Hi All- just joined : )

[mdczech]

I owned 2 Basenjis Spike(red/wht- male 12yrs old- who passed away 2010 - very sad - both my mom & miss him terribly still)….still have my baby girl; Star(blk/wht - female 8/9yrs old).

Both were rescues (not from BOCA) but from my dog trainer/sitter who rescued them from another family that did not understand the breed.

I can't see getting any other breed- love their personality, temperment, curiosity for their surroundings & most of all Cuddle/Snuggle time ; )
Basenjis make the best snugglers- if they could burrow into you they would ; ) heehee- they can't seem to get close enough- love it!

Joining this group in hopes to meet other Basenji owners(that love their babies as much as I do) near my home of Westchester IL.

[nobarkus]

Welcome to the forum! Post a pic of Star!

[mdczech]

I posted some pictures under "show off my dog" …since that was only one way I found out how to attach pics??? sorry still getting use to how the various gadgets on your forum with regards to posting....

I started a photo album--- here is the URL link to it- I assume you can see it via my profile?...www.basenjiforums.com/album.php?albumid=421

Here is a pic of both Star & Spike sunning themselves in my livingroom:

Here my snugglebug- Star peeking out from under the covers of our blankets…

And her dressed up as Witch for Halloween…

"look into my eyezzzzzzzzz & Fall under my SpellLLLLLLLLLLL"

And one of Spike- who always stole my mom's bedjacket when he would snuggle with her on her bed…

[eeeefarm]

Welcome to the forum! Great picture…..very cute dog. His personality shines through. You must miss him terribly.

[mdczech]

Hey Thanks - eeeeFarm- Yes we (my mom & I ) miss him terribly- he was not the typical basenji…very sweet and docile- unlike my Star(who is also a wonderful dog too- but she is definately an Alpha-female and very pushy & can be bit bombastic)...but I loved & love them both for the differernces in personalities...they are like little fur-people ; )

My Spike I spent $2000.00 on an MRI @ the Vetinarian Specialist in Buffalo Grove, IL...to find out why he was starting to have seizures at age 12- to only find out then that he had a brain-tumor and that it was inoperable...when he had 3 seizures in a matter of hours we knew it was time to put him to rest since he was suffering so- that Christmas 2010 & this past one have been a bit more empty. He will always be in my mom's & my heart...and so will my Star when her time comes too....but I hope that wont be for a while....she's 8/9 years old - and I hope to have her for at least 5-7 more- if we are blessed.

[Patty]

Welcome to you and star and I'm sorry to hear of Spike's sad end.

[DebraDownSouth]

I am so sorry about your loss but glad you have another to keep you company.

[Kipawa]

Welcome and I am glad you are now a part of the family here. I too am sorry for your loss. How special though that you still have a basenji 'monster' to brighten your day!

[MacPack]

Spike sounds very special, I'm sure you miss him terribly. Star is lovely. Welcome to the Forum Family.

[ownedbyspencer]

They are very pretty Bs. I'm so sorry to hear about Spike. He was a handsome boy with the sweetest face. I'm down to my last B now, too, and he's pushing 14, so I cherish every day. Welcome to the forum!

[sharronhurlbut]

Glad you found us..welcome.

[Moth]

Welcome…

Sorry about your loss.

I think I commented on your lovely girl in your other threat

I am in WI so we are neighbors at least by state

[mdczech]

Thanks Everyone for all your Welcome : )

Do have a question- how long do Basenjis live on average…I have heard from some that the max is/was 17 yrs. and on the low side if they have kidney issues from 9-10yrs.?

I take very good care of my doggies- have blood test every 6mo. for Thyroide and kidney function (to make sure all is good) so far my baby Star is doing well...

Had a strange blowout/shed this end of winter/spring where she was looking patch/bald- alopecia thinning along her flanks and head near her ears....took her to the Demotologist Specialist Vet(Dr. Karen Khul) at the Buffallo Grove IL -Vetinarian Speciallist Group and spent $400 to get her checked out for any issues with Cushing's Disease and luckily she tested neg.- her hormone response was very normal- and then spend $350 on an UltraSound to check out her organs to make sure there were no tumors present on the adrenal gland/or/ liver and all looked good/normal...so the Dr. Khul(Dermotologist) recommended to have her take Meltonine(3mg.) tablet 2x/day for 4-6 weeks and now after the 6weeks her hair is all back and is super soft- even softer than what she had before- is that normal for basenjis....has anyone else had any strange shed-outs with their babies this year with the harsh winter and Hot-hot summer? Thank you : )

I just want to make sure I am doing everything possible to keep my baby as healthy as possible.

[sharronhurlbut]

What are you feeding her?

[mdczech]

Solid Gold Health - Holistique Blendz Adult Dog (fish) (http://www.solidgoldhealth.com/products/?product=6&code=160) -a blend for senior dogs since she is 8/9years old and a tad chunky/overweight by 3lbs(28lbs).

I use to feed her Canadea-Senior fomula - but the petshop that I got it at closed and had to go to PetCo near my house and changed her to this holistic food since they did not carry Canadea.
Thanks for the reply : ) much appreciated.

[Rita Jean]

Welcome sorry about your loss they are part of us so hard when they go. Love your girl she looks like she is lots of fun.

Rita Jean

[eeeefarm]

@mdczech:

Thanks Everyone for all your Welcome : )

Do have a question- how long do Basenjis live on average…I have heard from some that the max is/was 17 yrs. and on the low side if they have kidney issues from 9-10yrs.?

I've had two bitches that were just either side of 16, and my last boy was only a couple of months shy of his 15th birthday. I don't know if those are average or not, but they do start taking on an "old dog" look as they get up into their teens. And if they start to lose their hearing as they age…...it's not so easy to tell with a Basenji, they are so good at ignoring commands they don't want to hear, but if something dropped into their dish doesn't elicit a response, you know the hearing is really starting to go.

[mdczech]

Well that helps me sleep better at night- in hopes that I might be lucky enough to have my Star up to 15/16 years old….
I am always in dread waiting for the other shoe to drop- knowing the potential health issues they can run into....
I felt so cheated that my Spike only made it to 12- and was surprised that it was from a brain tumor.
When researching the breed - I was convinced that I would have to go through the sad experience of loosing them to kidney failure at some point- but am happy to hear that some can live as long as 15yrs. and be free of this unfortunate disease if they happen to be lucky enough to have missed that health bullet.

[mdczech]

Have another question??
How, where can you get for Fabconi Syndrom DNA testing? Would my regular vet do this/order it -from a regular blood draw? I researched and see all kind of postings from the breeders that they test their basenjis for this to give the outcome of the genetics for the puppies…. but cannot find any info on how to order it or how much it costs?
Is this something I could get from my own regular vet?

??Is it worth doing since my girl is already 8/9yr. old(she was fixed when I rescued her so this would not be for breeding concerns)- but was curious if this type of test would be availalbe to me(a non-breeder) so I could know if she was going to come down with this disease in the future or not.... just trying to be ahead of the issue - if at all possible, since she was a rescue and I dont have any "linage papers" on her to know if she's fanconi positive or not.

So far all her kidney function test and other lab work on her come back in normal ranges..and I have her tested for her T-4Thyroid issue and her kidney function every 6months to make sure she's healthy- and so far,knock-on-wood...she's been ok.

Just trying to be as pro-active in her health care as possible- but without being too over reactive/crazy. I just want to give her the best-longest life outcome as possible- as much as I can...and not have any regrets that I did not do something that could helped her longevity outcome.

[tlish]

this thread has the links - you order it yourself, do a cheek swab, and send it in.