YOU Are Your Dog?s Advocate!



  • Thank you for this post. My male will be 13 come the next rounds of vaccinations. I often wonder what I should watch for, caution/request from my vet and how that fits into the requirements that the state of Illinois dictate as mandatory. What should I consider non-essential at my boy's now advancing age? Any suggestions???


  • Good article, Dan. What I also see from this is that you have to be very communicative with anyone you come into contact with regarding the care of your dog, and be willing to get a second opinion on your dog's care - just like you would for yourself if you had a medical problem you needed to address - why should you be any different with your dog?


  • Personally I have never encountered a vet who did not abide by my wishes when it came to decisions about my pet's care. They might try to convince me that such-and-such was necessary but if I refused they abided by my decision.
    I think if anyone is uncomfortable with a vet then you should find another (of course emergency situations are different).


  • Some vets are pushy but you have to stand your ground and be firm, "no I don't want to do that". Most vets just suggest and I just say "no I don't want to do that" or "not right now" so I can look into it or see another vet and that's the end of it.


  • I think it depends on whether your older B has contact with other dogs like at dog parks, kenneling, foster dogs, etc. Does your dog have an underlying medical condition that vaccines would affect?

    You could have titer tests done on your dog to determine immunity instead of getting vaccines.

    Jennifer


  • After the first few years of shots, I do the titers…no more shots except rabies by law
    Otherwise, they don't get them.

Suggested Topics

  • How do you know when it’s time?

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    24
    1 Votes
    24 Posts
    3k Views
    eeeefarmE
    @GriffinsMom, my girl Lady had a suspected brain tumour when she had a seizure at 13 years of age. My vet put her on Prednisone, and things improved. She was on and off the drug for the next few years until she really started to get worse at just short of 16 years old. My vet said that for some, Prednisone seems to shrink the tumour. Of course, it would depend on size and location. I don't want to give false hope, but you might inquire about it.
  • 0 Votes
    13 Posts
    7k Views
    M
    No, I have not talked to the breeder. That is a good suggestion and I will do that right away. Thanks
  • Picky Fanconi dog

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    6
    0 Votes
    6 Posts
    6k Views
    tanzaT
    It is my understanding that Dr Gonto can only respond about the protocol to a Vet and can not give advise direct to an owner, so you may want to have your Vet sent that information to him. Or send the lab information and copy your Vet so that he can communicate directly with your Vet if he suggests changes.
  • Mottling in eye(s)

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    17
    0 Votes
    17 Posts
    10k Views
    tanzaT
    Yes, bronzing is quite common in Basenjis and often it is mistaken for possible beginning of PRA. I had a bitch like that and so was her son. You need a good eye specialist that understands and knows the breed. So, yes, that is good news for your boy….. especially seeing there is PRA in his pedigree (and my bitch & her son carried some of the same dogs in their pedigree so I am quite familar with the bloodlines)
  • Trouble Dog

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    22
    0 Votes
    22 Posts
    12k Views
    Buddys PalB
    @Moth: Have you ever tried an obedience class? It might be a great place to start. It sounds like your dog is space guarding. http://ahimsadogtraining.com/blog/resource-guarding/ was just going through some old threads, and came across this one-Moth, I like your style and advice-esp this link!
  • Pedigree dogs exposed

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    41
    0 Votes
    41 Posts
    17k Views
    I
    Clearly I haven't got stats on Basenjis in Congo, but my colleague has just come back from Basankusu (where the mentioned recently-imported dogs were found, unless I'm mistaken) and she has several photos of at least three separate packs of 6-8 dogs. Who all look much more like Basenjis than Delta ever does :)