Skip to content
Basenji Forums
  1. Home
  2. Basenji Health Issues & Questions
  3. Sick puppy

Sick puppy

Basenji Health Issues & Questions
  • N

    Please..we our first time basenji owners and our poor girl has been sick since we got her in March. She is 6 mos old and has had a rough go fighting giardia, influenza, uti, and what was being treated as kennel cough from the day we got her. We now know it's not kennel cough. She has this awful awful cough that happens worse in the middle of the night after she has slept for a few hours. It starts around 2-3 hrs after we put her to bed. After she has been awake for a while it will stop but will happen once in a while throughout the day. We have had 3 rounds of antibiotics and done X-rays. They now say we have to do a tracheal flush that is about $1200. If anyone has any experience similar please let us know. We almost think it could be a nervous cough, but then think it would not get worse in middle of night. Thank you

    0
  • DebraDownSouthD

    If you don't trust the vets you are seeing, please get her to a university vet for a second opinion. Have you talked to any of the other owners of the litter, or is she a rescue?

    When kennel cough is really bad, it can take months to clear up and the cough go away. She could also have allergies affecting her at night.. where does she sleep? Can you change where she sleeps to see if it's better?

    Debra

    0

Suggested Topics

  • R

    Sick Basenji :(

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    8
    0 Votes
    8 Posts
    5k Views
    P
    I too am sorry for not seeing this thread sooner and hopefully the poster will return. My Basenji had some teeth removed and the vet prescribed Carprofen as the follow up antibiotic. My Basenji turned out to be allergic to Carprofen which caused her liver to fail. I went through the same scenario you are describing. She gradually quit eating over the course of several days and then her water consumption started to go down. The eating had me worried since she had an excellent appetite upon return from the vet and the final purging of the anesthesia from her system. Nevertheless, her condition started to degrade. I followed her outside and watched her urinate. Her urine was a very bright yellow. I suspected then a liver issue. Once back inside she was shivering - off to the vet we went. LIver panel blood work up showed very high on specific indicators for failing liver. Vet prescribed Denamarin (containing SAM-e and silybin). SAM-e helps protect liver cells from cell death and aids in cell repair and regeneration. The Vet also started fluid injections. Fluid injections were everyday for two weeks. My Basenji showed a remarkable response to the fluid injections becoming much more her normal self even after the first day. She hated the injections and I could hear her cry when receiving them at the vet (believe me that will tear you up). But she was doing better and she (me) were going to have to tuff this out. Also a different antibiotic was prescribed to prevent liver infection during recovery. The Denamarin comes in dosages based on weight (medium for us). It is the size of a large human like solid oblong vitamin pill. Instructions want you to give it on an empty stomach and preferably not to cut it or place in something similar to a pill pocket however you can if necessary. My Basenji would not take that size (can't blame her). Cutting and disguising it did not work either. I was frantic and got the SAM-e in powder form. I couldn't slip her that either. All though some folks had success with peanut butter and liverwurst. I finally after three days had to have the vet pill her along with her fluid treatments. A week later another blood sample and her liver panel indicators were coming down. The pilling would last for a month and it took two people to get the pill down her. The important part is - she fully recovered from the liver failure. She is 13 1/2 yrs old. My experience after having 5 Basenjis is that the breed is sensitive to medications (anesthesia also). Many of the medications work just fine in most other breeds and mixes. The vet, if not that experienced with the Basenji, must be cautioned. Mine was not. Before accepting any medication have the vet go over any contraindications with you and to double check their resources for potential side effects when dealing with Basenjis. They may switch to something else if a medication has a bad track history with Basenjis. Know what to watch for should your Basenji start to react in a non-positive manner. The poster did not indicate if there were medications in play when the dog started showing degenerating conditions. I sincerely hopes this helps in some way and helps other Basenji owners
  • AnaA

    Puppy neutering!

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    57
    0 Votes
    57 Posts
    19k Views
    T
    @DebraDownSouth: While others here post both husband and wife, they are individual and self-sufficient enough to post in the name of the person who is posting. "We" is a way I suspect to avoid either claiming responsibility. How about putting who is typing? Second, that you failed to grasp a basic is very sad but I'll make it easy for you. (Really, being honest you KNEW why but it was what you could find to try to make a fight)…. I said I have vets as friends to counteract the nonsense that I am attacking vets. Oh wait, I actually said that. Please quit trying to twist things for engagement. So not worth it. In fact, I am going to demonstrate my own advice and ignore trolling posts hence forth. How silly for me to respond when no one else misunderstood and only one person pretended to. Debra, we will never allow anyone to dictate to us how we should post on any forum. In addition, we will not bullied into anything by a comment or statement that someone else makes. We are not of high school age and we don't care for the drama associated with that type of behavior. You are welcome to suspect or make any type of assumption you wish that makes you comfortable. The context of the statement you made is an attempt at pure manipulation. The facts are that this is an internet forum. Like any Internet forum or blog a person or persons have the right to an expectation of privacy. If they wish to disclose information about themselves then it is their choice only. In our view no one has the right to demand anything different. We comprehend the majority of what is posted on this forum. We have no problem asking questions when we don't. We find your sentence that starts with " Second….." is written in a nonsensical way. We think you might have left out a word or two. As far as we understand, adults having intelligent discussion on an internet forum are not looking for a fight. We find it unfortunate that you have that perception. If you feel the need to justify your decisions and behavior, we do not think anyone is stopping you. Now that this is over maybe the discussion can get back on track.
  • krunzerK

    Flame is sick :(

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    33
    0 Votes
    33 Posts
    9k Views
    agilebasenjiA
    I am so sorry, Tollers are such delightful little dogs. I've had the good fortune to meet several and always liked them. You and yours are in my thoughts/prayers.
  • JISGARDJ

    Puppy teeth

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    11
    0 Votes
    11 Posts
    5k Views
    JISGARDJ
    O yes, it was certainly cheaper than the Vet!!!
  • etzbsederE

    Sick B

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    14
    0 Votes
    14 Posts
    4k Views
    etzbsederE
    Yay, there doesn't seem to be a need for the vet. Today was good and tomorrow will be better. Medjai started the day with a tiny bit of brown rice and the turkey bits picked out of the rice. Then he had some just plain beef also cooked plain and then later yet ate some of his kibble. He also had a only really soft poop. I never thought it would be so good to see him poop. He should be just fine, although I still have no idea what was wrong.
  • B

    Sick Basenji

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    9
    0 Votes
    9 Posts
    4k Views
    B
    An update on Ben's condition. He had his teeth cleaned this morning and the vet had to remove several teeth. A large tooth in the back of the mouth had a cavity that went all the way to the root. He never lost his appetite during the whole ordeal or seemed to have any sensetivity of his mouth. I hope this is the end of the suffering he was going through. He was a rescue dog so we don't have the previous owners records as to dental care he had in the past. You can be sure he will be monitored from here on out for any sign of tooth decay or tarter build up. Thanks to everyone who replyed to my inquiry on Basenji health.