Skip to content
Basenji Forums
  1. Home
  2. Basenji Health Issues & Questions
  3. Going to the vet today for eye issue

Going to the vet today for eye issue

Basenji Health Issues & Questions
  • curlytailsC

    Yikes, why did it cost so much?! Did they have to sedate the dog and surgically remove the thing?

    I've heard horror stories of foxtails up the nose, etc., so I know it can be an issue. But I'm not concerned about the way we play it. For example, I live in a neighborhood where, frankly, lawn care is not a priority. There are foxtail jungles landscaping at least three houses down my block. We march right by them when we're out on regular walks, and if I tried to avoid every clump of the weed in my neighborhood, we'd be tracing hieroglyphics up and down the street. Heh.

    The parks that we continue going to are far from foxtail-free, but the layout and general maintenance efforts make it possible to not be too troubled by them. That is NOT the case at this other park that we basically have to abandon over the summer because it becomes completely overrun by weeds of all kinds. =(

    This was just our regular vet. I haven't ruled out a specialist, as I'd love to get more customized answers, someday.

    M.C. w/ Bowdu (shiba inu) and Bowpi (basenji)

    0
  • curlytailsC

    @agilebasenji:

    Poor baby. Obviously you will need to cook for her, let her sleep on the bed and cater to her every need. You know, a normal day.

    :D:D:D
    Doesn't take much to justify any of that though.

    M.C. w/ Bowdu (shiba inu) and Bowpi (basenji)

    0
  • lvossL

    @curlytails:

    Yikes, why did it cost so much?! Did they have to sedate the dog and surgically remove the thing?

    Yes, and I know basenji owner who had a similar vet bill due to fox tail removal about 2 years ago.

    0
  • DebraDownSouthD

    @agilebasenji:

    Poor baby. Obviously you will need to cook for her, let her sleep on the bed and cater to her every need. You know, a normal day.

    LOL, yep normal day.

    On foxtails, wow, $600 is normal. I know a gal with a spaniel that ended up a couple of thousand between dx, specialist for the surgery because of how far into nasal cavity her reg doc wouldn't do it. Reminds me that somewhere I have a picture of the bandaged up dog. But I also know a gal who nearly lost her dog when it actually aspirated one into its lung. (Okay so just spent 10 min looking, so old of pic must be on my old computer files that were transferred to leora's new one). Anyway, yeah, they are terrible. My friend spent a fortune eradicating them from her yard and surrounding area after her dog got one in eye. Wasn't terrible cost to remove it as I recall. We don't have them here, btw,

    http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art29569.asp

    Debra

    0
  • Chealsie508C

    What are foxtails?? … I happened onto this thread because today I'm taking oak to the vet because his eye ( which too has always been watery; not the one with corneal dystrophy either) has been red and extra wet but as of yesterday I came home from work to crusty green blobs, I thought it was allergies but now I think it's conjunctivitis...I felt like every ten minutes I was wetting a warm cloth to clean his eye...poor boppy with all this weird eye stuff! Naturally he got extra cookies and love from me....

    "I know I've found the breed for me because he totally turns my life upside down and I love it!"

    0
  • curlytailsC

    They're a prickly little weed that's shaped like its namesake. Apparently it's only found West of the Mississippi River?

    http://speakingforspot.com/blog/2011/05/31/its-foxtail-season-again/

    They seem really bad this year so far (they haven't stiffened and dried out yet), so I'm a little nervous.

    Hope Oakley's eye troubles are a simple fix!

    M.C. w/ Bowdu (shiba inu) and Bowpi (basenji)

    0
  • Chealsie508C

    Oooo…. Out here we have things that look very similar to that, however they are in area near the wetlands, ponds and such...never anything I have to avoid.... They almost have wire like razor feel to the individual hairs...hmm, I learn something new everyday!

    I too hope we're done with vet visits for awhile ( knock on wood), I do just think its a case of mild conjunctivitis because he shows minimal to no irritation but it is crusting and forming mucous....I'm such a worrier now about his eyes (and gum!)
    Thanks

    "I know I've found the breed for me because he totally turns my life upside down and I love it!"

    0
  • KipawaK

    We have foxtails here in British Columbia (west coast of Canada). Kipawa had trouble with some in his ear last year, in addition to him having a small sea shell stuck in their too. Vet bill, if I remember correctly, was just under $500

    Fran Harder, BAB

    With Barney in my heart

    0
  • krunzerK

    Fox-tails are prevalent in most of Canada I believe. We have them here in northern Alberta, everywhere. They are just a weed. But if they get into the skin they will keep working their way in and are very hard to pull out, kind of like a porcupine quill. I have never had a problem with them or with the dogs and them for that matter, but I hear they can be a very nasty weed to deal with if they work their way into the skin. I have also heard of them gettin stuck up dog's noses. Not pleasant!

    Owned by Becca and Tucker![](images/smilies/biggrin.png "Big Grin")

    BRAT rescue

    0
  • Chealsie508C

    Oak went to the vet and low and behold, just what I thought- conjunctivitis…poor bop, extra treats, sticks and love...

    "I know I've found the breed for me because he totally turns my life upside down and I love it!"

    0

Suggested Topics

  • A

    Thyroid issues.

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    5
    0 Votes
    5 Posts
    4k Views
    tanzaT
    @Abaihya think you need a new Vet, no way should the Thyroid blood test be that price.... They draw the blood and it is sent out....
  • tanzaT

    Vet care will go up…

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    3
    0 Votes
    3 Posts
    2k Views
    tanzaT
    You would be surprise what the tax is going to hit. I am in the medical equipment business with a manufacturing company and it is amazing what is going to be taxed, down to the smallest little nut and bolt…. Day to day Vet care may not be directly impacted, but for surgery centers/specialists and care involving surgery (which is expensive enough), these costs for procedures will increase. Something to keep in mind when putting money away for that "rainy day"...
  • Chealsie508C

    Eye issue

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    71
    0 Votes
    71 Posts
    29k Views
    DebraDownSouthD
    Pat, yeah, it was many but the specialist from GA (who does CERF btw, or did, could be retired at this point) said all were iris to iris and none should cause her issues. But you can still see them. I am comforted to know that a lot of strands don't pass as I honestly don't remember seeing that limitation, only on placement. Been a long time since I looked at CERF. But the issue was and then, the person LIED. She sent me a puppy for my child, who already had more on her than any child should with my health issues, that she obviously had no clue about– a puppy she had no clue about it's eye health. And then wanted her back if I wasn't going to breed her as she would. Yeah, over my dead body.
  • B

    Issues with legs

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    3
    0 Votes
    3 Posts
    2k Views
    D
    How old is your dog? I would take her to a specialty clinic or university clinic that would have both a neurologist and an orthopedist. My 1 year old deaf rescue girl who is a herding/spitz mix has shuffling feet, tremors, and other problems. She was seen first by the neurologist and they suggested x-rays and more testing. My regular vet did take x-rays of the neck, back and hips. I took her to an orthopedist to review the x-rays. Since she was a stray they do not know what caused the problem but it was suggested distemper or perhaps another infectious disease. I just took her to an opthalmologist and her eyes are good but she does have sensitivity to light. Distemper almost always causes eye problems. The specialists are suggesting an MRI of the back, neck and a spinal tap for her. If your dog was adopted as a puppy or an older pup, I would check with the Humane Society to see if she may have had distemper or some other disease. Did she have an accident where she might have injured her back or neck? You might want to look into getting a doggy wheelchair since she has good movement in her front legs. I am sorry for the problems your girl is having and I hope you find out what is causing it. Jennifer
  • Anne-MarieA

    Liver issues

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    3
    0 Votes
    3 Posts
    2k Views
    nobarkusN
    @tanza: These kinds of problems are not uncommon when your Basenjis start to reach their "golden" years. You might want to try him on Dr. Dodd's liver cleansing diet. http://www.canine-epilepsy.com/Liver%20cleansing%20diet.htm Many have used it and had great results regardless of what you find out the issue might be. Good Suggestion Pat as I had an older B with liver issues in 2008 and that diet brought it down into normal range.
  • jmnycJ

    Dental issues

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    21
    0 Votes
    21 Posts
    8k Views
    nodakerdebN
    Periodontal disease is a tough one to get on top of once it takes hold (in both humans and dogs) because the bacteria gets down in the pockets and it is very difficult to keep clean. People have better luck because they have the ability to floss daily, but that is very difficult with a dog – and believe me, I've tried. :D Periodontal disease is not the same as an auto-immune disease that dogs can get (lest I be accused of getting them confused). I believe the reason our furry companions, and especially the dry-mouth (non-slobbering types) often get it is because of a couple things in addition to not being able to floss. 1. They don't slobber so their mouths really don't get a good natural rinse, and 2. they are fed an unnatural diet. In the wild they would be crunching up bones which acts like a natural toothbrush/floss, and they wouldn't be eating cereal grains which are carbs on steroids turning to sugar once it hits the saliva. There are kibbles out there that do not contain grains which may help by keeping the sugars at bay in the mouth. Evo is one, Instinct is another. Feeding raw is a great alternative. I am also a big fan of the PetzLife product and think it works wonders to keep plaque at bay on the teeth, but not sure how well it works with the plague and bacteria already under the gumline. My rat terrier does not have periodontal disease. I feed him Evo and brush his teeth daily (with a three-sided toothbrush) with Petzlife and he has the teeth of a two year old which isn't bad considering he's almost 11. If his gut could handle it I'd feed him raw, but that has not bode well with him unfortunately. FWIW, in a past life I worked as a chairside assistant for a dentist so I do know a bit about teeth and periodontal disease. I came away from that experience realizing that if I were on a deserted island I'd rather have an endless supply of dental floss vs. a toothbrush. I would be more likely to keep my teeth with the first rather that the latter. Now if we could just figure out how to floss a dog's teeth. :)