Skip to content

Health Tests

Basenji Health Issues & Questions
  • Hello!
    I would like to know when and where should I start doing Nilo's health tests? (He is 9 months now) Which ones should I start with? (PRA, IPSID, Pancreatic Enzyme Deficiency, Hypothyrodism…) What are the procedures?

    Thank you

  • Fanconi testing would be what I suggest first.
    Unless you have that test from your b's breeder.

  • At 12 months old he will be old enough for his first thyroid test. OFA recommends every year for the first 5 years then every other year since most autoimmune thyroiditis is seen in the first 5 years. He will also be old enough to get his patellas certified at 12 months. CERF exams are only good for 1 year so if you want to keep them current you will want to have one performed 12 months after his puppy CERF. Generally, you will not see symptoms of PRA until later in life so you will need to keep testing well into old age. Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency is only tested for if symptoms are present. There is no test for IPSID.

    Hips can be OFA certified at 24 months along with elbows.

  • @sharronhurlbut:

    Fanconi testing would be what I suggest first.
    Unless you have that test from your b's breeder.

    No, I do not have it. So I should start with Fanconi first, ok. And where is the test given? Is there any special lab where my vet should send a blood or urine sample?

    Thank you for the info about the tests, I asked my vet but it seems that Nilo is the only basenji he sees, so any more info from you all is more than welcome.

  • @Nilo:

    No, I do not have it. So I should start with Fanconi first, ok. And where is the test given? Is there any special lab where my vet should send a blood or urine sample?

    It's a DNA linkage test, you can order a kit from OFFA. Go to https://secure.offa.org/Cart.html and search for 'Basenji' to order a kit.

    You can do it at home, it doesn't need to be done by a vet, just take the cheek swab from the kit and take a sample from Nilo's cheek, put it on the card and mail it back in. You'll hear back in about 4-6 weeks.

  • The fanconi test needs to be ordered from the OFA website, https://secure.offa.org/cart.html

    Have you talked to Nilo's breeder about health testing. Without pedigree information his tests alone don't provide a very complete picture since disorders like PRA are late onset.

Suggested Topics

  • 0 Votes
    25 Posts
    11k Views
    BettawhippetB
    That is a huge relief about the cheek swab…She absolutely HATED having her blood drawn and has been mistrustful of the vet and vet techs ever since. I didn't not realize that there were many errors in the original test. I stopped frequenting this forum shortly after I had her test done and haven't really heard anything from the basenji world until I got the e-mail. I will definitely get this re-test done as soon as possible and will pick up some strips tomorrow so I can start testing her urine. Thankfully she has not been showing any signs of poor health and has always done well on checkups.
  • 0 Votes
    5 Posts
    3k Views
    DebraDownSouthD
    Really, posted and decided to send private because, well because.
  • Test Results

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    26
    0 Votes
    26 Posts
    16k Views
    DebraDownSouthD
    Kathy, I sure didn't mean to indicate it isn't a godsend or fantastic! Of course it is. I just meant… well as the Arabs say, Trust in G-d but tie your camel. Get the testing, use it to help guide breeding, retest if necessary, but keep doing the strip test. It's an easy if annoying process that protects your dog against testing errors or human errors.
  • Fanconi Testing

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    4
    0 Votes
    4 Posts
    2k Views
    tanzaT
    The more data that is in the data base, the better people can use the that information as this is a Linkage test only… and errors can be made either human or test....
  • Fanconi Testing

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    6
    0 Votes
    6 Posts
    3k Views
    S
    We hope the results are good, and we will cheer if they are, and if they aren't, we will support you. Do let us know what you have found please.
  • Test Results

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    27
    0 Votes
    27 Posts
    12k Views
    RockysWomanR
    @etzbseder: Well, I got the results back yesterday, and they say that Medjai is "PROBABLY AFFECTED WITH FANCONI SYNDROME". So, now I get about one more year of little worry before I start strip testing and waiting for the inevitable. Hang in there. It is a tough road ahead. neither you nor your dog will understand the changes that can happen so suddenly… but know that it is not with malicious intent that they pee and pee and pee. There are so many supporting groups and people out there to help you and your B thru this. You can have a good life even with this sentence hanging over you. Best of luck. Enjoy your B as they are today... don't worry about tomorrow. I'll keep you and your Medjai in my thoughts.