Posts made by basenjimom2

Am so very sorry, Alex. My tri boy Mr.T will be 12 in December. We lost our last 2 b's at ages 17 (Jenna went in her sleep), but Zak I had to have PTS as he had dementia really bad. Its never easy loosing these furkids. Kiya will live forever in your heart and memories, never to be forgotten. She is running with the wind and sunning herself in the warmth of the sun. Until you all meet again, someday. HUGS

This is from my friend who's dog as "fly biting" episodes. This is what she said: "Have then pull a full thyroid panel on their pup usually a low thyroid is part of the problem as well as Fly Biting is gastrointestinal based seizures."
If you are on Facebook, I can give you her name. Just drop me a line privately and I can give you her name. I didn't want to post it publicly. Not sure if that is allowed. She has much first hand knowledge of fly biting with her dog and can probably give you some pointers.

I have a friend who's dog has this. Although, not a basenji, the symptoms are the same. This happens mainly in the evening. No body has been able
to figure out what is going on with him. I would do what Jengosmonkey and tanza said. Get a certified Ophth for dogs and go from there. Sorry could
not have been more help.

My Mr.T is a tri boy. He's my 5th basenji and they all did / do exactly what your pup is doing. However, mine were / are NEVER off leash unless we are in a park setting. Point Isabel here in California is a regional park, not just a dog park. Its along the San Francisco bay on one side and a protected marsh on the other for wild life and such. Truly no place for dogs to take off too, unless they cross the footbridge and head back towards the parking lot. A couple of mine have done that. Scary. You have to work on the recall, and yes its all a game to your pup. Never, ever chase her as she will just keep running. Using a long 16 foot leash can help. She can run, but can't out run you, if you keep ahold of the other end. There should be a very special treat (something that she truly, truly loves) that you give her when you do leash her up again. Saying 'good girl" during that time will help (well...sometimes) to enforce that thought process. They can be their own worst enemy. To them its all fun and games, to mom and dad it can get exasperating. Maybe try not letting her off leash for a few days or so, and then try it again? Make sure though that you have that very yummy treat. Please do not let her off leash near any roads or close to roads where she could get hit by a car. When my beloved Dannii got loose here at home and was headed for the road (about 350 yards), he wasn't running, just walking and sniffing; I sat down and yelled really, really loud "ooh ooouch" over and over, he came over to investigate within reach so I said good boy, and went to pet him, and grabbed his collar. Keep in mind.............it works ONLY once for the most part. They are too darn smart for their own good.

@roux He is very adorable! Enjoy him. He will be into everything as he grows, so you value something, put it waaaaay up high or behind closed doors!! Enjoy the fun, frustration and tears and laughter through out Roux's life!! I would love to have a puppy again.........not

Very regal looking. Welcome to you both. I do have to say that Dane is very handsome looking .

By any chance does your dog have one of those Seresto (flea collars) on? A facebook friend had one on her basenji (male) and his behavior changed after a few months. He would attack and bite out of the blue. One day he attacked the woman and wouldn't stop. She had to kick him away from her just to get away from him. They had to end up putting him down. Several other people had come forward with the same problems. I hope and pray for you and the sake of your dog, that this is NOT the case. But what you described, is exactly what she and her husband had gone through. There was nothing the vet could do for the dog, something snapped in his brain and he just went over the top.
Like everybody else said, get him in to a vet and get him checked out.

How adorable is Koda? No basenji puppy can be so cute

I went to Oregon in 2018. I took 2 of my basenjis with me. The motel accepted dogs, so that was fine. When I left the room, the dogs where with me. Its a 14 hour drive from California up to the northern tip of Oregon (mouth of the Columbia river). I stopped a couple of time for potty breaks. I spent a night in a motel going up.........too long of a drive for just one person. I took the dogs to the beach, we walked the main streets, went to a farmer's market. I ate in a sit down restaurant and dogs were in the car. I took out a goodie bag for them. Am going back next month, now will only have 1 dog with me as Zak has dementia pretty bad, so he will be staying home with my adult son. Where ever you go, you should check to see if there are dog friendly places to take them.

@wizard
Could be early sign of CCD (Canine Cognitive Dysfunction; also known as doggie alzheimer’s. My ol guy is 16.5 and has CCD. Thankfully he doesn't whine, or bark! Dogs that bark, just keep barking, and barking for no reason. Have you had her checked out by a vet just to make that there is nothing truly wrong? There is a Facebook group for CCD and you just ask to join. Lots of truly compassionate people as everybody is going through the samething. Some are in the early stages, some, some where in the middle, and other's that the end is near and not sure how to handle it. I AM NOT saying that this is what is wrong your gal, so please don't get mad at me. Yes, dogs will whine and it is all part of the aging process for older dogs. Its heartbreaking to watch. Supplements can help, but no cure. It needs to run its course. I just pray that this is not the case for you and your pup. She sounds like she's getting clingy, and that's ok.

My female b had a real strong prey drive. I live in the country and I have cats. At that time, I had 4 cats, and 3 b's. Jenna was the worst as she would lunge and try to bite. We found 2 feral kittens (brother and sister), nursed them back to health. They were shut up in my room in a crate (litter box, food, water and bedroom door closed). As the kittens got a tad older and was playing and moving around. I brought Jenna in on a leash and closed the bedroom door so the other 2 b's could not come in. They had no problem with the cats. I also had a basket muzzle on Jenna. On a leash, I would let her sniff the kittens. If she tried to lunge (which she did), I would correct her, by saying "no". It took time and lots of patience. Eventually I was able to take the muzzle off but she was still on the leash. She finally learned that these cats were "different" than the "outside" cats (feral). She finally accepted the kittens.
You can put the pup in a crate, and bring the cats over to sniff and smell through the door. You can put the pup on a leash but have a basket muzzle (not the soft muzzles the vets use) and have the pup with a one on one with ONE cat, at a time. Its going to take time and lots of patience, but both will survive. You got to make sure that the cats have a "safe place" to get to if the pup starts to chase. I had one cat that the dogs didn't care for. If she was laying down, the dogs were fine with her. If she got up to move or do something, they would move real quick towards her, and if she ran, the chase was on. She always had a safe place up and out of the way of the b's. Good luck. It will work out, the cats will put the pup in its place and a few years down the road, hopefully they will all be the best of friends!

Love the name! He looks kind of like my Mr.T (only T doesn't have any white on his nose). From one tri owner to another, your basenji is very handsome................just don't tell T know I told you that! Its an older photo, but T is very much the spitting image of this photo even now.

So cute

@JENGOSMonkey Thank You

@GriffinsMom......"Some" vets don't know enough about CCD, or not very familiar with it. I hope your vet knows enough to give you some honest (they might hurt) answers to your questions. If you can check out the CCD group on Facebook before you go to your vet appointment, just so you can be armed with "some" knowledge of whats going on. I also forgot to mention that Zak has gotten stuck in places, corners and such. Now that he has had his Animal Essential Heart Health for a couple of days now, he seems to be doing much better.....................still places, circles, gets stuck, but he's moving and looking for food. Then he will get up on the couch and take a long nap. Do some research on your own on CCD before you see the vet. Write down questions that you want answered, or at least would like answered, if possible.

As most have said "nobody knows your dog better than you". I totally relate. I have a 16 year 2.5 month old basenji named Zak. Zak has CCD (canine cognitive dysfunction = aka doggie alzheimer's). He paces, he circles, he has fallen down and took his time in getting up. He wears a belly band as he will pee anywhere and everywhere. I have no stairs, so that's not a problem. He hasn't had any seizures or at least non that I have seen anyways, because I still work. He does sleep alot. But, he loves to eat. He haslost alot of weight and drinks alot of water. I have him on SeniLife, Animal Essential Heart Health, and Joy Organic CBD oil. I feed him Purina Pro Plan Bright Minds for seniors. It promotes alertness, and mental sharpness. I also belong to a CCD support group on Facebook which members are going through the same thing, or just the start of this journey, and some have had ended their journey. Lots of love and support and things to ask your vet. Zak is totally deaf. I think he can hear some VERY loud noises, but not me talking to him. I am questioning myself as to the quality of life that Zak has. Sometimes he gets off the couch when I get home from work, only because he see's Mr.T (10 year old basenji) get up, and goes to the door. He looks forward to his meals. Doesn't seem to be in pain, but I know his time is coming. I've had him since he was 4 months old, and its hard to see him like this. My 17 year old female had CCD really bad, and one night just before I got home from work, I believe she had a seizure, and T attacked her. I got her cleaned up as best I could, as she hates water with a passion. She didn't want her dinner. So, I put her on her bed, and covered her up. She was ok when I went to bed, but had passed before I got up in the morning. It hurt that I wasn't their to comfort her during her time. She was also deaf, so talking wouldn't have helped, but just giving her some soothing pats and scritches I think could have helped. I don't know. If you are on Facebook, go to the Canine Cognitive Dysfunction group. You will have to join, but oh so worth the help and love and information.............everybody is very supportive as they are all going through the same thing. Only you know your dog the best. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.......including your vet. Virtual hugs to you, its not easy. But he is family and you treat them like family til their last breath.

@Kembe I have been down this road. My girl Jenna was 17 when she crossed the bridge 2 years ago. She was never fully diagnosed with CCD, but she had all the symptoms. She would pee and poo anywhere, and everywhere. She did use the dog door to the garage. She had gotten stuck behind my washer at one point. I could never figure out how or why she did that. She had to go past them to go outside to the backyard; but some where she hung a right and ended up behind the washer. I had found a box that fit between the washer and the wall, so she never had that problem again. One night she had a seizure just before I got home from work. At that time, I had 2 basenji boys, and I believe one of them attacked her because he did not know what what going on. I came home to find her on the floor in the middle of the room and not able to get up. There was some blood, but could not find any real wounds from the so called attack. I got her cleaned up as best as I could. She could not stand on her own without me bracing her. I laid her down on her bed, and got her food bowl for her since she hadn't eaten since breakfast but she didn't want it. I put a blanket over her. She was resting and doing ok before I went to bed. I was going to call the make the decision to have her put to sleep, but she chose to go on her own terms and was gone by morning when I got up. I felt so bad, that I was not right there beside her. NOW, my 16 year old Zak is pacing, gets stuck in and behind things. He's not been officially diagnosed either. I have him on Senilife, Joy CBD for dogs, and he get Heart Health (Amazon). He still looks forward to eating. Doesn't like to walk that far anymore. We have a meet up for Basenji's on the last Sunday of every month down at Point Isabel (across from San Francisco, CA). He can't walk like he used to for that, so I bought him a stroller. He tolerates it, but still wants to get out and walk some. But his walk is like a turtle at best, and is too slow, so I put him in the stroller until we get over to where we usually stop and gab some and all the while, the b's are running. Since Zak is deaf, I do have to keep an eye on him as he does and will wonder off, and not know where he is. He also has peeing accidents in the house, so he has a belly band for that, I can change and wash them. He has lost weight, went from a large belly band down to a med, and I thought it was really going to be too small for him, but its not and it doesn't fall or come off. He also got stuck behind my dryer very early Saturday morning, it woke me up, him screaming and howling all at the same time. I got that side blocked off now too. I don't know what type of natural medication you bought. Senilife does help and takes time. Am not 100% sure if that or the CBD oil are working. He also gets some mobility chews. I mix the Senilife and CBD oil in with his food in the moring, and the heart health in his evening meal. He will eat, and walk over to check out Mr.T (basenji) bowls or see if there is any food in the cats bowls. He will go back to his bowl and eat some more and do the walk about to other bowls again. I have to watch Mr.T as he will eat Zak's food if I am not in the room or paying attention. He drinks alot of water, so the water bowl has to be constantly filled.
You may want to block off rooms or under tables as best as you can, so she doesn't get stuck too badly. Its the pitts watching your pup get old and forget things and places. Jenna was my first dog that I ever experienced this with. I've had plenty of dogs, but most were gone by the age of 14 and never had dementia. Now, I'm dealing with it with another dog. I am just hoping that Mr.T will be ok. Jenna came from a reputable breeder, Zak was a rescue from a backyard breeder. Mr.T is from a reputable breeder in Arizona, but he was re homed to me from his original owners after they got transferred to Brazil for their job and couldn't take him,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,he's got his own set of problems............Valley Fever.
I may have not been of much help, but I have been down this road, and am traveling it again. If you are on Facebook there is a Canine Cognitive Dysfunction group that you can ask to join. Lots of really good help and different ideas on medications to ask your vet about.
Don't hesitate to ask questions. We're all here to help as best as we can, but the best place is to talk to your vet. Some vet's are not very knowledgeable about CCD, and if your vet will not give out meds, find a NEW VET.....ASAP. Wishing you all the best for you and your pup.

Finn is adorable

@JENGOSMonkey Surprise, surprise!! If your interested go to Meetup.com and look for Basenjis of Point Isabel (also there is a Facebook page under the same name, that shows pups from our meetups). Once you find the group on MeetUp.com, join, and you will get a reminder a week before about the meetup and ask if you are going to go or not. Or if you just want to check it out first, its the last Sunday of every month at 11am (try not to be more than 10 to 15 minutes late please) and we meet in front of the Sit and Stay Cafe. If its raining we don't go, drizzling we still go. Lots of fun.

How about sending us all of pic of Finn? I am pretty sure we wold all love to see him. You said your in Napa. Is that as in California or another state? We have a Basenji meet up the last Sunday of every month at Point Isabel (Richmond area). Just google Point Isabel and you will see the area. At one time (its been a few years) we had a total of 22 basenji's. What a sight that was to see them all running! On average, we have around 8 to 14 now.