Just putting it out there…check with your car or homeowners company. They may offer it but not really advertise and you might get a break on price if you are already a client. I've seen commercials for Progressive auto that says that they automatically insure your pet as part of the auto policy. Don't know any details, just a commercial I've seen.

I am so glad that Blaze is doing well on his medication.

Great News. Happy for all of you. Keep up the good news. Lot good places to live in Kansas and Missouri love to have all of you our way. Rita Jean

A great thing about where you live in MA is that if there was something your regular vet couldn't handle, you have both Tufts and Angell Memorial within a reasonable driving distance.

@kipper: Thank you to everyone for the great advice! Kipper is our second Basenji and the thought of loosing him at such a young age is horrific to us. Kip is currently taking metronidazole twice a day. I know the med does make him tired, but it's supposed to help get rid of his virus that in turn will bring back his appetite. I have tried all his favorites like cheese, sour cream and even homemade waffles. His diet is meat twice a day and free feeding of high quality kibble. The vet is very knowledgeable about Falconi and says all his levels are were they should be and the bicarb is all he needs. We will take Kip in again in 3 months for another blood test. Thanks again! Anna I don't want to doubt your Vet, But honestly, I find that hard to believe that he only needs Bicarb and not any of the Vitamins that are recommended in the protocol. If it were my dog, I would contact Dr. Gonto who developed the Protocol and run it by him and he is happy to talk to owners with Fanconi (it is Fanconi, not Falconi) about treatment along with conversations with your Vet. Also Thyroid testing is important for a dog with Fanconi. This would be the fill panel not just the one T4 level that are shown on regular blood work. Dr Gonto's contact info can be found at the bottom of the Fanconi Protocol information http://www.basenji.org/ClubDocs/fanconiprotocol2003.pdf Also you might want to consider joining the Fanconi Yahoo group for people with Fanconi affected dogs. They would also be able to give you good ideas since they are all dealing with dogs with Fanconi. It is a closed group for only people with affected dogs. If he was eating before the metronidazole then hopefully when he is done with that he will begin eating again.

Hydroxizine AKA Atarax is a great drug for treating severe allergies, it is by far the best antihistamine for reducing itching. It does have a high amount of sedation as a side effect and is also marketed as a sleep aid. OTC Zyrtec is a good alternative since it is a metabolite of Atarax and has less sedation. You may want to find a vet that specializes in allergy treatment and have the dog skin tested to identify exactly what it is and isn't allergic to. You could consider allergen immunotherapy to reduce and potentially eliminate the allergies.

Thanks for all this information! I will look into everything!

Thanks! I see what you mean, I was mixing up my terminology…native versus foundation dog...and I meant foundation. Zoni gets her black from Miliku on the Jerlin side.

@AJs: Mr. Nobarkus, are you saying you don't like a good fanny scratch every now and then? :D Or is that subject material for a different forum? Correct, Nobarkus' scooting problem is a different thread thank you.:D

yes we have one of these! :D

I picked up at a pig-ear factory in Denver one time. It's no wonder to me why there is trouble with these dog treats. There is little regulation over dog treats, so refrigeration isn't as strict. That place reeked of rotten meat! AJ can't eat pork or rawhide. He gets sick from them every time. Also, the hooves that are used for treats sometimes lay in the field for a few days attached to a dead cow before they are processed. It's nasty!

Thanks Kathy and Lisa! :)

I have never heard of this either, but it seems very rare, so my take on it, would be rather get my dog back if lost, then not take the chance because of a very rare case of cancer… Shoot, you get cancer just breathing the air now a days..

Re: arthritis I've been giving dogs gluco/condrot for years. Started with the lab 12 years ago. She was 6 when I started and was dysplastic (unknown to us at the time) and I did notice an improvement in her movement and jumping. When the boyz got to be around 7, I started them on it as a preventative and both had careers in agility and coursing. Digital the brindlewonderkid is going to be 13 the end of the year and has just recently retired from agility (maybe). At some point I switched to KNOX nutrajoint with glu/con. And when we got the new malinois, I put her on it b/c I thought she looked weak in her pasterns. I think it or the exercise has helped that; she is about 2.5 years. I notice when I don't get my dose; don't notice when I do.

My Abby does that, when she is ready to blow her coat she turns kind of brown on the sides but the hair on her back that she stands up when freaked out stays black all the time.

Thanks for the responses. Pat- I'm pretty sure little Chacho had a "something bad" when he was very young. It might have distemper, but I'll never know. He is a sweetie, though, and we'll do what we can for him. The DentaTreat is a wonderful product, but he needs more than that. Jill- Sorry for your son's misery. I know the sealant will wear away, but it seems like it might be the best bet for us. That, or a complete set of crowns. YIKES! That's got to be expensive… and there is no dentist in CR who does them. I'll keep researching it and let you know what we end up doing. Thanks again Sarah

Pat do you know why umbilical herina's are so common in B's??? It probably has no bearing but if you can't get there and cut the cord - fast - Mom will put a paw firmly in the pup's tum, grab the cord in her mouth and WRENCH. However, in my not unlimited experience, those are the worst umbilical hernias. Chezz had a habit of dropping pups - splat- onto the pavement outside the back door when she went out to pee. I well remember carrying Trouble back indoors, still attached when Chezz decided to take a hand before I could grab the utensils. Trouble has a huge fatty lump but which makes absolutely no difference to her. We've never had one fixed - spw

Your a super B mom happy life is easier. Rita Jean

Already talked to the vet about this. It was her intention all along. Thank you Pat. Any other suggestions?