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First Basenji, some questions.

Basenji Health Issues & Questions
  • S

    Hi,
    I recently bought my first Basenji, he is just great.
    I bought him at 12 weeks old (Yes a little late, but he behaves fine, and socializing very well)
    Some questions i had is that he is now 13-14 weeks, his tail is'nt really curled, the first day in the house his tail was very low, but i could understand that because the new environment has to be a little stressfull for a puppy.
    The tail is'nt really between his legs anymore, and mostly standing up, though it is not really curled "Basenji style".
    I have read that some Basenji's have less curly tails than others.
    His 2 brothers who were also still for sale at the breeder did have curled tails, we noticed that the one we picked didn't, but we liked his energy.
    And i dont really mind if his tail stays like this because he is an awesome dog, but do you think or know some basenji's just grow their tails curled a litte later?
    Attached a photo of how he mostly carry's his tail.

    Any comment or answer about him will be appreciated :D
    attachment_t_15599_0_img-20130617-wa0004.jpg

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  • R

    Sick Basenji :(

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
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    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
  • torchsongT

    Tooth question

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
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    tanzaT
    And just because she can "chew" on the other side, food stuffs and bacteria can still get in through the bad tooth. Honestly, not something to put off….. the sooner the better
  • S

    Older Basenji question

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
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    P
    Jewel (now 17) has homeopathic Rhus Tox - just one tablet a day and she and she seldom suffers aches now.
  • agilebasenjiA

    Questions

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
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    tanzaT
    @agilebasenji: I have a friend who has a nonbasenji dog that was just diagnosed with Fanconi. They (owner and vet) started the dog on the Gonto's protocal. (yea!) I know there is a Fanconi list, but did not know if it was open to just Fanconi affected basenjis or if other breeds were welcome. Also, is it a yahoo group? thanks It is a yahoo group and it is open to anyone with a Fanconi affected dog, or so I have been told.
  • ComicDom1C

    Questions about Basenji Vision

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
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    tanzaT
    @ComicDom1: The reason I asked the question is because I read a general article in regard to color and range of vision that dogs have. There seems to be some controversy in regard to near or far sighted conditions in dogs. One thing that most agreed to is that dogs have a wider field of vision that a human but also sees less color and suggest that a dogs vision is about 20 degrees off. So being a photographer, I would think that like a camera lens, that 20 degrees would certainly affect a dog depending on the distance to the object they are looking at. I did not look at articles for a long time but I did see it suggested that there may be some differences from breed to breed. I also did not see any information that was specifically related to hounds. Miranda and I did discover that there are two different type of PRA. Early onset that effects the dogs before the age of 2 and late onset affects the dogs between 4 and 6 years old. These are both genetic. The dog gradually goes blind and there is no treatment for this. It is painless for the dog and most go on to live long happy lives without their sight. Jason and Miranda And Basenji are in the "late" onset group. Sometimes as late as even 9 or 10… first clue usually to PRA is not being able to see at night...... There are a couple of breeds that they have DNA test for PRA, however not yet for the type Basenjis get. It is on the BCOA list of genetic tests we would like to see worked on...... Again, this is way it is important to have your B's eyes checked by a board certified Ophthalmolgist and one that is familar with Basenjis.
  • JannekeJ

    Basenjis are popular..

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
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    JannekeJ
    @ibi_n_sane: the ears of the basenji of the pictures you show look like their is really something wrong, but it is not right to think that a basenji with a bit thin fur on his ears also has a condition/ disease that causes this. Of course, this dog is diagnosed with pattern baldness. And no, you can't say that every basenji/dog with less fur on the ears has this condition. Like Tanza said: it could be flies, or maybe cold, malnutrition.. I do think that Tillo's bald blackish ear rims are more than just 'loosing hair because it's winter/spring/summer..' And I would love to know what's causing it. That's why I wanted to ask it at the University and that's why I was suprised to see the B-ears on the screen and to hear about this 'pattern baldness' :)