Best posts made by AllisonMosley

@eeeefarm Thank you for your reply. 16 years is amazing. How special that you got 3 more years. Doc had also mentioned steroids but that it wouldn't be good for her kidneys if I remember right. She is still enjoying the day to day for now.

Thanks! It is for basenjis with Fanconi. A protocol created by a vet, Dr. Gonto, for treatment/mitigation of Fanconi to alleviate symptoms and extend the life of the dogs by slowing renal issues. https://www.basenjirescue.org/fanconi/fanconi-protocol-2015.pdf

Hi everyone, Mya is 14 years 8 months old. Diagnosed with Fanconi around age 6. She had 2 seizures 12/21/21 and 7 over a 12hr period on 1/10/22. The labs from 12/21/21 showed BUN/UREA 34 mg/dL, BUN/CREA 8, CREA 4.1 mg/dL.

We started her on .5(I think it was mL) of Keppra for the seizures after the episodes on 1/10 to see how she does. She is still eating and drinking, but in general has had some changes in the last year with increased urinary incontinence, seeing/hearing loss, major weight loss(22 to 18 to currently 16lbs). There is discussion of possible GME(has a lot of the symptoms) and VET thinks the seizures are brain tumor/GME related and not metabolic. ABD/CHEST scan showed no cancer. We are not having an MRI done because we would not seek treatment/surgery.

If your basenji was in a similar state...
-if they had GME... how "rapid" was the decline?
-Did you see results/or decrease in CREA etc when flushing the kidneys via fluid administration with a CREA of 4.1? If so... how long did those results last? Did it extend their life or improve quality of life?
-She gets 3 sodium bicarbonate tabs BID...but at 14 years old is getting a venous blood gas worth the effort in order to change dosage? (For reference... barriers exist for us. No local vets with iStat machine, human hospitals unable to help, local pet ERs so busy & require referral + admission=$$).
-Did your pet weigh this little? Were they able to gain some back or even maintain it? VET thinks it is a combination of renal failure/old age.

This is my first pet that I have needed to consider all the factors that lead towards the decision of euthanasia. I have read books and websites but I think I just need to hear from some basenji lovers. One moment I realize euthanasia is coming, the next I am wondering if maybe she has a few more months.

Our current game plan is to continue the Keppra and monitor for seizures, while assessing the side effects of it and how it changes her quality of life.