also is it going to hurt him? is it a blood test?? or ???
Even if he tests negative… due to the fact that he tested once positive and you know the strips are good, you need to have the blood gases done... and yes it is a blood test... price varies... so I can't really say... however most Vets offices to not usually have a blood gases machine... and usually have to refer you out to a clinic that has one. And you need to be sure your Vet understands about Fanconi and DO NOT let him/her say that blood gases are not necessary...
Good luck and the good news is that you have caught it early... again to... remember, Dr. Gonto is always available to talk to you and/or your Vet.
heard back from my vet that says he wouldn't jump to the gas test yet that he want me to bring him in for first some general blood work and an exam before we jump to the blood gases - does that make sense - i feel like i am at the mercy of the doctor and don't want to do anything wrong for the guy
If the strips were good and he tested positive for sugar even once, then the next step is blood gases. The only thing that your doctor can rule out with another blood test is diabetes. The quicker you can have the blood gases run and your boy started on the Protocol the better for his kidney function. If you have any questions, please contact Dr Gonto, he can talk to your vet about why it is so essential to get the blood gases run.
heard back from my vet that says he wouldn't jump to the gas test yet that he want me to bring him in for first some general blood work and an exam before we jump to the blood gases - does that make sense - i feel like i am at the mercy of the doctor and don't want to do anything wrong for the guy
Nope…you need to run a blood gas ASAP to find out what his levels are. If your vet is offended by that suggestion, you may need to look into another vet. Lots of vets have little or no experience with Fanconi....some are unwilling to take advice from a bunch of non-vets. But really, this is the next step.
Oh, and try not to panic. Lots of dogs do wonderfully on Dr. Gonto's protocol for a long, long time. Hugs to you and your boy 
heard back from my vet that says he wouldn't jump to the gas test yet that he want me to bring him in for first some general blood work and an exam before we jump to the blood gases - does that make sense - i feel like i am at the mercy of the doctor and don't want to do anything wrong for the guy
You are NOT at the mercy… no that doesn't make sense... if your Vet is not agreeable to the blood gases, you need to find another Vet.. remember it is your dog, your money... your call. Blood Gases are a blood test and they are very important... Again, is you Vet familar with Fanconi? Is he/she willing to call and talk to Dr. Gonto?
heard back from my vet that says he wouldn't jump to the gas test yet that he want me to bring him in for first some general blood work and an exam before we jump to the blood gases - does that make sense - i feel like i am at the mercy of the doctor and don't want to do anything wrong for the guy
Also a little story for you and others about Vets… A very good friend's Basenji started spilling. She called me and I said the same, blood gases... she then talked to her Vet and was "read" the riot act on how "she" was the Vet, What good are blood gases, I never heard of the Protocol" and my friend called me in tears.... wanting to know what to do... I told her she can do one of two things, get a new Vet or ask her Vet to call Dr. Gonto and talk to him about Fanconi and the reason that Blood gases are so very necessary... Her Vet (much to the Vet's credited) called Dr. Gonto, she then called my friend and said "So, lets get those blood gases scheduled and done asap!"
When Stormie began spilling sugar, he also was intermittent. In the afternoon it showed up, that evening, it was slight, the next morning almost nothing - but he has Fanconi. Luckily I have found an incredible vet who scheduled the blood gas tests right away.
The good news out of all this is that you've caught it early! Kudos to you for strip testing!!!! And the earlier you catch it, the less damage is done and the better the outlook for the dog.
I agree with everyone so far, if your vet is unwilling to listen to you, find a new one who will…many (((((hugs)))) to you and your furkid!!!
Lorraine and Stormie
I forgot to mention in my previous post - the blood gas tests themselves aren't very expensive. My vet clinic charges $45. Initially blood work will also be done to determine other values (ie: potassium etc.). That gets a little more pricey, but it's not done as often as blood gas tests are.
More ((((hugs)))))
i go tomorrow at 945 - i will insist on the test and that he call dr gonto - its been a very hard year for me and my bs have been the only thing that has gotten me through and am having a hard time with this - thanks for the words
Tewwi22, I understand how scary and overwhelming this feels for you right now. I think I was in some stage of crying over Stormie's spilling sugar/diagnosis for a solid week. I promise you that it's not going to be as bad as you think it will - it changes your life much more than it changes your b's. I don't even think Stormie realizes he's "sick" - he just gets lots of treat pills everyday and trust me, that grubby guts is OK as long as there's food involved! grin. More hugs for you, because I know it sucks and it's scary, but it's managable - you and your furkid are going to be just fine. (((hugs)))
Yes, it is scary, but remember the good news is that you found out early… and take a copy of the protocol with you.... we are all here for you.... let us know how you make out with your Vet....
i read the protocol and it does say "once a working diagnosis has been made on the baseis of a positive urineurine glucose in the absense of elveated blood glucose" then to run the venous blood gas panel - i am hoping that is why my vet says to run the other blood test first but i am going to insist on the test when i get there or to have him tell me where i can get it done because he can't do it there - will call some animal hospitals -
i read the protocol and it does say "once a working diagnosis has been made on the baseis of a positive urineurine glucose in the absense of elveated blood glucose" then to run the venous blood gas panel - i am hoping that is why my vet says to run the other blood test first but i am going to insist on the test when i get there or to have him tell me where i can get it done because he can't do it there - will call some animal hospitals -
By the time he takes blood within a couple of hours he will have the results… chances of blood glucose being elevated is pretty slim, IMO... and you can still call and get an appointment set up. Does your Vet know about Fanconi and already have a copy of the protocol? And I would (if it were me) just start calling around to different larger clinics to see who has a blood gas machine.... and make an appointment. And Dr. Gonto will be more then happy to discuss the results and help develop the beginning treatment. Know however that you will most likely be doing blood gases every 6 months (I think that is correct) to see if the meds are correct.....
ok will start calling today - do you know how the meds impact the dog? ie will he be back to normal or still constantly drinking and needing to go out?
ok will start calling today - do you know how the meds impact the dog? ie will he be back to normal or still constantly drinking and needing to go out?
Depends on the dog and the degree of Fanconi at any given point… is he doing that now? Typically when they first start spilling that is what you see the sugar in the urine... usually not much change in drinking or potty habits...
vet says unlike fanconi his blood sugar is off the chart and that his will wait for the all the test results but that he is most likely diabetic - he said his blood sugar was 400 and should be below 120 - do you know anything about diabetic basenjis?
vet says unlike fanconi his blood sugar is off the chart and that his will wait for the all the test results but that he is most likely diabetic - he said his blood sugar was 400 and should be below 120 - do you know anything about diabetic basenjis?
I do not, but I have heard of a few dogs that are diabetic…. And that would mean that you will have to give shots daily... if this is the case... It is not very often that you will find a Basenji that is diabetic.... be interesting to see what the rest of the blood work shows along with like his liver and kidney values.... Thanks for the update....
We had a diabetic basenji some years ago. She had lost weight and then suddenly got very sick, spilled sugar, and had elevated blood glucose. We started out with one insulin shot everymorning, she protested at first but I got very quick and pretty soon she hardly noticed. Back then, my vet treated by symptoms…if she started drinking a lot, I increased the insulin. Periodically we would check her blood sugar every 2 hours throughout a day to see how efffective the insulin was. After a couple of years we went to 2 shots a day, still not a big issue. She was about 12 when we started, so I don't know how she might have done if she had been younger, but we got another couple of great years for her before she lost sight and then got a bit senile at about 15.
That was about 12 years ago, treatments may have improved a lot since then. And there are great 'low carb' foods like EVO that should help a lot! We have freinds whose Great Dane became diabetic, very nearly died, and she started feeding him cooked ground beef, no grains at all, and he improved and lived another couple of years, I think he was about 12 when he died and had been diabetic for several years. Diabetes treatment in humans has improved a lot over the years, I'm sure it is the same for dogs. I would get him on a low-carb food right away, and see if that helps.
Good luck, hopefully with good diet control and exercise, he will do very well.
Anne in Tampa
thank you so much for the info!! i will start on Evo and low carb right away
