Skip to content

Tayda and Lenny are sick and I'm out of town

Basenji Health Issues & Questions
  • OH MY GOSH MICHELLE! I'm so sorry! You are half a world away from home…...you must be going nuts! I have no answers for you, but I'm sure someone on here will! I just came online to post something to the Basenji Forums, too. You've gotta read it.......it'll blow your mind!

    I hope Tayda and Lenny are OK....and that you guys can salvage some fun from your last few days there.....and have a safe trip home! Keep us posted!

    Love,
    Sadie

  • Hey Sadie,

    Yeah, I'm worried about them. It's hard not being there to really see whats going on, though our pet sitter is giving us a very thorough play by play. I hope they are on the mend, Lenny hasn't thrown up since Wednesday night, and he's eating a little, but things are definitely not normal. :(

  • P.S. You are the only person I know personally on the Basenji Forum….and you are a million miles away......and we were both posting to this forum and to the Health Issues area at the exact same time. AND I had just been thinking of sending you a copy of my post. Bizarre!

  • Ohhhh…..........I really hope they ARE on the mend. I feel bad for your poor pet-sitter, too!

  • I know whenever I go away, both my bs don't eat much. No matter who's staying at my house or where they are. I hope they just miss you and they'll be back to thier crazy b-self's upon your return!

  • Have the pet sitter take them to the vet today.

  • It is hard to give advice over the internet, especially when we are all so far away from what is actually happening. I would probably tell my dogsitter that at any point she felt like they weren't improving to go ahead and get them into the vet. That being said, my dogs occasionally go thru that, where they will barf up their food, and seem like they have the flu. If I am pretty sure they don't have an obstruction, then I usually wait at least 24hours before I take them to the vet. But…it is so subjective...if they barf up one meal, I pay attention...if they barf up two meals, I watch them obsessively. If they seem weak or dehydrated they should immediately go to the vet. I hope they feel better soon...and I hope you can relax and enjoy your trip :)

  • thanks for the replies! they are under strict observation and are seemingly doing better. still not 100% but both are starting to eat more, and both are peeing and pooping so hopefully that rules out my major worry of an obstruction. pet sitter made an appointment with the vet for today but then by the afternoon they were both eating a little more and chasing imaginary squirrels in the backyard so we cancelled the appointment. so maybe they did eat some of the unidentified feces in the backyard while they were rolling in it and got a bug. they do seem to be on the upswing now…. they are being watched like hawks though....

  • Sounds like what ever they ate they are coming out of it. I pull more crap out of Buddy's mouth on walks! I almost lost my first Basenji in 1977 on a camping trip. My mistake in letting it run around loose off leash and she ran around the camp grounds eating all kinds of crap. She really got terribly sick and spent the weekend at the town vet. Back then there were no credit cards used only check and cash. I only had a check and not enough cash to pay up front. Being some small town up in N CA he was hesitant about my check being good having been ripped off by people. My Bs life was at stake and he agreed to take care of her.

  • I have pet sitters take immed to vet if ANYTHING seems wrong simply because they don't know my dogs like I do and I don't trust them to make a call– and I do trust my vets. I'd rather be out money than lose one of my guys. That said, if they are doing better, probably just ate something awful. I'd have worried some sicko threw something poisonous though. I think the issue for me is that toxins and pancreatitis and many things get worse with time and waiting ends up with something you may no longer be able to get ahead of. I can help but think of an online person who waited, only to find out the dog had been given antifreeze. By the time she decided the dog wasn't improving, too much damage was done. So if there seems to be ANY relapse, please get the sitter to take them in.

  • Hi Michelle!
    Let us know how the "kids" are when you get home….......and how your trip was!
    Travel safe!
    Love,
    Sadie

Suggested Topics

  • 0 Votes
    8 Posts
    6k Views
    O
    I mix a little pumpkin into my B's food several times a week. Most dogs like it, and it's good for their digestive track. I buy organic when it's available, but you can always find Libby's 100% pure pumpkin (no sugar) and it's often on sale for $1 a can. The OP hasn't returned, so I hope that's a sign that the sick little guy is doing better.
  • Sick Basenji :(

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    8
    0 Votes
    8 Posts
    5k Views
    P
    I too am sorry for not seeing this thread sooner and hopefully the poster will return. My Basenji had some teeth removed and the vet prescribed Carprofen as the follow up antibiotic. My Basenji turned out to be allergic to Carprofen which caused her liver to fail. I went through the same scenario you are describing. She gradually quit eating over the course of several days and then her water consumption started to go down. The eating had me worried since she had an excellent appetite upon return from the vet and the final purging of the anesthesia from her system. Nevertheless, her condition started to degrade. I followed her outside and watched her urinate. Her urine was a very bright yellow. I suspected then a liver issue. Once back inside she was shivering - off to the vet we went. LIver panel blood work up showed very high on specific indicators for failing liver. Vet prescribed Denamarin (containing SAM-e and silybin). SAM-e helps protect liver cells from cell death and aids in cell repair and regeneration. The Vet also started fluid injections. Fluid injections were everyday for two weeks. My Basenji showed a remarkable response to the fluid injections becoming much more her normal self even after the first day. She hated the injections and I could hear her cry when receiving them at the vet (believe me that will tear you up). But she was doing better and she (me) were going to have to tuff this out. Also a different antibiotic was prescribed to prevent liver infection during recovery. The Denamarin comes in dosages based on weight (medium for us). It is the size of a large human like solid oblong vitamin pill. Instructions want you to give it on an empty stomach and preferably not to cut it or place in something similar to a pill pocket however you can if necessary. My Basenji would not take that size (can't blame her). Cutting and disguising it did not work either. I was frantic and got the SAM-e in powder form. I couldn't slip her that either. All though some folks had success with peanut butter and liverwurst. I finally after three days had to have the vet pill her along with her fluid treatments. A week later another blood sample and her liver panel indicators were coming down. The pilling would last for a month and it took two people to get the pill down her. The important part is - she fully recovered from the liver failure. She is 13 1/2 yrs old. My experience after having 5 Basenjis is that the breed is sensitive to medications (anesthesia also). Many of the medications work just fine in most other breeds and mixes. The vet, if not that experienced with the Basenji, must be cautioned. Mine was not. Before accepting any medication have the vet go over any contraindications with you and to double check their resources for potential side effects when dealing with Basenjis. They may switch to something else if a medication has a bad track history with Basenjis. Know what to watch for should your Basenji start to react in a non-positive manner. The poster did not indicate if there were medications in play when the dog started showing degenerating conditions. I sincerely hopes this helps in some way and helps other Basenji owners
  • 0 Votes
    60 Posts
    17k Views
    Rita JeanR
    Your a super B mom happy life is easier. Rita Jean
  • URGENT! I'm scared!

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    28
    0 Votes
    28 Posts
    7k Views
    bellabasenjiB
    That is wonderful news!!!:D
  • Tayda's test strip

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    82
    0 Votes
    82 Posts
    29k Views
    RivermoonR
    I'm sorry to hear Tayda has fanconi..but glad you caught it early and she's taking her pills like a good girl.
  • 0 Votes
    10 Posts
    13k Views
    JazzysMomJ
    Sometimes Gypsy seems to have seizures in her sleep. Not the kind of movement wherein you guess she's chasing rabbits in her dreams or something. She does that also, but sometimes it looks very much like a seizure. VERY nerve-wracking.