Questions before I get my Basenji pup!
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I think part of the problem is that often we as future basenji owners tend to fall in love with our potential puppy before we even get them. The most recent addition to my basenjis was Zest. I would have been heartbroken if something had happened to her before I picked her up. I'd never even seen her before I picked her up (well, i saw a pic). But I was over the moon with excitement about getting a new puppy. However, having said all that, it is even more heartbreaking to loose a young dog. We lost our first malinois at 5 years old. I can only imagine how much worse all those feelings of unfairness and anger would have been if it was due to something preventable. (She literally just fell over dead. Probably heart or brain aneurysm.) And, while I've never had the misfortune of sharing my life with a Fanconi basenji, reading about the affected dogs is heartbreaking. It is a wasting type disease and many of these people see their beloved companion become mere shadows of what they once were.
Perhaps, Taylor, you could ask this breeder to test the puppies or even the sire and dam before you pick him up? I know that would be waiting a little longer before you pick up your new friend, but it may save you years of heartbreak.
And of course if you decide to do something else, i think we all can understand. It's hard to give up a puppy you've fallen in love with even if you haven't seen him yet.
You also may want to look into puppy lemon laws. I doubt Texas has anything, but I know a few states do.
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Kipawa I have decided to go ahead and get this puppy. I'm on my way to Houston now. If he does ever get ill then I believe I can give him better care than anyone, so I'm up for it! However I will pray he lives long and stays healthy.
Please consider doing the DNA test, it is well worth the peace of mind, regardless of the results. Takes only a minute, since it is a cheek swab that you do yourself.
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You should definitnely test him. I tested both of my boys, as Trog was born before the test was created. Both of his parents tested as Carriers, but thank goodness he tested as a carrier too and not an affected. I will be testing my new pup as soon as I get her. Her mother is a clear and sire a carrier, so the worst she would be is a carrier, but I want to know her status. I have a friend whose dog tested as a carrier and has now developed fanconi, so even the blood test was not exact.
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You should definitnely test him. I tested both of my boys, as Trog was born before the test was created. Both of his parents tested as Carriers, but thank goodness he tested as a carrier too and not an affected. I will be testing my new pup as soon as I get her. Her mother is a clear and sire a carrier, so the worst she would be is a carrier, but I want to know her status. I have a friend whose dog tested as a carrier and has now developed fanconi, so even the blood test was not exact.
I am guessing that fact was reported? Any chance that the sire/dam was not the sire/dam of that dog? I know that is the first thing they check… and then they will usually rerun the test to see if they get the same results... along with that if the sire and dam are still available re-test them.
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She has rePorted it and is waiting for the lab person to return from NY to get more data the blood test was only done on her dog as the dog was from a BYB. We are hearing that there have bee a handful that tested as carrier and did develop falconi.
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She has rePorted it and is waiting for the lab person to return from NY to get more data the blood test was only done on her dog as the dog was from a BYB. We are hearing that there have bee a handful that tested as carrier and did develop falconi.
I think that they ones that I have heard of… came from questionable breedings or breeders...
But since we do not have the direct test yet... the recommendation is that you strip test Carriers monthly till we do....
And yes, as with any test... there are errors
I think that you should (or the owner) should go to Jon directly....
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She is a friend of Jons as we are all in the same basenji club
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Kipawa I have decided to go ahead and get this puppy. I'm on my way to Houston now. If he does ever get ill then I believe I can give him better care than anyone, so I'm up for it! However I will pray he lives long and stays healthy.
Please let us know when you are back and for sure we want to see pictures of your new little man.
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Taylor..I just want to wish you and your new little guy best of luck..and you know we all want to see pictures of him…
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We do wish you best health with your new b..
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I think that they ones that I have heard of… came from questionable breedings or breeders...
But since we do not have the direct test yet... the recommendation is that you strip test Carriers monthly till we do....
And yes, as with any test... there are errors
I think that you should (or the owner) should go to Jon directly....
I hope that isn't saying I am one of those Pat!
The three dogs that tested as CArriers re-tested as Carriers.
It was NOT the test.
It was the fact that the dog's DNA is just basically funky and is showing as a carrier when in fact the dog is affected. I believe all 3 of these dogs were from Carrier x Carrier breedings.Keeping this information in mind, any dog that tests as a Carrier from a Carrier x Carrier or Carrier x Affected breeding should be regularly strip-tested.
Perhaps when the direct test comes out those dogs DNA will not prevent the test from giving the correct results… but that is neither here nor there since we aren't at that point yet.
And for the OP... I'd be happy to share stories that I have written based on my just a pet puppy owner's and their first-hand experiences with their fanconi pet puppy
Whether you show or dog or not have absolutely NO BEARING on whether or not the dog should be healthy.Best of luck to you.. and as many have said... do the test. $65 is a drop in the bucket compared to future vet bills.
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I hope that isn't saying I am one of those Pat!
The three dogs that tested as CArriers re-tested as Carriers.
It was NOT the test.
It was the fact that the dog's DNA is just basically funky and is showing as a carrier when in fact the dog is affected. I believe all 3 of these dogs were from Carrier x Carrier breedings.Keeping this information in mind, any dog that tests as a Carrier from a Carrier x Carrier or Carrier x Affected breeding should be regularly strip-tested.
Perhaps when the direct test comes out those dogs DNA will not prevent the test from giving the correct results… but that is neither here nor there since we aren't at that point yet.
And for the OP... I'd be happy to share stories that I have written based on my just a pet puppy owner's and their first-hand experiences with their fanconi pet puppy
Whether you show or dog or not have absolutely NO BEARING on whether or not the dog should be healthy.Best of luck to you.. and as many have said... do the test. $65 is a drop in the bucket compared to future vet bills.
I thought you should never breed carrier to carrier, or even worse affected, i thought you should only breed carrier to clear..? Did I misunderstand?
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The test has only been in existence for 4 yrs, before that, none of us knew whether our dogs were carriers or not.
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And if you breed first, don't test or test later… well, you get the picture. Just because someone says you should not do "something"... doesn't mean that some people don't do it....
And as noted the test has only been available since July of 2007, so not even quite 4yrs.
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Lakers13: Good luck to you and your new puppy - do post pictures as soon as you are able, we love puppy pictures. I understand where your heart is very well, as I am someone whose little B, Shaye, was gotten from questionable sources before we knew better. Shortly after bringing my little girl home, I joined this forum, and have gotten lots and lots of wonderful advice and answers to questions I have had. In the two-plus years I have now had Shaye, I feel lucky to have found the forum. The first thing they taught me was about Fanconi disease. I ordered the test and had her tested immediately - thank God, she is clear. The $65 spent will give you great peace of mind, which, when raising a basenji, is a precious thing indeed. My girl is healthy, strong and a typical basenji, and we have felt welcome here, regardless of her background. Love your puppy, ask us bunches of questions, and be sure to pay lots of attention to what is said on the forum. But be aware that your vet, who should be willing to do the research to become an expert on basenjis, will be your best indicator of how your dog is doing.
