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Basenji Health Issues & Questions
  • Hello!
    I would like to know when and where should I start doing Nilo's health tests? (He is 9 months now) Which ones should I start with? (PRA, IPSID, Pancreatic Enzyme Deficiency, Hypothyrodism…) What are the procedures?

    Thank you

  • Fanconi testing would be what I suggest first.
    Unless you have that test from your b's breeder.

  • At 12 months old he will be old enough for his first thyroid test. OFA recommends every year for the first 5 years then every other year since most autoimmune thyroiditis is seen in the first 5 years. He will also be old enough to get his patellas certified at 12 months. CERF exams are only good for 1 year so if you want to keep them current you will want to have one performed 12 months after his puppy CERF. Generally, you will not see symptoms of PRA until later in life so you will need to keep testing well into old age. Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency is only tested for if symptoms are present. There is no test for IPSID.

    Hips can be OFA certified at 24 months along with elbows.

  • @sharronhurlbut:

    Fanconi testing would be what I suggest first.
    Unless you have that test from your b's breeder.

    No, I do not have it. So I should start with Fanconi first, ok. And where is the test given? Is there any special lab where my vet should send a blood or urine sample?

    Thank you for the info about the tests, I asked my vet but it seems that Nilo is the only basenji he sees, so any more info from you all is more than welcome.

  • @Nilo:

    No, I do not have it. So I should start with Fanconi first, ok. And where is the test given? Is there any special lab where my vet should send a blood or urine sample?

    It's a DNA linkage test, you can order a kit from OFFA. Go to https://secure.offa.org/Cart.html and search for 'Basenji' to order a kit.

    You can do it at home, it doesn't need to be done by a vet, just take the cheek swab from the kit and take a sample from Nilo's cheek, put it on the card and mail it back in. You'll hear back in about 4-6 weeks.

  • The fanconi test needs to be ordered from the OFA website, https://secure.offa.org/cart.html

    Have you talked to Nilo's breeder about health testing. Without pedigree information his tests alone don't provide a very complete picture since disorders like PRA are late onset.

6/6

14 Aug 2010, 03:00

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    The more data that is in the data base, the better people can use the that information as this is a Linkage test only… and errors can be made either human or test....
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    @AC~Akeyla: I was wondering when we should have our 1 year old B's checked for Fanconi? For some reason I thought they had to be a certain age. And what is the best way to go about getting them tested? And you are most likely thinking of the urine test strips, which was the only way to detect Fanconi before the DNA Test that is now widely used. Since Fanconi is a late onset, usually it was recommended that Basenjis be strip test with urine test strips beginning no later then age 3 (and tested once a month, every month). If you have a Basenji that DNA tests for Affected, then you still will need to start testing them monthly no later then age 3.
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    $15 http://www.offa.org/dnaappbw.pdf I think it may just be that I spend an inordinate amount of time on the OFA site.
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    Perm records for hips/elbows are after 2yrs of age, so Oakley is too young. Some do Prelims but that is usually in the case of a male that is going to be used at stud before 2yrs. Keep in mind for hip and/or elbow results that unlike Fanconi testing it is Optional to post the results if they are not Excellent, Good or Fair - Owner option.. same with Thyroid. There is a place on the forms to mark if you want the results posted regardless of the outcome. Many people DO NOT CHECK this box… therefore if the dog is dysplastic, the results are not shown. So read that into the results.... and I know of Dysplastic Basenjis that are NOT in the data base. That said, hips are not a huge concern as in other breeds, but there are problems out there.... IMO, I would have the hips done... elbows, would not worry about that too much... Sedated? Depends on your Vet... some Vets will do without, some will not do hips without. My two girls were just done, both without, we have a mobile Vet that does testing and they go to most all the shows, makes it really easy and no sedation. I have had both ways done on my Basenjis over the years.
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