A Sad Day…....

Basenji Talk
Log in to reply
  • DebraDownSouthD

    I am so sorry about your dog. :(

    On the breeder issue… please consider this. Many dogs here are related. A genetic disorder affects us all. We all need to know when it appears in a line. You have no idea how many lies I was told, only to get REAL information when problems arose. A good breeder doesn't hide the truth. So if the breeder isn't willing for you to share the bloodline... guess what?

    Debra

    0
  • T

    Hugs to Sonny, I hope he surprises you with his ability to adapt to whatever life throws his way. This is truly a breed with heart, with your love and support I know Sonny will find his comfort place in this world. Hugs to you too!
    Therese

    0
  • ?

    @DebraDownSouth:

    I am so sorry about your dog. :(

    On the breeder issue… please consider this. Many dogs here are related. A genetic disorder affects us all. We all need to know when it appears in a line. You have no idea how many lies I was told, only to get REAL information when problems arose. A good breeder doesn't hide the truth. So if the breeder isn't willing for you to share the bloodline... guess what?

    It is my own personal decision not to discuss the breeder on this forum. Sonny is from a responsible breeder that is not an issue….It's a heart breaking day for me and I just choose to share what I am feeling.

    0
  • MacPackM

    I feel so badly for you, he seems very young to lose his sight. That said, if it has been gradual, his other senses have kicked in and he is probably doing fine. He doesn't feel bad for himself, for dogs "it is what it is" and they make do. When my 12 year old went blind, I hardly realized it she compensated so well. We even know a blind dog (catahula mix) who comes to dog park (he can see some light and dark) and he runs with the others, people don't know he is blind.
    So grieve for all he is losing, but know that most blind dogs live good lives. Maybe no long off-leash runs, all on-leash now, you are his seeing-eye human. Just don't move the furniture!

    Hugs to YOU on this day, and ear scritches for Sonny.

    Anne in Tampa

    Chipley, Missy & Lucky

    Topper, Nicky & Eddie in the clouds

    0
  • lisastewartL

    So sorry that this is happening, I recall you had thyroid issues with him previously too, hopefully he will take this in stride and live a long and happy life.

    Joe & Lisa Stewart

    Rolla, MO

    http://khursdogbed.com

    0
  • J

    Such sad news for a young boy. My heart aches for you both. It will actually be more difficult for you to bear. So a huge virtual hug to you.

    Jo

    At home in the heart of the Congo.

    http://lukurubasenjiconservateurs.com/home

    0
  • DebraDownSouthD

    I understand. And like Anne, I know several blind dogs who have done remarkably, especially if they have a companion or have gone blind slowly so they adjust.

    Debra

    0
  • BasenjimammaB
    Houston

    Oh no..I am so, so sorry to hear this..sending hugs and thoughts to you both.

    Petra and Pippin

    with Otis in my heart…

    0
  • curlytailsC
    First Basenji's

    I always enjoy your pictures of Sonny. He often seemed to me to have a "wide-eyed" expression in his pictures which is very endearing – I don't know if that's related at all. That doesn't change the fact that this is a heavy diagnosis to take, especially for such a young dog. We all know you are a loving owner and will stick by him, through thick and thin.

    M.C. w/ Bowdu (shiba inu) and Bowpi (basenji)

    0
  • ?

    Thank you all for your kind words…today is a much harder day on me then it is on Sonny....he's snoring next to me quite happily now :) He'll be well loved and cared for in all the happy years to come...

    0
  • QuercusQ

    I am sorry. I know you will both make it through this challenge. Hugs to you…

    Andrea Walters

    Quercus Basenjis

    NW Ohio

    0
  • KipawaK

    Something like this is very hard to hear - I can feel your sadness. I'm sure Sonny will live a good full life with you, his loving and caring owner.

    Fran Harder, BAB

    With Barney in my heart

    0
  • crystalncodyC
    First Basenji's

    I'm so sorry. I will be keeping you both in my thoughts. I think he will surprise you with his resilience.
    Hugs to you both.

    0
  • tanzaT

    @sonnyboy:

    It is my own personal decision not to discuss the breeder on this forum. Sonny is from a responsible breeder that is not an issue….It's a heart breaking day for me and I just choose to share what I am feeling.

    Sorry to hear about Sonny, but blind dogs can get along quite well… Obvious trick is not to move the furniture.... I know someone who's Basenjis past over the rainbow bridge years ago. They didn't know what he died from so had a necropsy done to see if they could find out. Turns out they discovered that this boy was blind and had been for some time. They (the owners) never even knew. They knew that his eye sight was not as good, but never considered that he was fully blind.

    I hope that whoever his breeder is makes the pedigree public with the knowledge of PRA. Makes it difficult for breeders to try and do the right thing with breeding when possible health afflictions are found.

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

    0
  • J

    On 4 January 2011, our dearly loved MinPin named Dobie was diagnosed with SARDS (Sudden Acquired Retinal Degeneration Syndrome). She had gone completely blind over a period of ~3 days. It was extremely traumatic for her and for us. She tried very, very hard to see … straining for some vision ... for about 6 weeks. But, she has adapted. She still bumps into things and doesn't run with wild abandon anymore. But, she is pain free and comfortable. And she is VERY loved. Several people recommended a book (Living With Blind Dogs by Caroline D. Levin). It is a nice reference and might help you deal with what lays ahead.
    With sympathy

    Jo

    At home in the heart of the Congo.

    http://lukurubasenjiconservateurs.com/home

    0
  • ?

    @JoT:

    On 4 January 2011, our dearly loved MinPin named Dobie was diagnosed with SARDS (Sudden Acquired Retinal Degeneration Syndrome). She had gone completely blind over a period of ~3 days. It was extremely traumatic for her and for us. She tried very, very hard to see … straining for some vision ... for about 6 weeks. But, she has adapted. She still bumps into things and doesn't run with wild abandon anymore. But, she is pain free and comfortable. And she is VERY loved. Several people recommended a book (Living With Blind Dogs by Caroline D. Levin). It is a nice reference and might help you deal with what lays ahead.
    With sympathy

    thank you for sharing that…I came across that book today while looking for resources. I take comfort in knowing Sonny also isn't in any pain and has so many people surrounding him with love..

    0
  • P

    I'm so sorry to hear about Sonny and more than sorry for your heartbreak but I'm sure he will adapt - after all he's a young dog and will learn to live with blindness. He still has his smell which I'm sure will now compensate.

    We had a blind border collie and she could go through gaps and clear fences as fast as any other dog. She herded sheep with aplomb ( I assume through her sense of smell. Her main problem, strangely enough was at dusk, she was much more uncertain then. She lived a happy and fulfilled life as I'm sure Sonny will.

    You will always be in my thoughts. Please let us know how he progresses.

    0
  • P

    Sorry to hear about Sonny. With his potential blindness, what will he really miss out? Will he miss out in your hugs? Will he miss out your love? Will he miss out barooing? Seems like he will still be the same basenji you loved before you heard the diagnosis.

    Artie, servant to:

    Mister Two Dicks & Pepper

    0
  • agilebasenjiA

    i am so sorry to read this. but really, i think blind dogs do okay. i know there are yahoo groups that will be very helpful and an earlier poster already mentioned a book. i hope you have many years to come with sonny

    0
  • lvossL

    I can understand your not wanting to publicly share at this time more information about your boy but please register him in the Canine Phenome Project and fill out the health survey for your boy. His DNA could help insure that no other owner has to feel what you are feeling now. BCOA would like to fund research into a DNA test for basenji PRA but we need confirmed diagnosis and access to blood for DNA from affected dogs.

    Please register with the Canine Phenome Project, http://www.caninephenome.org

    0

Suggested Topics

  • thunderbird8588T

    Dogs Trust open day

    Basenji Talk
    4
    0 Votes
    4 Posts
    3k Views
    P
    They look as though they had a wonderful day - Congratulations on Malaika's rosette.
  • curlytailsC

    Breeding for temperament back in the day

    Basenji Talk
    32
    0 Votes
    32 Posts
    10k Views
    curlytailsC
    Reviving an old thread to add an interesting tidbit (hey, if the spammers can do it, I can too…!). I'm finally getting around to reading Jill Wylie's Call-of-the-Marsh, which I have checked out from the library. It's about a British woman living in Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) in the late 1950s/1960s, and she has a Basenji. Attending her first dog show, she writes: Call behaved well considering that for the entire two days of the Show he had none of his precious freedom. He held himself nicely in the ring, and won the Open and Rhodesian Breed but his Challenge Certificate was withheld because he bit the judge. Well, she asked to see his bite and he took her at her word. I watched Basenjis being judged at Crufts Dog Show in England when I was over there, and all five of them bit the judge. Perhaps it's a sign of good breeding. (p. 31) I'm finding a lot of LOL moments in this memoir. Some cute illustrations, too.
  • T

    Is kennel all day fair to my basenji?

    Basenji Talk
    21
    0 Votes
    21 Posts
    7k Views
    JannekeJ
    I'm really sorry you are in this situation and I understand your guilty feeling.. I do not agree with what is said above about dogs sleeping all day and not caring about how much their humans are there with them as long as they are loved… (sorry..) If I were you I would think hard about keeping him or not. If you know your situation will not change and you can find someone who can offer him more, I think you are doing what is best for the dog by giving him a new home. If you believe this situation will only be temporarily or if you can't find that better home, then you can try to make things a bit better for Tucker by giving him more quality time in the morning. I believe 20 min is too little time to get the energy out of a 2 year old pup. After an 8 hour sleep during the night and before 11 hours of laying in a kennel/x-pen during the day a dog needs a lot more than 20 min.. If you could get up earlier, you could try to walk/cycle Tucker for like about 45-60 min? I think loosing some of his energy will also help with him being less destructive when loose in the house. Mabye you can try to find a nice neighbour/family member/etc who could walk Tucker during the day? Even if it was only one day per week, that's better than none :) Also, if the daycare is too expensive for the entire week, maybe you can only bring him one or two days per week? Just thinking out loud here :) I hope I don't sound harsh.. And I hope you find some ways to make it a better situation for Tucker and yourself.
  • F

    Worst day at the park!

    Basenji Talk
    16
    0 Votes
    16 Posts
    6k Views
    S
    You should call animal control and report a dangerous dog running loose. No one should have to deal with that type of danger when walking their dog.
  • AndrewA

    Smart, sad dog

    Basenji Talk
    4
    0 Votes
    4 Posts
    1k Views
    Robin_n_JackR
    My DH leaves for long trips all the time, and Jack always knows what is going on and hates it….however, every time he comes back, no matter if it has been 2 weeks or 6 months, Jack is just so happy to see him. I always am impressed that Jack remembers him. But, as everyone has said, the reunion will be so sweet....
  • ChaseandZahrasmomC

    Was your B absent the day

    Basenji Talk
    15
    0 Votes
    15 Posts
    5k Views
    youngandtiredY
    I found this neat brush from Wal-Mart that runs by battery, and it is suppose to do the trick. It was once advertised on TV, suppose to remove the dandar and its a snap to clean. Sahara is shedding alot these days, I didn't have a battery so I couldn't try it out. Will let you know tomorrow.