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Health Information for New Basenji Owners

Pinned Basenji Health Issues & Questions
  • @tanza:

    www.offa.org

    You can search by name, as long as you know the registered name, but some people tested litters so registered names are not there… in some cases the AKC litter number might be there....

    I adopted him without any papers. The owner promised to send me the AKC papers, but never did…...I just want to find out if Uzie has the gene and/or propensity for Fanconi. Is this what I am supposed to do when he is about two years old? I need to know if he carries the gene and will get the disease. I still am a little confused....

  • @Buddys:

    I adopted him without any papers. The owner promised to send me the AKC papers, but never did…...I just want to find out if Uzie has the gene and/or propensity for Fanconi. Is this what I am supposed to do when he is about two years old? I need to know if he carries the gene and will get the disease. I still am a little confused....

    You need to order and do the test. It is a cheek swab that you order from OFA. Since he is a rescue, then you can just make up a registration number and use his call name as the registered name. Price of the test is 65.00.

    Here is the link: http://www.offa.org/dnatesting/fanconi.html

    Then click on the Order OFA DNA Test, scroll down to the Fanconi DNA and then click to add to your shopping cart

    Again since a rescue, just fill in the blanks as best as possible.

  • Fantastic information! Ill print this list out for the timeframe info.

  • After doing Urine Test Strip tests for years, we had the Fanconi DNA test done on our girl. Now, she is a rescue dog (from an abusive puppy mill situation >:( grrr), and is fixed, but I was wanting to not have to do the urine test every month for the rest of her life, especially since we can no longer get the test strips locally.
    The test came back as "carrier," but not as "affected." According to the data included, the disease will never manifest and I no longer have to do the test strips. I am wondering if anyone else is in this situation. I want to trust what the paper said, but I am thinking of doing the urine test periodically anyway - is this overkill?
    Thank you for any responses.

  • Well, I've just read through some more information (sorry, I'm not that experienced at forums (I haven't even been on here in a loooong time!) and my first search confused me).
    So, people are generally still strip-testing frequently after having the test done, it seems. My girl is 8 1/2, I'll keep on keeping on! :)

  • @kimyko:

    Well, I've just read through some more information (sorry, I'm not that experienced at forums (I haven't even been on here in a loooong time!) and my first search confused me).
    So, people are generally still strip-testing frequently after having the test done, it seems. My girl is 8 1/2, I'll keep on keeping on! :)

    If they are tested with the Direct test and they are Clear or Carrier, no need to strip test

  • I do not strip test, we have the results from the direct test, the dogs status is not going to change. Next step is to get your PRA DNA test to find out if your dogs is at risk of blindness.

  • Oh that's good to know - thank you! Here are her results - is this the direct test?

    http://www.offa.org/display.html?appnum=1555268#animal

    I will get the other test done as well - thank you all so much for the information!

  • Okay - I've just read that all tests done after a certain date are direct… woo!! Thank you all so much!

  • It is the direct test and you do not need to retest with strips. Congrats on not being affected

  • Out of Africa, the Basenji dog breed was originally found in the Congo. He uses both scent and sight to hunt and was originally used to flush small game into a hunter's nets and to control village rodent populations.

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    Hoping vets acknowledge this and act on it, I think there are a lot of people in the dark regarding vaccines and put all their trust in their vet, I was one of them until I did a lot more research when getting Kaiser and was shocked to find my last dog was receiving vaccines he didn't even need such as lepto and kennel cough(given by a newly trained vet) totally not required as his lifestyle didn't ask for it. Kaiser had his last 3 core vaccine at 13 weeks and a titre at 8 months and he has immunity for the 3 core diseases, so will titre again sometime in the future for safety's sake. Feel guilty for letting my other dog down and mad for being blind. So we now only have the annual checkups sadly the cost is nearly the same as if he would have a booster and checkup. Feel that vets should be trained more in vaccines and raw feeding as they seem to be lacking and negative towards both. Jolanda and Kaiser
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    Sweet, Thanks. I guess I was looking up basenji specific information and I didnt see any thing in the books I have. I dont get sick much so i shouldn't have to worry. I'm actually feeling better today, not that he cares.
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    tanzaT
    Perm records for hips/elbows are after 2yrs of age, so Oakley is too young. Some do Prelims but that is usually in the case of a male that is going to be used at stud before 2yrs. Keep in mind for hip and/or elbow results that unlike Fanconi testing it is Optional to post the results if they are not Excellent, Good or Fair - Owner option.. same with Thyroid. There is a place on the forms to mark if you want the results posted regardless of the outcome. Many people DO NOT CHECK this box… therefore if the dog is dysplastic, the results are not shown. So read that into the results.... and I know of Dysplastic Basenjis that are NOT in the data base. That said, hips are not a huge concern as in other breeds, but there are problems out there.... IMO, I would have the hips done... elbows, would not worry about that too much... Sedated? Depends on your Vet... some Vets will do without, some will not do hips without. My two girls were just done, both without, we have a mobile Vet that does testing and they go to most all the shows, makes it really easy and no sedation. I have had both ways done on my Basenjis over the years.
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    She still seeks out water but not to the degree that she was. As the accidents wane, I have been trying to leave the water out a bit more, but like one of the other members said about their husband, mine also is sick of cleaning up the pee so I have to find a happy medium between the two. All in all I think we are doing fine, and once again thanks for all of your concern. I will be sure to connect with the Basenji Forums again if there are any other questions.
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