Posts made by flbasenji

@beth314 Here are a couple of things you might try:
Seek a vet who will do an outside visit. I have one local low cost clinic who does that for the difficult dogs.
Train your pup to wear an Elizabethan collar at home. I’ve used a very oversized one for one foster b with a previously very bad handling history (covid has not allowed me to do my usual rehab with him - going in to vet visits with dogs he knows without being handled - just a ride-along). It is so large that his nose does not stick out the end. In the inside of the cone, I spread peanut butter which he loved. Obviously, he could still bite, but the huge cone allowed him to be restrained gently from the side while examined. He growled a little, but did not attempt to bite even when he was stuck for his rabies vaccine. If she gets used to this at home, she can wear the oversized collar for the vet visit and feel less threatened than she might with a muzzle. Close-up checking of ears and eyes may have to wait, but at least vet visits might be a little more positive. An Adaptil collar may help to sooth her as well.
To ‘train’ for a vet visit, maybe you have a willing friend or family you can visit with her who can pretend to be a vet or vet tech. Go slow. Choose a kitchen or ‘sterile’ spot in the home that might be similar to a sterile exam room. At first, just have your friend ask her to sit and give her a treat reward. No touching until she seems comfortable. When she’s comfortable there, you perhaps could meet with family or friend at a pet store, going through the same slow get to know you process.
I hope you can find a vet with the right body language!

@debbie It has been my experience that Fanconi b’s do much better when issues are identified early. There are multiple possibilities as to the source of anemia in a Fanconi b. It is important to address the cause. I’ve found some vets are too willing to just write it off as a “Fanconi” problem when it has often been something that could be addressed.

Has a complete set of blood work been done? Electrolytes may be off. Ionized calcium (which is not often checked) may be out of range. Tick diseases may lead to neural issues. Previous ‘old’ damage or minor defects of the vertebrae, discs or spinal cord may become more significant with age. A good chiropractor or, as previously mentioned, acupuncturist may be able to help. If you feel that it really is not due to aging, a visit with a neurologist might help.

I have seen it many times. I’ve also seen that frequently those with anemia also have secondary hyperparathyroidism (checked via ionized calcium and PTH blood tests). When the PTH is properly corrected with calcitriol, I’ve seen that mild anemia is also corrected.

What did they do for her when she got into the tomato fertilizer? Has she had recent bloodwork? How complete was the bloodwork? Did it include phosphorus, IONIZED calcium, Vit D and/or PTH? The fertilizer may have thrown parathyroid regulation out of whack. An elevated phosphorus level will squash an appetite.

It might be time to consult with a vet specialist. I hope you find a solution quickly!

There are several different sensitivity tests that one can do at home. While some scientific literature doesn't think the testing is that great, my personal experience has been that it does help - and that addressing sensitivities indicated by testing has corrected many health issues, more than just a skin irritation.

How long have you been in this house? Have you tried setting up a place to sleep and hang out downstairs to see if he eventually becomes growly even on the first floor? All electrolytes, including IONIZED CALCIUM are within normal range?

Perhaps a narrow ramp (with carpeting) on one side of the stairs might help.
I have seen improvement in a couple of seniors when higher doses of omega 3s and Vitamin E were added to their diets. MaxxiSAMe has also helped one with poor motor control.

What antibiotics is he on or was he given when his teeth were removed? I've had some stop eating when given certain antibiotics. Did they take dental x-rays? One of our fosters had an abscess show up on x-ray that was not visible even when the b was anesthetized for a dental. Has bloodwork been repeated after surgery?

In addition to more exercise, try more mental stimulation. Teach more words/commands. Play more games like hide and seek (check out scent training). Get some puzzle toys. You could try giving him a box with newspaper or plain paper trash to shred, redirecting him to the shredding box every single time he starts to shred. There are a few (less cozy) heavy duty dog beds that you can try while working on retraining. It will take a lot of diligence and consistency to get it done since he is so mature and set in his ways, but it is possible.

@mmasco So sad that this little guy is having troubles!

The metronidazole I've used has always been in pill format. It seems you are using a compounded liquid. Does it require vigorous shaking prior to administration? Perhaps too much of the medication has precipitated out.

If he's not absorbing iron, it could cause him to have anemia while also having green (usual darker green to almost black) stool. Too much calcium could interfere with the absorption of iron.

Has his bloodline been tested for hemolytic anemia or pyruvate kinase deficiency?

If it's not possible to have an internist check him out, your regular vet might find it helpful to consult with an internist at a specialty practice or a veterinarian associated with a university vet school program. I would want to have followup as quickly as possible. His hemocrit level is not far from needing Epogen (or similar) injections.

He is already failrly anemic according to his bloodwork. That would explain his lethargy at times.

Is he getting any supplements or anything in addition to his food? Any added calcium? What anti-diarrheal is he getting? What hydration pack? Have they checked his ionized calcium? It may be elevated even though total calcium is within the normal range.

I would get him to a specialist, internal medicine, asap.

So sad that this little guy is having troubles!

He is already failrly anemic according to his bloodwork. That would explain his lethargy at times.

Is he getting any supplements or anything in addition to his food? Any added calcium? What anti-diarrheal is he getting? What hydration pack? Have they checked his ionized calcium? It may be elevated even though total calcium is within the normal range.

I would get him to a specialist, internal medicine, asap.

@seungsoo-lee Did they share results of ionized calcium and parathyroid hormone testing? Do they have equipment and specialists who can check the parathyroid with ultrasound?

I'm sorry he has to deal with this.

Has your vet checked his ionized calcium level and PTH level? Has kidney function been checked? Depending on the parathyroid function and the cause, there are a couple of options to manage his condition. How well that can be done depends on how early it was caught.

I have seen parathyroid function affected by other health conditions including chronic kidney disease or Fanconi Syndrome and nutritional (calcium) deficits, particularly when young.

As mentioned, consulting with a behaviorist is a good idea. Before allowing anyone to work with your dogs, watch them work with other dogs to see if their style is a good fit for your family.
I would also make sure all are checked thoroughly by a vet, bloodwork (including thyroid testing) included, to make sure that health issues aren't making one or both uncomfortable. I know of times when a basenji sensed a terminal condition before it even showed in bloodwork. Is everyone spayed or neutered? If not, going into season may be affecting anyone's behavior.
Set up a safe spot for her that can be just for her. If she likes a crate, that can be acceptable. She might prefer a pen with a dog bed or something similar. This may require two layers of fencing to make sure that she doesn't start a fight through the fence. Go back to basics with training - nothing for free. Leave a leash on her in the house. If she growls while on the furniture with you, escort her calmly to her safe spot - "if you want to growl, you can do it here..." Her safe spot is not a punishment, it's just a designated area where she doesn't have to worry about sharing the space with any other canines.
I've had over 200 basenji fosters and have kept newbies behind a layer or two of fencing while they learn how to behave here. Particularly when the more challenging ones arrive, nothing is for free, including access to human furniture. They get 'their spot' in the house (in their pen where they can still see the others) where they can feel safe and not worry about others bothering them. I build up communication and confidence by starting (or going back to) basic commands with every meal (with food sitting at their feet): sit, stay, leave it (a VERY important command), look at me, eat. When possible, we go for walks together, one human holding the newbie, keeping him or her separate, yet close enough to be aware of the others. The outside world can be a good distraction to keep them from focusing on hating the other. When I introduce (or reintroduce) them to other dogs in a securely fenced yard, I start at times that aren't so exciting - quiet times, nap times, etc., not around feeding time or when we have visitors. It is important to not make a big deal about anything. Have the right thought in your head, but be prepared for a less than perfect response. Expect small improvements each time, but make sure she is set up to improve. Go very slow. Don't rush it. That is when failures happen.
I hope you get her under control quickly.

As mentioned, consulting with a behaviorist is a good idea. Before allowing anyone to work with your dogs, watch them work with other dogs to see if their style is a good fit for your family.
I would also make sure both are checked thoroughly by a vet, bloodwork (including thyroid testing) included, to make sure that health issues aren't making one or both uncomfortable. I know of times when a basenji sensed a terminal condition before it even showed in bloodwork. Are they both spayed? If not, going into season may be affecting either one's behavior.
While Mia heals and you look for the right behaviorist, keep them separated. This may require two layers of fencing to make sure that they don't start fighting through the fence. I've had over 200 basenji fosters and have kept newbies behind a layer or two of fencing while they learn how to behave here. Particularly when the more challenging ones arrive, nothing is for free, including access to human furniture. They get 'their spot' in the house (in their pen where they can still see the others) where they can feel safe and not worry about others bothering them. I build up communication and confidence by starting (or going back to) basic commands with every meal (with food sitting at their feet): sit, stay, leave it (a VERY important command), look at me, eat. Go for walks together, each human holding one, keeping them separate, yet close enough to be aware of the other. The outside world can be a good distraction to keep them from focusing on hating the other. When I introduce (or reintroduce) them to other dogs in a securely fenced yard, I start at times that aren't so exciting - quiet times, nap times, etc., not around feeding time or when we have visitors. When they are relaxed, you can work on trying them in the house with both of you there, each holding one on a leash. It is important to not make a big deal about it - just sit in a room together, using the leash to remove one to her safe area if she shows any apprehension or aggression. Go very slow. Don't rush it. That is when failures happen.
I hope Mia heals quickly.

Sorry you are having difficulties. I have taken in several fosters with CKD. I've had a couple who were at Stage 3 for 5+ years - and I didn't put them on special KD food. KD food is often not appropriate. One wouldn't touch food that was high (or 'normal') in fat. He started out here extremely anorexic and gained 50% of his original body weight on low fat weight management food (and still looked lean - he was so thin!). I did always feed wet food (though I had to be a bit flexible with the seriously anorexic boy, sometimes starting a meal out with a couple of bites of desiccated food).
Do you have a copy of lab results? What was the phosphorus level? Have you considered a second opinion or a visit with an internal med specialist? They should have more familiarity with CKD and, hopefully, more successful experience.

So very heartbreaking! My condolences. I hope the warm memories of lives you have shared will soon ease your pain.

@zande Interesting. I've never watched when we've heard the 'alert' barks. I might have to leave a camera recording 24/7 to catch this (thankfully, very few alerts these days...). I've previously noted that it is single - and a lot easier on the ears than a 'real' bark.