Hi Everyone!
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Oh, ok! I didn't realize that it was just a cheek swab or urine test. I was under the impression that it was a blood test.
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The cheek swab is one way, but there is a blood test too, so you were on the right track. :) There are special procedures, the blood has to be drawn by your vet then shipped off to a lab in Missouri. It is easier for most folks to use the cheek swab though now that that option is available. It is only $5 more than the blood test, but you don't have to pay for vet/shipping costs to go the blood route. And it is quick and painless and can be done in your home anytime. However if you're willing, they could always use the blood for future research. It gives them more to work with than the cheek swab.
The urine test is the old fashioned test, that just lets you know when the dog starts spilling sugar and the disease takes effect. It's not the same as the genetic test that tells you whether or not your dog will be affected or if he is a carrier of the disease.
You need to do the cheek swab (or bloodwork), and then if you get "affected" results, then you do the urine test weekly/monthly until you see the disease kick in so you can treat it. Sometimes it waits until their teens to show up, but usually around 4 or 5 ish.
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Crystal, welcome aboard. I am soo happy to hear you "saved' Cody out of becoming a shelter dog, good for you and especially good for Cody. There is a treat you can make to make him gain weight in a very yumm-o and health way..they are called "Satin Balls.
Google the name and several recipes should pop up. It is basically homemade Dog meatballs with yummy stuff in'em that dogs goes bonkers over and it is made by you so you know what went in'em….just in case you wanted some ideas for weight gainer foods..again, good luck to both of you.Thank you! The satin balls are working wonders! Not only is he gaining a little more weight, but his coat looks so much better as well. He was missing fur on his tale, ears, and nose, and the vet said that it may not grow back because the skin that was showing was black, so they were probably older wounds or long-time neglect. All of that is growing back and looks healthy now.
The funny thing is, although all of the websites I found said to serve the satin balls raw, Cody just turned his nose up at the raw meat, but he loves it if it's cooked.
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I am so happy to hear that. Good for Cody. You do not have to serve them raw by all means, I have heard of them done both ways. My dogs, 1 B + 2 non Bs they are on the all raw diet and thriving. As a mattter of fact this weekend we went out of town so I, to simplify for myself, bought the Merrick canned foods…well the dogs hated them..So they have eaten very little until last night when we got home, at 11:30 pm. They all devoured their turkeynecks and then slept like babies. As far as Cody's black skinned areas growing back,good news. I had a Westies in the past that had a lot of black skin due to allergies and his would grow back at times, so I think Cody is out of the woods on that. Keep us updated on Cody's progress, it sounds like you are doing great.
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We are glad to have you here on the forums. I can't wait to see pictures of your little "Beastie." ;)
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Welcome to the forum Chrystal and Cody.
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Congratulations on your new family member. Sure sounds like a typical basenji! Bathroom and bedroom doors closed, bathroom trashcans on back of the toilets, no pens, pencils, remotes, or cell phones left down, clean and dirty laundry hidden, and yet they still find some trouble to get into! We have to hide my husband's good leather shoes because the dogs try to get intimate with them. The shoes are like doggy catnip.
Pat
