My 4month old Basenji bitch has flakey skin.
My vet checked for mites but found nothing. She has a head and shoulders bath (for sensitive skin) once a week, but after a few days thebskin is flakey again, I've started feeding pilchards/sardines but have seen no change, can anyone suggest any supplements/feed I can try?!
Stop bathing your dog in head and shoulders. Stop bathing your dog once a week. Did your vet know you were bathing this dog once a week and using head and shoulders? If you do shampoo or bath your dog, its important that you use a shampoo that does not strip the natural oils out of their coat. It is also important that the shampoo you use does not leave a residue that they can lick. Consult your vet on the bathing schedule. In my opinion you are drying out your dogs coat and skin by bathing her too often.
Ok, calm down,
The flakey skin was left for a month before I started bathing her. My vet said the shampoo was fine. And I'm a groom so my gal runs around the yard all day so gets filthy and needs a weekly bath. Can you recommend any shampoo I should be using that you find better for dogs?
I assure you I am calm. If your vet said the shampoo you are using is fine I would find a different vet. If you are a groom(meaning groomer), then you should know this already. Human grade shampoos are not good for dogs and they certainly are not the best choice.
Basenjis are very clean dogs and will groom themselves daily. If you can find Bio-Groom Crisp Apple Shampoo with Chamomile & Aloe Vera. If that is not available in your area, then contact a dog grooming shop and ask them how often to bath your dog and what kind of shampoo they suggest.
A good quality, grain free dog food will help as well. Proper nutrition goes a long way to help a dogs coat.
I'm a groom for horses. Which my little lady loves but this is why she gets so filthy! I'll contact my local groomers and see what shampoos they can suggest for the lil' lady.
We may have a communication problem here. In the USA there is a brand of shampoo called Head and Shoulders. Is that what MissEvie'smum is using or are you just bathing the head and shoulder area of you dog?
I'd agree that the brand Head and Shoulders (at least as it is here in the US) is rather harsh for a dog and would agree finding a dog shampoo for sensitive skin - there are a lot of shampoos with Oatmeal that are great for mild skin issues.
In view of your other thread about the tail curl, I would look into her nutrition. Both the loose tail and flaky skin could be related to a food problem…..
I have also read the tail curl can relate to cutting teeth.
@MissEvie'sMum:
My 4month old Basenji bitch has flakey skin.
My vet checked for mites but found nothing. She has a head and shoulders bath (for sensitive skin) once a week, but after a few days thebskin is flakey again, I've started feeding pilchards/sardines but have seen no change, can anyone suggest any supplements/feed I can try?!
It's pretty common with basenjis actually. Our vet recommended using an oatmeal shampoo and giving the dog fishoil supplements. It cleared our dogs flaky skin up pretty quick.
I disagree that it is a "common" problem with basenjis… usually it is food related. Good quality kibble or a raw diet will address any possible allergies
By the way… many times during teething... strange things go on with puppies... so I would just make sure that you are using a good quality food... and LOL... favorite for any dog is "horse poop".... besides the obvious of rolling in it! Can understand the bath reasons!
I would try a shampoo with oatmeal which can be calming for the skin. You could also try using a very dilute form of Mane and Tail (a shampoo used for horses and people) and try to follow it with the Mane and Tail Conditioner. If you are bathing quite regularly use something very gentle or try to dilute it. I understand the whole dog around horses, my dogs love cow poop and love to roll in it.
She has a really good quality kibble and this is a problem she's had since I got her, so was looking for new suggestions. I'll defknately try the oatmeal shampoo and supplements you mentioned…and yes, poop is her fab on the yard...along with foot trimmings...she can be very unladylike!!
I disagree that it is a "common" problem with basenjis… usually it is food related. Good quality kibble or a raw diet will address any possible allergies
I certainly don't mean to suggest that all basenjis have skin issues, but its common enough that our vet (who owns two basenjis herself) warned us that it could be an Issue with the breed when we told her we were thinking of getting one. It also came up in pretty much every description of health issues with the breed when I was researching them, stating that "Among 78 live dogs in a 2004 UKC survey, the most common health issues noted by owners were with their skin and urologic problems".
@MissEvie'sMum:
She has a really good quality kibble and this is a problem she's had since I got her,
Have you tried using a different food? "Good quality", fine, can you post an ingredients list from the package? It may have ingredients that disagree with her or lack ingredients that she requires. Not every dog does well on the same food…..
Skin issues are very often related to food or environment, and I would agree with those who say frequent bathing is a bad idea. I also have horses, and my guy has baths very infrequently, but then I don't allow him to roll in horse droppings, either! 
of course the other option might be a waterless shampoo or some baby wipes.
I certainly don't mean to suggest that all basenjis have skin issues, but its common enough that our vet (who owns two basenjis herself) warned us that it could be an Issue with the breed when we told her we were thinking of getting one. It also came up in pretty much every description of health issues with the breed when I was researching them, stating that "Among 78 live dogs in a 2004 UKC survey, the most common health issues noted by owners were with their skin and urologic problems".
Again, I am going to disagree, I think that you can apply skin issues to every breed since there is so much outside influence that can cause problems. Food being the biggest and grains being one of the highest on the list causing issues. In all of my Basenjis and their offspring, I only had two with skin issues, both was a food allergy to corn.
Biggest problem in our breed was Fanconi (until we got the DNA test), eye problems (PRA being genetic and no DNA test at this time) and to an extent thyroid (which of course can cause skin issues)
I totally agree with Tanza - skin issues in Basenjis are very often food related. However Bathing to me is a no- no. My dogs roll in both badger and fox droppings if they can get to them. I use an enzyme spray (Bac to Nature) on the area affected together with Baby wipes and the 'dirt' and smell soon disappear.
On the occasions I have had to bathe I use a very diluted gentle shampoo. As we have free range sheep our yards and fields are often extremely muddy and churned up as you can imagine. When I get home I merely wash paws and leave the rest of the cleaning to them!!
I totally agree with Tanza - skin issues in Basenjis are very often food related. However Bathing to me is a no- no. My dogs roll in both badger and fox droppings if they can get to them. I use an enzyme spray (Bac to Nature) on the area affected together with Baby wipes and the 'dirt' and smell soon disappear.
On the occasions I have had to bathe I use a very diluted gentle shampoo. As we have free range sheep our yards and fields are often extremely muddy and churned up as you can imagine. When I get home I merely wash paws and leave the rest of the cleaning to them!!
Hi All, Thought i'd give you a little update! My lil lady had her food changed from Eukanuba medium pup to Royal Canin Mini (she's a very small basenji and doubt she'll get bigger than 10k when fully grown so thought this one best) I also bought her a Pet Head shampoo 'Royal Treatment' with oatmeal and aloe.
She loves her new food and never leaves a crumb now, has a bath once every two weeks (instead of every week) and has a treat of sardines or yogurt every couple of days.
Her skin is much better, little flaking and her coat looks much better now.
Thank you guys for all the advice!
