Sinbaje,

In fact your message doesnt sound harsh, it sounds insane.

My vet sent the oncologist the referral and based upon his symptoms and information given to her by my vet, determined that the 16th was an appointment date that was not "too late."

Dr. Harris is extremely well known for her expertise and I would assume far more knowledgeable than yourself.

I am in the business of caring for my basenji, not pontificating and placing holier than thou opinions on internet discussion boards.

Spare me your critique as I trust an oncologist veterinarian is far more suited to handle the health of my basenji than an armchair expert on a discussion board with too much time on her hands.

Hello everyone. Thank you for your care and concern.

I was able to get a referral from my veterinarian to see Dr. Harris in Milford Ohio to get the ultrasound and we went in on Friday.
(They are very good with basenji's btw…she was very comfortable and knowledgeable .)

She did the ultrasound while myself and a vet tech held him and we saw clearly a HUGE cache of kidney stones in his bladder!....further, she showed me that there were quite a few that had lodged in his urethra which is why he was straining to pee. She said that he had a significant UTI which was causing the frequency in his urination...and that it came secondary to the kidney stones.

SO hundreds of dollars later, I went to a specialist/oncologist to give me a diagnosis that my general veterinarian could have given me had he stopped experimenting and just given Joey an xray to see the kidney stones.

So, my little guy is on antibiotics and we're planning to get him into surgery within the next few weeks to remove the stones.

Im so relieved and for such wonderful veterinary care I dont mind the drive to Milford or a higher bill. Seeing a vet that isnt giving answers and is seemingly just 'experimenting' not only is a waste of money but prolonged unnecessary suffering.

I hope that this message thread can be helpful to anyone else whos basenji has these symptoms and is finding no resolve at their vet.

Thanks again for your care and concern.

Not at all, I didnt think you were being critical. I was just responding to Linda's advice on the antibiotics. I couldnt leave him on them even though it might be best practice,typically.

Thanks again

Thanks everyone…Linda, I cannot put him back on those antibiotics he gave me for staph. This was outrageous that every night he was waking me less than an hours time to go out and was drip peeing all over himself and bleeding. Yesterday was the first day off of them and today hes actually been doing slightly better.

I just had a return call from my vet earlier and he said that my B may have been having an inflammatory reaction (an allergy) to the antibiotics and as long as he is doing better in terms of peeing and more comfortable just leave the antibiotics.

I could never put off getting care when he was showing such serious health issues. Basically my vet is well intended and caring but just wasnt 'experienced' enough for this. During the call tonight he let me know that he faxed the referral to the internist this afternoon so I should be able to get him into the vet tomorrow or no later than Friday he predicted.

Yes Fran, Ive been searching for some time for a vet in this region that has experience with Basenjis and have found none. My neighbors have a basenji-hybrid of sorts that they brought back from Africa but they are new to the area.
I will definitely ask the specialist for a recommendation on a proper/experienced vet for my B in the future. My vet has been great but at this stage of my boys health he needs someone more basenji-experienced I guess.

Thanks again everyone.

Yeah Sharon, I agree.
He wanted to give him a cortizone shot tonight and I said forget it…I just asked for the referral needed to get in quickly to the specialist/internist to get his ultrasound.

I feel like hes wasted enough of our time. My vet was great with him for years...in fact the only vet that my little guy wasnt terrified of...but its clear now that his strong suit was teeth cleaning and general health matters.

Thank you, I will purchase one tonight. I brought this up to my vet and he laughed when I suggested I try the glucose test strip.

My 12 year old basenji has been straining to pee, and leaking pee nonstop. When he has to go out he cant even hold it, by the time he gets to the door hes dropped his urine, most of it….often there is blood visible.

The vet first said it was a UTI, antibiotics for a week and no results.

Went for a second urinalysis and the vet says he has a staph infection.
(:confused:)
He ruled out kidney stones. He tells me we are going to put him on THE ATOM BOMB of antibiotics...orange pill cut in half...fed once per day on a full stomach.
I start the administration of the pills....then my boy stops being able to even pee a stream..he drips, then blood in the drips. When I take him to the yard he would walk around dripping for 20 minutes and resist if I try to get him to come in. He feels as though he has to pee obviously and its just not coming out.

I am so frustrated and upset because I feel like I cant help my little guy...Im now in the process of getting him scheduled for an ultrasound.

I asked my vet several times if this could be fanconi and he dismissed it and said that fanconi is very rare. Im bothered that he has never considered testing for it.

Basically Im taking him for care someplace else, as Im not sure my vet is able to tackle anything complicated....

My little guy is still behaving normally, personality hasnt changed nor has his interest in food. Still quite the little pig.
He is in pain however when he pees as at times he will groan very softly when straining.

Im at my wits end. As mentioned, Im waiting today to get in for an ultrasound for him. Any thoughts and or advice is appreciated.

(BTW, I took him off of the orange pills once I saw symptoms getting worse...today he almost peed a 'stream' again instead of drips)