I'm so sorry to hear about Tayda's test strip. 
Another thought…do you have any critical care vets in your area. We have one practice that deals with only cancer, kidney, and other special cases. They aren't a regular practice, only disease diagnosis and treatment.
I know 2 hrs is a bit of a drive, but I would seriously consider going to Angell or Tufts at least for the initial diagnosis...especially since it doesn't sound like any of these vets have any idea about even the blood gas aspect. I have so many friends who sing the praises of Angell...and Tufts.
I'm so sorry to hear about Tayda's test strip.
Another thought…do you have any critical care vets in your area. We have one practice that deals with only cancer, kidney, and other special cases. They aren't a regular practice, only disease diagnosis and treatment.
I know 2 hrs is a bit of a drive, but I would seriously consider going to Angell or Tufts at least for the initial diagnosis...especially since it doesn't sound like any of these vets have any idea about even the blood gas aspect. I have so many friends who sing the praises of Angell...and Tufts.
Diagnosis, if Fanconi, is pretty straight forward… if they are spilling sugar in their urine, but not high blood sugar in bloodwork, then it is Fanconi... Blood gases are then needed to determine the course of treatment using the protocol. Again, I would take the protocol before hand to the Vet you were seeing on Wednesday. I would also continue to strip test daily. As was already stated they can spill one day and not the next when you catch it early. Happened to a good friend of mine with his dog... he was positive for sugar in the urine one day and then the next 2, none, the following day, he positive for sugar in the urine again. That said, a full blood panel is needed also along with the blood gases.
The emergency care place I called said they had an I-Stat machine, but that they didn't have the cartridge needed to do the blood gasses.
I'm also hearing from these vet techs or whoever answers the phone at the office that it could be just a urinary tract infection. I am trying to push that it is 99% likely to be Fanconi, and i want the urinanalysis, blood work, and blood gasses all in one shot to confirm/deny that…. I really don't want to waste an office visit on them putzing around not doing the tests that I need to figure out Tayda's treatment plan.
The last 3 days Tayda's strips have turned green...
I'm going to keep calling around tomorrow for another vet... I do have an appointment on wednesday with this highly recommended internist, but it's at his satellite site, which Im not sure if they have the machine to do the blood gasses. They said that if needed, he could get me in at the main office the next day or something, but Id rather just find somewhere to have it all done at once.
I am considering going out to Tufts or Angell... but the only thing is Ill have to get her blood gases done every few months, right? and I'd rather it all be done w/ the same doc, on the same machine (and preferably closer to my house) so I don't have to worry about the different machines' calibrations throwing off the interpretation of her values. I've already got an excel spreadsheet set up to track her values... (can you tell I'm an engineer?) lol
Keep calling vets-but try asking for the vet himself. I have a problem with the secretary at the vets office I go to, but when I talk to the vet himself, it suddenly seems to be less of an issue. He will work with me, the secretary has put me into the "pet people" column. She's told me twice to go elsewhere, but the vets are actually great. Again, try to talk directly to the vet.
Blood gases once on the protocol is every 6 months… as I understand it. And you might want to join the Yahoo Fanconi list for people with Fanconi Affected Basenjis (and others breeds too). And yes, it is nice to be able to have everything done at the same place if possible... Urinary infections are common to Fanconi affected dogs, so would not be surprising if she did have one... Venous blood gas studies can verify an electrolyte imbalance consistent with Fanconi syndrome. And since you are the customer, then the office/Vet should do what you ask to be done.
When was the last time before this that you strip tested? And just being curious, how come you didn't do the DNA test for her?
The last time she was strip tested was probably a year ago when Kelli was dog sitting them…. and she was clear then... I know... I know, I should have kept up with it. I also have been MEANING to order the test kit to send her sample to be DNA tested, and just hadn't done it yet. I know... awful. I'm really regretting it now. She had two "accidents" in the house last week(which she never does), and that is what prompted me to go get a bottle of the strips...
I looked on the zandebasenjis site and saw that Tayda has 3 littermates, 2 of which have been tested as carriers. Her parents weren't tested...
The last time she was strip tested was probably a year ago when Kelli was dog sitting them…. and she was clear then... I know... I know, I should have kept up with it. I also have been MEANING to order the test kit to send her sample to be DNA tested, and just hadn't done it yet. I know... awful.
I looked on the zandebasenjis site and saw that Tayda has 3 littermates, 2 of which have been tested as carriers. Her parents weren't tested...
Yes, I saw that too about her sire and dam, but then again, if he is not using them for breeding, not surprising that they are not tested considering their age… but seeing that she has two littermates that are carriers and knowing the pedigree, not really a total shock that she would be a carrier or affected.
And regardless now you know that something is going on and can get the bloodwork/blood gases done and get her on the protocol... fingers crossed that she does well on the protocol
You know, I am also really surprised that Kelli has not tested Cleo.
I am so sorry that you have this test strip changing color.
But with the new protocal, you can have a long lived b.
Hugs and hugs.
Do keep us updated on what the vets say.
Our thoughts are with you. We'll pray you can get to a vet that can do the proper tests & help you.
I have an appointment at noon today to get Tayda in for tests. I called back the place that originally said that they couldn't take the blood and talked to someone else, and apparently, it is not a problem and I should be able to walk out with the results I need. I'll be back with news!
meanwhile, I heard from the breeder who has Tayda's mother… it seems that she (the mother) has been affected and on the protocol for 5 years and is doing well. While its good to hear she's doing well, its NOT good to hear that she was affected and on the protocol BEFORE I got Tayda and her breeder never mentioned it to me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I know I'm still an idiot for not strip testing myself until now, but I really think he should have told me! I remember asking him about Fanconi when we were first discussing my getting a dog from him and he assured me his lines were clear. Of course, I didn't know enough back then to question it more or look into it myself. ACK!:mad:
I have an appointment at noon today to get Tayda in for tests. I called back the place that originally said that they couldn't take the blood and talked to someone else, and apparently, it is not a problem and I should be able to walk out with the results I need. I'll be back with news!
meanwhile, I heard from the breeder who has Tayda's mother… it seems that she (the mother) has been affected and on the protocol for 5 years and is doing well. While its good to hear she's doing well, its NOT good to hear that she was affected and on the protocol BEFORE I got Tayda and her breeder never mentioned it to me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I know I'm still an idiot for not strip testing myself until now, but I really think he should have told me! I remember asking him about Fanconi when we were first discussing my getting a dog from him and he assured me his lines were clear. Of course, I didn't know enough back then to question it more or look into it myself. ACK!:mad:
While we didn't have the test back then (when you got Tayda) so other then what the breeder tells you, there is/was nothing you could do to check, I agree that was uncalled for him not tell you the dam was spilling and certainly should have. I remember my first litter, Maggii's Dam started spilling 3 days before she was due to have her puppies. I made sure that anyone that was interested in a puppy knew up front that while do date, Maggii was stripping clear, her Dam did have Fanconi. I was lucky that Maggii never spilled nor did any of her pups. That is what makes the test so valuable now and the ability to see for yourself that the DNA Fanconi tests were done.
Good luck with the tests and let us know how it goes
Back from the vet! I don't have the urinanalysis or blood chemistry results yet, but I do have the blood gas results… it seems her pH is 7.32 - basically normal! and her pC02 level is slightly low at 42.9 (normal range being 45-47) There is a line that says "Glu 96 mg/dL" seems like that would be glucose and the normal range is 70-138 mg/dL from previous testing I had done.
So if it is fanconi, it seems like she would be on the lowest dosage of bicarbs - which i hope means we caught it early.
btw i sent all the results to Dr. Gonto directly since the vet didn't know anything about basenjis or fanconi…
btw i sent all the results to Dr. Gonto directly since the vet didn't know anything about basenjis or fanconi…
That was a smart thing to do…. you will have to see what Dr Gonto says about the blood gases and the rest of the results when you get them. And while again, I have not had a Fanconi dog, but sounds like you caught it early... Fingers crossed... let us know what Dr Gonto says.
Well, I heard from Dr. Gonto (what a lovely man!). He believes we caught it in the very early stages and recommended the minimum course of bicarbs. I have everything here with me and will start her on it tomorrow. And even though her urine work didn't indicate a UTI, I got a course of Clavamox anyway - Tayda is peeing a lot and in small amounts - seems very consistant with a UTI so hopefully it will help!
Well, I heard from Dr. Gonto (what a lovely man!). He believes we caught it in the very early stages and recommended the minimum course of bicarbs. I have everything here with me and will start her on it tomorrow. And even though her urine work didn't indicate a UTI, I got a course of Clavamox anyway - Tayda is peeing a lot and in small amounts - seems very consistant with a UTI so hopefully it will help!
Super… and yes he is a god sent to our breed.... fingers crossed that she does wonderful on the protocol.... and kudos to you for following up.... I still think you would benefit from the yahoo Fanconi list..
And by the way… many times.... a UTI is missed with a Fanconi dog... so I think it is smart to do a course of Clavamox...
With the Clavamox, know that it can cause some tummy upset... so just keep that in mind during the course of treatment
i joined the list yesterday! thanks for the suggestion… ill spend my day off tomorrow reading through the 10000 messages. 
i gave tayda her first course tonight... 4 pills. 2 of them i just handed to her and she ate them... didn't even need to hide them. the other two i hid in cheese and she gulped them down. Lenny got 4 treats out of it too....
i joined the list yesterday! thanks for the suggestion… ill spend my day off tomorrow reading through the 10000 messages.
i gave tayda her first course tonight... 4 pills. 2 of them i just handed to her and she ate them... didn't even need to hide them. the other two i hid in cheese and she gulped them down. Lenny got 4 treats out of it too....
That is great news… super..... that is the biggest problem that people have... getting to pills down... again...kudos to you....that is such wonderful news... and glad that you joined the Fanconi list... it will be a big comfort to you to know that there are others facing the same challenges you are....
Hugs to you and Tayda... she has a great Basenji Mom!!!!!!!!!!!
Congrats for stepping up and getting on with it - life I mean. I said it before, Tayda is super lucky to have you!
