (medium for us). It is the size of a large human like solid oblong vitamin pill. Instructions want you to give it on an empty stomach and preferably not to cut it or place in something similar to a pill pocket however you can if necessary. My Basenji would not take that size (can't blame her). Cutting and disguising it did not work either. I was frantic and got the SAM-e in powder form. I couldn't slip her that either. All though some folks had success with peanut butter and liverwurst. I finally after three days had to have the vet pill her along with her fluid treatments. A week later another blood sample and her liver panel indicators were coming down. The pilling would last for a month and it took two people to get the pill down her. The important part is - she fully recovered from the liver failure. She is 13 1/2 yrs old. My experience after having 5 Basenjis is that the breed is sensitive to medications (anesthesia also). Many of the medications work just fine in most other breeds and mixes. The vet, if not that experienced with the Basenji, must be cautioned. Mine was not. Before accepting any medication have the vet go over any contraindications with you and to double check their resources for potential side effects when dealing with Basenjis. They may switch to something else if a medication has a bad track history with Basenjis. Know what to watch for should your Basenji start to react in a non-positive manner. The poster did not indicate if there were medications in play when the dog started showing degenerating conditions. I sincerely hopes this helps in some way and helps other Basenji owners
  • KipawaK

    Vets knowledgeable in basenjis

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
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    M
    Is there anyone out in the New Jersey area (or knows of a site that I can be directed to) who knows of any vets that have knowledge of Basenjis? We have a 4 month old Basenji and our breeder took her to the vet at 8 wks but she hasnt been to one since so I've been looking for a good vet for a standard visit and cant seem to find one who knows about Basenjis (well all the vets Ive talked to, act like they know about them but you can tell they've never had one as a patient ;0 Thanks for the help!
  • Tayda_LennyT

    Tayda doesn't go to the bathroom much…

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
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    MaxBooBooBearM
    @Quercus: I don't know if this is at all accurate…but his theory made sense to me. Also, some Bs are prone to crystal formation, but often don't develop a full blown UTI. There is something that some folks add to the water to change the PH of the urine, but I don't remember what...maybe someone else can help me out with that. I was told that crystals were a sign and led to kidney stones?–not necessarily a sign of UTIs? There were special dog foods for this--to keep crystals from forming because I had to use one at one time (this was about 10-12 years ago), but my vet told me that the good quality dog foods now are formulated to avoid crystal formation, so you don't usually have to get special food.
  • B

    Sick Basenji

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
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    B
    An update on Ben's condition. He had his teeth cleaned this morning and the vet had to remove several teeth. A large tooth in the back of the mouth had a cavity that went all the way to the root. He never lost his appetite during the whole ordeal or seemed to have any sensetivity of his mouth. I hope this is the end of the suffering he was going through. He was a rescue dog so we don't have the previous owners records as to dental care he had in the past. You can be sure he will be monitored from here on out for any sign of tooth decay or tarter build up. Thanks to everyone who replyed to my inquiry on Basenji health.
  • DukeD

    Finding a Vet who knows Basenji?

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
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    M
    I live in Boise, ID. Water and Gun dogs are popular. Sighthounds are not very popular, there is an active Greyhound adoption group though. Most vets in this town have a distaste for Basenjis, if they know what they are. My present vet, loves Basenjis. My former neighbor had an Afgahn, 2 cats and some ferrets. She had nothing but good things to say about the vet down the street. So I brought my hooligans down for an interview with the staff. This office treats about 6 other Basenjis. They had only seen the red and whites in person. They knew of the other colors, but had never seen them. So when I walked in with my red and white, black and white and tri, they stopped what they were doing to met them. They also knew about the African project. Those of us who are passionate about Basenjis are few and far between. Vets are the same way. When they are they passionate, their staff is also passionate about the breed. There might be 50 vet schools between America and Canada. This is a small community. Just start cold calling and asking what they know about Basenjis and who they would recommend.