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  3. Liver issues-help? information? upset….

Liver issues-help? information? upset….

Basenji Health Issues & Questions
  • tanzaT

    I would suggest an ultrasound to determine is there are any tumors present… my Mickii presented a tumor on her Adrenal Gland that was removed, while being non-cancer... it very well could have been. Usually high liver values present themselves as "something" else going on. And I think I would opt for the biopsy.... My Kristii had a grapefruit sized liver tumor that was removed... also no cancer... (that was at age 11).... there are meds for liver that do quite well, but first you need to rule out what might be going on...

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

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  • T

    Thank you so much Pat. I guess that is the next step. I am very worried having never been through this. I appreciate your response and support.
    Dawn and Serket

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  • S

    I can give you any advice, but to give you a hug and hope your b comes out of this ok.
    Hugs, hugs, hugs.
    Do let us know what the tests show.
    We are here for you.

    Sharron Hurlbut

    BRAT, basenji rescue

    Evergreen basenji club

    Seattle Purebred Dog Rescue

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  • K

    Blaze has no liver. It disappeared at some point and we don't actually know why. At one point he did eat a AAA battery, and he has also overdosed on "no-stain-grass" pills. But when he rapidly lost a lot of weight, we took him in for a battery of tests and medication. After determining that it wasn't a tumor, and his lowest weight was 12 pounds, we found the perfect combination of medications. He gets a daily dose of Viokase pancrelipase powder and Flagyl pills with his meals. He's been on this for over a year and is fine now, with a healthy weight of 21 pounds.
    I'm sure your vet will figure out whats wrong and fix your B up

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  • S

    Wow, I had no idea anything could live without a liver. I am shocked your dog has none and is still going. Good job for this..
    Good for you for sharing this with us.

    Sharron Hurlbut

    BRAT, basenji rescue

    Evergreen basenji club

    Seattle Purebred Dog Rescue

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  • tanzaT

    @sharronhurlbut:

    Wow, I had no idea anything could live without a liver. I am shocked your dog has none and is still going. Good job for this..
    Good for you for sharing this with us.

    My response exactly… how do you live without a liver?

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

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  • E

    My B was diagnosed with severe liver disease and cirrhosis at age 11…he's 13 now. His liver was 1/3 the size of a normal one, and his lab tests were off the charts. If I hadn't gotten him to the vet in time, he would've certainly died within a few days. Even with treatment, the vet only gave him 6 months to a year. He started out with a bunch of medicines: milk thistle, prednisone, antibiotic, vitamin E, Sam-E, pepcid and Ursodiol. The doctor also recommended a lower protein diet...no red meat or organ meats. Egg, white meat chicken and turkey, and white fish are OK. He also eats lots of veggies and pasta or rice mixed in with with the meat. Right now, he's off of most of the meds except for the ursodiol and pepcid. Sometimes, he also likes to eat yogurt or cottage cheese. The vet originally put him on Science Diet liver formula, but that stuff is horrible.

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  • K

    The vet said that if it happens gradually, the pancrease attempts to take on the work of the liver. I have no idea how this works, but I'm glad it does! The Viokase breaks down his food, making it easier for him to digest, and the pills help with the acidity in his intestines. When we just had him on the powder, his poop was so acidic, it burnt the hairs off of his rear. And everything he eats must have the Viokase on it, or else he doesn't get any nutrience from it, and it comes out like playdo. So now he resorts to worse methods than begging… like stealing right off the fork. grrr

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  • tanzaT

    @Knipper:

    The vet said that if it happens gradually, the pancrease attempts to take on the work of the liver. I have no idea how this works, but I'm glad it does! The Viokase breaks down his food, making it easier for him to digest, and the pills help with the acidity in his intestines. When we just had him on the powder, his poop was so acidic, it burnt the hairs off of his rear. And everything he eats must have the Viokase on it, or else he doesn't get any nutrience from it, and it comes out like playdo. So now he resorts to worse methods than begging… like stealing right off the fork. grrr

    You mean he did do that before… :D (stealing off the fork)

    But thanks for posting that.. very interesting... as we all have said, we learn something new every day....

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

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  • K

    LOL oh he did, but rarely. Now it's a nightly occurance, and I was angry when I wrote that, he just ate my last dessert dumpling! yup, I'm still mad…

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    @Patty: Personally I would take her to the vet to get her checked out for bowel or urinary infections. If she is losing sight and hearing she may be frightened. It sounds as though you need to step back a pace to calm your reactions. I can appreciate that you are getting fed up with all the work but she is an old dog. My present oldie (15) has taken to peeing (and pooing) indoors at times but I know I need to put her outside more often as she doesn't have the control she once had. She has also become blind and is certainly more aggressive with the others because of that. Any way first things first and do take her to the vet, please. Let us know how you get on. I have to agree with everything Patty wrote. Changing behavior ALWAYS needs a vet check. Increase aggresssion can be due to thyroid issues, pain, tick-born diseases, constant hunger (due to other things), etc. You didn't say in your post if you'd recently seen a vet and discussed her new issues. My oldest (16 in December) has failing kidneys (nonFanconi) and does need to pee more often. So, I put pee pads down in the house in his favorite pee spots. He's usually pretty good about that, but he does still pee in other spots if I'm not watching him carefully or if he gets a bit aggitated about the sitting arrangements. Would your pup stay in an exercise pen? That would give her a little more room than a crate.
  • AndrewA

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    @khanis: I have NEVER heard of these legendary fleas or mosquitos…. and I am a Portland native... and have NEVER had a flea issue with my basenjis [Whippet, IG, RR, Newfs, or cats]. Our home ranges from 3-6 basenjis on average and still no problem, even with dogs that come/go for showing or boarding. The only time I have treated them [my dogs] was prior to traveling to the midwest or east coasts. During the time I lived in Portland, which is at the very northern end of the Valley and has more wind than the lower Valley, I noticed a lot fewer fleas and 'skeeters. I can understand why you haven't experienced them. Try camping on the shores of Fern Ridge sometime. Make sure you take lots of DEET. I grew up there and, man, the 'skeeters are horrible!:eek: I can remember our dogs and cats had a rough time of it, too. We were always picking fleas off them. But that's the difference between living in the city and living in the back woods. The conditions in the lower Valley are perfect for the growth of fleas and mosquitos: standing water everywhere and very few hard freezes. (Gramma lives in the "sticks" too and has lots of both in her area outside Salem.) But, again, back to the subject, she used Brewer's Yeast and had pretty good results with it.
  • hdolbowH

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    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...
  • jmnycJ

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    Periodontal disease is a tough one to get on top of once it takes hold (in both humans and dogs) because the bacteria gets down in the pockets and it is very difficult to keep clean. People have better luck because they have the ability to floss daily, but that is very difficult with a dog – and believe me, I've tried. :D Periodontal disease is not the same as an auto-immune disease that dogs can get (lest I be accused of getting them confused). I believe the reason our furry companions, and especially the dry-mouth (non-slobbering types) often get it is because of a couple things in addition to not being able to floss. 1. They don't slobber so their mouths really don't get a good natural rinse, and 2. they are fed an unnatural diet. In the wild they would be crunching up bones which acts like a natural toothbrush/floss, and they wouldn't be eating cereal grains which are carbs on steroids turning to sugar once it hits the saliva. There are kibbles out there that do not contain grains which may help by keeping the sugars at bay in the mouth. Evo is one, Instinct is another. Feeding raw is a great alternative. I am also a big fan of the PetzLife product and think it works wonders to keep plaque at bay on the teeth, but not sure how well it works with the plague and bacteria already under the gumline. My rat terrier does not have periodontal disease. I feed him Evo and brush his teeth daily (with a three-sided toothbrush) with Petzlife and he has the teeth of a two year old which isn't bad considering he's almost 11. If his gut could handle it I'd feed him raw, but that has not bode well with him unfortunately. FWIW, in a past life I worked as a chairside assistant for a dentist so I do know a bit about teeth and periodontal disease. I came away from that experience realizing that if I were on a deserted island I'd rather have an endless supply of dental floss vs. a toothbrush. I would be more likely to keep my teeth with the first rather that the latter. Now if we could just figure out how to floss a dog's teeth. :)
  • K

    Help. . .Information needed on excessive peeing of a 4 month old female Basenji

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    K
    She still seeks out water but not to the degree that she was. As the accidents wane, I have been trying to leave the water out a bit more, but like one of the other members said about their husband, mine also is sick of cleaning up the pee so I have to find a happy medium between the two. All in all I think we are doing fine, and once again thanks for all of your concern. I will be sure to connect with the Basenji Forums again if there are any other questions.
  • J

    Help!!!!!

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    tanzaT
    Diana…. I totally agree that we seem to be seeing IBD alot more in our breed again........ And Janet, you should also point her to the Basenji Club of America site www.basenji.org and then she can go to the health section …. read more about health concerns in Basenjis