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Urine Testing

Basenji Health Issues & Questions
  • Ok, I have been reading up on the testing for glucose in the urine as a possible red flag for Fanconi. I had Uzie to the Vet last week for his rabies. So, you know how the Dr asks if you have any more questions or have noticed anything different you might need to discuss???? Well, I said no. As soon a I got home, I started noticing Uzie drinking more water than usual and of course he has to pee constantly. This went on all day, then the next. I started to have a little freak…..So I called up my friend who's husband is a MD and got three UriScan test strips to start. So the first one I got the strip under his stream and counted the seconds for the colors to change. It was his third or 4th pee of the morning.....NO SUGAR! but he had a good amount of protein. There are others such as albumin, etc.....but I only remembered to note the high points of sugar and protein. I will do two more tests and note more specifics so I can relate this to the Vet. Why proteins? I feel a little on edge because in F.S. the dog leaks out minerals, sugar, and proteins. Can someone tell me not to worry? PS: here is a second test finding: Sugar- neg, ketones-neg, protein-neg(!), ph 6, and everything else 'normal'. So, I guess I just need to (rant) and maybe someone reading this has experience in F.S. I will be purchasing the DNA test kit next month as he turns 3 in Nov.

    I unfortunately have never gotten the AKC papers from the previous owner who said he'd send them to me from the breeder-somewhere near Tenn.

  • You should take a urine sample to the Vet to check for UTI. If not spilling sugar in the urine, most likely not Fanconi, however in the beginning of Fanconi, dogs can have one day of spilling and then a number of days without spilling. So best to test for at least a week every day and try to test the same time every day. Why are you waiting till next month for the Fanconi test?

    Also he should have blood work for blood sugar because it could be diabetes as they will drink and pee lots.

  • Please contact to Betsy Polglase from basenji companions and:
    Dr. Steve Gonto
    1 Savy Lane
    Savannah, Georgia 31411
    e-mail: outdoc@aol.com
    phone: (912) 598-5067

  • You can buy urine strips to check for glucose and I believe they are around $10 for 50 strips. Make sure you get the kind for glucose! This way you can check for glucose frequently until you get the results of the DNA Fanconi test.

    Jennifer

  • Proten in the urine can be a sign of kidney disease, but it could be other things. Is the urine foamy/sudsy? Diabetes, Cushings, UTI, his diet or the heat could all cause him to drink and pee more.

    I would recommend buying some test strips (I used Bayer Diastix) and test first thing in the morning for several consecutive days. If he's spilling sugar, then you can do a complete blood panel, venous blood gases and a urinalysis. That way you'll know exactly what you're dealing with. Spencer has been drinking even more than usual, to keep hydrated in the extreme heat– and he's hardly ever out in it. Fingers crossed that's what Uzie is doing! He's young to be symptomatic for Fanconi, so I'm sending positive thoughts that it's not that.

  • NO, his urine is not sudsy, normal consistency and color. I thank you all for the input and I will get more glucose strips when I get back next week from vacation and can check consecutive days for the urine.

  • Fingers crossed it's just the heat! MacPack goes through 2 large water bowls a day for the past month.
    Agree, test every day for a week, then weekly for a couple of weeks till your mind is at rest. I need to do the Fanconi test for Chipley too, have not gotten around to it yet.

    Enjoy your vacation.

  • @Buddys:

    Ok, I have been reading up on the testing for glucose in the urine as a possible red flag for Fanconi. I had Uzie to the Vet last week for his rabies. So, you know how the Dr asks if you have any more questions or have noticed anything different you might need to discuss???? Well, I said no. As soon a I got home, I started noticing Uzie drinking more water than usual and of course he has to pee constantly. This went on all day, then the next. I started to have a little freak…..So I called up my friend who's husband is a MD and got three UriScan test strips to start. So the first one I got the strip under his stream and counted the seconds for the colors to change. It was his third or 4th pee of the morning.....NO SUGAR! but he had a good amount of protein. There are others such as albumin, etc.....but I only remembered to note the high points of sugar and protein. I will do two more tests and note more specifics so I can relate this to the Vet. Why proteins? I feel a little on edge because in F.S. the dog leaks out minerals, sugar, and proteins. Can someone tell me not to worry? PS: here is a second test finding: Sugar- neg, ketones-neg, protein-neg(!), ph 6, and everything else 'normal'. So, I guess I just need to (rant) and maybe someone reading this has experience in F.S. I will be purchasing the DNA test kit next month as he turns 3 in Nov.

    I unfortunately have never gotten the AKC papers from the previous owner who said he'd send them to me from the breeder-somewhere near Tenn.

    We had our male Basenji tested shortly after we got him. We felt getting the testing out of the way as soon as possible gave us some peace of mind. Hopefully the DNA test kit will help you in that regard.

    You mention you never received the AKC papers from the previous owner. Do you know who the Sire and Dam of your puppy is? Do you know if you dog has a microchip? If you have any of that information it might help you.

    Is your Basenji neutered?

  • Did you receive a pedigree?

    Before the definitive Fanconi DNA test, I was testing my rescues for glucose in the urine at 2 years of age. I have not yet retested my dogs with the updated DNA test so they are still being tested for glucose in the urine.

    Jennifer

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