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Sneezy Basenji

Basenji Health Issues & Questions
  • For 3 days our guy wouldn't stop sneezing - it got to the stage where he was making the strangest face and kind of shaking with the biggest sneezes. We took him to the vet and was assured it wasn't kennel cough, but didn't diagnosis the problem either.

    This vet practices more holitic medcine so they sent us home with silica granuals. 2 days later and the sneezing is almost gone and he's getting frisky again so I know it's working. That's great that we found something to fix it, but I'm concerned that I don't know what caused it - so we can avoid that thing.

    Do basenji's get colds? is this sneezy episode something common?

  • 2 years ago 3 of my dogs caught a cold during a car trip during the summer as all the windows where open. Now I'm really cautious not to open them wide.
    Otherwise, even during long period of time outside during the winter they never caught anything. Cross fingers:)

  • My basenji mix had a couple of small sneezing episodes this summer. We live in the south and the pollen is terrible here. I believe while playing in a wooded area she probably stepped on a pollen spore (sp?). Other than that, she hasn't had any problems.

  • Cali sneezes occasionally when she is outside playing in the grass. We live in a wooded area and there are all types of trees and bushes and plants. Sometimes when she starts sneezing a lot I give her about 1/4 teaspoon of Benadryl. I spoke with the vet and he said this was okay, but not to make a habit of it. If she gets really bad I will have to take her back in for further evaluation. I have a friend that has a Boxer that has severe allergies and her dog has to take an allergy pill.
    tlbuddy.

  • My friend Susan Patterson has a Basenji that sneezes all the time. His name is Nitro and he has TERRIBLE allergies.

  • Joey sneezes a lot, but I don't think he has allergies. I think it is all the dust in our house. I hate to clean!! :D

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  • 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
  • Basenji dental

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    @tanza: LOL …. so hmm... great weather = higher Vet costs... makes perfect sense to me!!! LOL great weather equals more want to live there. More want to live there, drives real estate costs up. Increased real estate costs drives other expenses up. LOL, it does make some sense. But then, wth is up with NYC which has icky weather? Oh wait, massive overcrowding, never mind.
  • Itching Basenji!

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    It's most likely a yeast infection. They get it in the ears quite often. Buddy has a yeast infection right now on his stomach.
  • Basenjis are popular..

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    @ibi_n_sane: the ears of the basenji of the pictures you show look like their is really something wrong, but it is not right to think that a basenji with a bit thin fur on his ears also has a condition/ disease that causes this. Of course, this dog is diagnosed with pattern baldness. And no, you can't say that every basenji/dog with less fur on the ears has this condition. Like Tanza said: it could be flies, or maybe cold, malnutrition.. I do think that Tillo's bald blackish ear rims are more than just 'loosing hair because it's winter/spring/summer..' And I would love to know what's causing it. That's why I wanted to ask it at the University and that's why I was suprised to see the B-ears on the screen and to hear about this 'pattern baldness' :)
  • Is it a Basenji???

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    I have gotten the comment of min doberman. lol…. could have been her spiked Harley collar.
  • Homeopathy for Basenjis?

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    Yes–I forgot that there are actually homeopathic vets available. We are so lucky here in the Bay Area--we have great vets, specialists and also UC Davis veterinary school/drs not too far away--and believe me--I have used all of these resources over the past 18 years.....