I agree with Andrea. I have one dog here who is hard to keep weight on. She burns a lot of calories, her great uncle Nicky was the same way at this age. What I have found works best for her is not to increase the amount of food she eats too rapidly. She is right now up to a 1/2 cup of dry in the morning and a full can of Merricks at night. She has been maintaining her weight and slowly gaining, though if she is really active it seems like we go nowhere.
I just want to be really clear here. Because it is important in the world of breeders…even though the dog is clearly your responsibility at this point. Did you ask this woman if she would take the dog back, and she refused?
I have personally sent her 2 emails and left a voice mail message on her listed phone number. She has not responded to any of my inquiries and I have approached her in a manner for open communication.
My understanding is that her response was that her daughter was responsible. My understanding is based on an email she sent to a friend of mine.
I have no intention of ill will and have no opinion about the breeder since I dont know when Savanah's ill health happened. From what I have found, she is not breeding anymore.
She is right now up to a 1/2 cup of dry in the morning and a full can of Merricks at night. She has been maintaining her weight and slowly gaining, though if she is really active it seems like we go nowhere.
Thanks for the tips!
<_>
Got it….but, to your knowledge, did anyone say "Betty, there is a dog of yours that has been abandoned by the owners, can you take it back or provide some support?"
IMO, this is what rescue groups need to do, to make sure there is no miscommunication between rescuer and breeder. Ask point blank...I have this dog, you bred it, can you take it back, or help me rehome it? At the very, very least the breeder should offer to pay for any expenses involved in you rehoming this girl.
<_>
I understand that you have no ill will...but it can be damaging to a breeder to even imply that they are not being responsible taking back puppies they have produced when the placement fails.
Before I form my own opinion about someone as a breeder, I want to know whether or not they were given the option to reclaim a dog, and whether they were willing to do it.__
I tried to get her to call me back about the dog and discuss it. I received no response through email and then tried her home phone. I still received no response. Quercus, I wish they could all be as active as you. You are the type of breeder that I would want because there is a commitment to the life of all basenjis from your pack. 
Any suggestions for weight gaining foods?
Satin Balls work great (for weight gaining and as random treats):
5 pounds ground meat
5 cups Total whole grain cereal
5 cups oats (slow cooking type)
2½ cups raw wheat germ
¾ cup oil
¾ cup molasses
6 egg yolks
5 packets gelatin
2 ½ tablespoons Solid Gold Seameal supplement
Mix all ingredients together thoroughly like you would a meatloaf.
Roll into balls no larger than 1 inch diameter.
Divide into at least 6 separate containers or bags. Freeze. Thaw as needed for feeding
here's a link that describes them
http://www.holisticdog.org/Nutrition/Satinballs/satinballs.html
and a link for different variations of Satin Ball Receipies
http://www.holisticdog.org/Nutrition/Satinballs/satinballs2.html
wow, that looks pretty interesting, not sure about the oats but can try anything once she is used to regular food. Have you actually made these?
I made them for my boxer, when he ruptured his ACL and had reconstructive surgery on it he lost weight really fast. He loved them and it helped him gain the weight back to a decent level, I didn't want to have him gain fast because of his surgery but he got bony so I gave them to him as an addition, he got 2 in the morning and 2 at night. Then when he was no longer as bony I cut them out so he didn't add extra stress to the healing knee
Also wanted to add again it is good of you to take this girl in, I would love to adopt her, but alas I am on the other side of the ocean right now, lol, and feel I should met a dog/pup first before picking it up at an airport or such.
Just out of curiosity, why are you not sure about the oats?
and I just thought if she has been used to a raw diet she'd probably love them
I had a basenji female who was diagnosed with IPSID and Metrier's disease. One of the first things they did when she had issues with sensitive digestive track was to cut out grains because they were not eaten in the wild.
On the flipside, I have had vets tell me to use rice when upset.
Have you tried something as simple as puppy food? Or puppy growth products? Sometimes the simplest things evade you in time of need.
She is on super food, gentle formula good from puppy to adulthood. I changed from the wet to the hard version and I dont think her stomach could take it. It just may take more wet food time…..
Watch the fat content-it could help or hurt the process. I've used a high fat content food with both good results and bad results. The wet could have a different fat content in it.
Well, I went back to the feed store at lunch and picked up more cans of the Natural Balance wet. She ate 2 cans worth yesterday spread out over the day and held her poop all day! There is such a night and day difference with her and the dry vs. wet. The dry gave her the runs all day.
I bought 24 cans! Hopefully that will last:p She loves it!
She is now not peeing every hour. It was fantastic last night. I was more concerned about her poop shoot than she was. She is also beginning to fill in. You can still see her butt bones and ribs, but she is filling in!
I e-mailed this breeder and said that I heard she was out of business and had basenjis to place, I wondered if she had homes for them or needed help with them. She e-mailed me that she had placed the basenji her daughter had abandoned, but she was not placing any others at this time. I e-mailed her back and let her know that the dog had been given to a friend (Mantis) and asked if she could take it back, or help. It has been a couple of days and she has not answered me either, so I think it's safe to say she does not want , or is not able, to be involved.
I have offered to get Mantis a triple-leash like mine, but she is still talking about placing her! Didn't anyone tell her they are like potato chips, you just want more and more?
MacPack
Topper, Nicky and Fast Eddie too
ha ha, thanks anne. she has been eating 2 cans of food a day! and she is beginning to fill in. She is gorgeous!
I am beginning to get her and Cairo confused when she sneaks into my lap for cuddles! LOL.
I will be on vacation all next week, so I will post update pics when I get back.
Bless you…she is a lucky little girl to have you...good luck and I hope all works out well for her...
Mantis,
What is the update on the new baby?
well this is my first day back at work. I went to New Smyrna Beach (S of Daytona) for a weeks vacation.
James, my roommate and boyfriend was covering the 3 basenjis for the week. Here are 2 pics of James and Savanah.
As you can see, she has warmed up quite a bit to the human touch. She is so happy and well tempered. Cairo and Caesar love her to death.
I have found a forever home for her and his name is John. He is a friend of the family and I expect we will meet Savanah on weekends for play.
She is starting to fill in a bit. No major weight gain yet, but solid poop and healthy skin is an accomplishment.
Last night she learned Sit, Lie Down, Touch, Up, and Down. All 3 walk on the leashes together and dont pull (except for Cairo).
I received a call mid week saying it was pretty hard to take care of 3 basenjis. Needless to say, I came home early to relieve some of that.
I went to the dog park this weekend with the 3 basenjis and introduced John to the basenji pack and their owners. I think it is great he understands their personalities and seems committed to taking her.
Savanah did great at the park. She ran up to Danes, alpha female basenjis and anything that moved. She wanted to play, sniff and would hold her ground without a bite! She fell right in with the pack and slept the rest of the day.
Great To Hear Mantis!!
