Help. . .Information needed on excessive peeing of a 4 month old female Basenji

[Kalahari]

Hi everyone,

I am new to this sight and the proud new owner of my first 4 month old female Basenji named Kali.

I am looking for some help in regards to same Basenji.

Some background on Kali . . . . up until 2 days ago Kali was and is everything our research into Basenjis had told us she would be, inquisitive, loyal, loveable, aloof and totally endearing. I will add to this that from almost the beginning she has been a water fiend, she will search it out, inside, outside, in a glass on the table, it doesn't matter she wants water.

Two days ago she started peeing and trailing it all over the house. I will admit she was not completely house trained however she had been getting better day by day telling me she had to go out but two dys ago that all stopped and with out warning while running through the house she will suddenly stop and pee wherever and whenever . She can just have come in and still she will pee.

After questioning my trainer she suggested that Kali may have a kidney or bladder infection and I should take her to the vet. Today I took her and a urine sample to the vet and here is where I need the help. After testing the urine and finding nothing but the fact that it was rather dilute (which the vet did not like) she suggested that we take more tests and find out what is really going on. She suggested that we take a blood test and some X-rays and also an ultrasound test at which point I said WHY? She then replied that the dilute urine in itself was an indicator and that the other test would point us in a direction. I said "like what" and she said that the blood tests could tell us if it was on infection or a congenital problem such as a deformed kidney or the lack of a kidney or something with the bladder. I went ahead and had the blood test done and it told us that creatin level was twice the normal and that another element (which name escapes me now)was also elevated twice what it should be not a terrible thing but abnormal especially for a 4 month old puppy.

With that I asked what we could do and she said that she could send me home with a course of antibiotics and hope that there would be a great change in Kali by Friday, if not, the prognosis was not going to be good.

Well to say the least she scared the you know what out of my family and I and so now I am turning to the good people of this Basenji loving forum to see if there is anything the least bit recognizable with any of this or if anyone can shed any light on this for us.

We have come to love our little Kali and our hearts are breaking in thinking that we might lose her .

[Quercus]

Well, I don't know…I am no vet for sure...but it is really, REALLY common for puppies to have a set back in house training between four and five months. Puppies that seemed perfectly house broken will urinate in the house for about a week, and then it goes away.

Urinary tract infections are also common at this age. I don't know about the blood levels...but by your description...I don't think I would panic at all. Your description of her peeing habits are pretty text book...in fact, my 6 month old pup just stopped doing this a few weeks ago....If your vet is thinking about low urine concentration as being an indicator of Fanconi...it is way too early for this pup to be ill with this. It doesn't usually show up until beyond 2-3 years old.

Where did you get your puppy? Can you contact the breeder about your concerns?

[MaxBooBooBear]

I'm sorry to hear that Kali is having problems–and I hope it is just an infection that antibiotics will take care of. I do know that creatinine level is one of the main indicators my vet watched for with both of my elderly dogs who had kidney disease later in life (one was a basenji; one was a german shepherd mix). My vet also told me that before indicators really show up in bloodwork that the kidneys could already be as low as 25% function. I believe the BUN value was also important to evaluate kidney function.

[tanza]

And also, a couple of my puppy bitches (more then the boys) would totally forget what house training was for about two weeks during teething…

UTI is very, very possible and very often they are undetected even with a urine sample... especially one that you have collected. Sometimes they have to draw the "pee" directly..... certainly before I would panic, I would think UTI... big time.... also, while still pretty young, not unheard of to be coming in season.... But again, from what you are saying I would be very surprised if it is something really serious....

But it is good that your Vet is looking at all the options...

Like already asked, can you contact the breeder?

[tanza]

Also, not totally sure what to make of her "want" of water?… that would be a bit of a concern... now you say that she seeks it out?... do you leave water available for her all the time? Is she drinking all of it and then wanting more?....

[lvoss]

Creatinine levels are a way to measure kidney function. My sister in law is in kidney failure and is on the waiting list for a new kidney an creatinine is one thing they have monitored as an indicator of how much kidney function she has.

Has she sought out water to drink all the time since you got her or did this start at about the same time she started having the accidents? How long have you had Kali?

[Kalahari]

Thank you for sharing your experience with us and calming our fears. I am not one to panic but I grew up with daschunds and have 30years of experience with them. Ewven with all the research we did we can not be prepared for everything with a new breed. The one thing I did omit in my tome was that the vet did say there was no glucose in her urine so I don't think she was trying to say that Kali might have Faconi. I believe that like all doctors she is a practitioner and just like humans all dogs are different but when you have such a young pup and so many different indicators you have to rely on the experience of others. Thank you again

[tanza]

Who did you get your Basenji from?… again, have you contacted your breeder?

[JazzysMom]

My first thought with the excessive drinking and peeing was Diabetes. {I have two Diabetic kids and that's how they were diagnosed, LOL}. But I don't know that the creatin {kidney problem?} levels play into that because usually one has Diabetes long before kidney problems develop.

Do keep us posted. This is a puzzler!

[JazzysMom]

Oops, just missed the "no glucose in urine" post. Okay, so not a Diabetes problem!

[tanza]

@JazzysMom:

Oops, just missed the "no glucose in urine" post. Okay, so not a Diabetes problem!

Which is a good thing, that covers both diabetes and fanconi…..

[Kalahari]

Hi again, I'm Kali's "sister" if you will, but a human! I went with Kali and my mother today to the vet and listened to everything the vet had to say, and about how Kali may have a congenital problem. Well we have had Kali for about 3 months and if she has a congenital problem, wouldn't we have seen signs of a problem much earlier on? That is my only question.

By the way, I'm pretty freaked out right now because I am completely in love with Kali and the thought of her having a problem that can't be fixed really scares me. But my mom read me your responses to the post and it really reassured me. So thanks!

[nomrbddgs]

You may not have necessarily noticed a problem. Expecially since you were house training her and expected her to pee or have oops's. Since no one is sure of the problem let's wait and see until Friday to see what happens. Antibiotics take 12-48 hrs to be effective. Which is why the vet said to wait and see.

[Kalahari]

Since we came home from the vets, Kali has not had an accident in the house and has been her usual puppy self the only thing that remains is the overwhelming desire for water.

In answer to your questions about whether or not we leave water for her all the time the answer is no but I do make sure that she has something to drink 5 or 6 times a day. You might call it rationing but when she is relentless about it, I do give her water, just not copious amounts but enough to whet her whistle 3 or 4 oz. at a crack. She always finishes it all and always looks for more. The vet did say that that was enough water for a 13lb puppy. She was also looking for any signs of dehydration and found none.

As for where did we get her, we got her from a breeder in Southern Illinois who breeds 5 or 6 different kinds of dogs , from westies to corgies to ridgebacks. She has had 2 or 3 litters a year for 3 or 4 years of Basenjis. Being a first time Basenji owner i never knew there was a registered club of Basenji breeders, and when i found Kali we had just lost our 9 yr old daschund and my daughter was heartbroken so we were looking for a replacement as quick as possible.

Thanks again for all your concerns and comments they have been very helpful and appreciated.

[tanza]

What kind of congenital problem? As in a growth defect?…. Of course anything is possible as far as development goes... IMO and this is just what I would do is to have an ultrasound done... this will give you the answers if development of the kidneys or bladder is happening... and it is totally possible that if there was a congenital problem, with age it is coming to light...

Again, where did this pup come from... and have or are you able to talk to the breeder? You say that you had her for 3 months, but that she is now 4 months? How old was she when you got her?

[tanza]

Have you had any contact with the breeder to see if any similar problems ever?…

And I disagree with not leaving the water down with access all the time... I would be interested to know if she would keep drinking till like a quart without stopping... but the whole thing with excessive drinking would be a worry...

Again if my pup, I would have an ultrasound done... and by a specialist in internal medicine.....

[lvoss]

Also, you may have only just started to notice problems because she is now big enough that the reduced kidney function is beginning to show. When she was smaller she may have had enough kidney function to get by but as her body grows her kidneys can not keep up.

[nomrbddgs]

I know of one bitch who doesn't get water all the time who drank, drank, drank. Turned out she had a low grade infection. After she was cleared up with antibiotics she drank less. I too would leave water down for her for the moment. While limiting may help excessive peeing, it may also diminish the effectiveness of the antibiotics going through her system.

The breeder could have also limited her water. (not to knock you but sounds like a puppy mill breeder). Alot of breeders with more than 2 different breeds cannot keep up with the requirements of the puppies and therefore the water is limited.

[nomrbddgs]

I'll correct the last statement not to offend anyone. 5-6 different breeds sounds like an aweful handful

[Kalahari]

Ordinarily I would agree with you on the topic of the breeder however I know the background story on Kali and I know she was well taken care of by the breeder. She was in beautiful shape when we picked her up and if it was a mill it was very well kept. Even so if it was then it was a good thing that we bought her and she is being well taken care of now.

We are on day 2 of antibiotics and I will say that there has been a dramatic improvement. We have had 2 small mistakes in two days versus the incessant accidents on Tuesday so I hope (dare I say) we are over the hill.

We have had so much good information from all of you and I think it might be a combination of all sorts of the ideas that you have shared with me. Whatever the case I will be checking it out with the vet tomorrow and will let you all know how she fared. Thanks again.