Health Information for New Basenji Owners

[DebraDownSouth]

Ty, I guess I'll write OFA. Anyone who had test redone, obviously must have been a positive or would have retested. So a few false positives. Still, worthy test.

[Arwen]

Thank you so much for this thread. It's been so long since I've been owned by a B–I have a ton to catch up on.

Within the next 3 paychecks I will will be ordering a test for Nayru. She's spayed but I want to make sure I know what to watch out for in case she's positive for Fanconi's.

I do have a question (and I haven't searched the forums yet so I'll go do that first. LOL) I'll be back if I don't find my answer.

[Buddys Pal]

@lvoss:

I agree that it is very important that any dog from untested parents should be tested using the DNA Marker Test for Fanconi.

I just also want everyone to know that there are other heritable diseases in basenjis that can also effect their quality of life and can lead to disasterous outcomes for the dog if not diagnosed and treated. Untreated hypothyroidism can lead to seizures, cartiledge breakdown, and other preventable problems. Blind dogs often become confused and scared when furniture is suddenly rearranged and they can not navigate areas that were once familiar to them.

We have a marker test for Fanconi because of dedicated breeders and owners. It is also because of the willingness of so many in the basenji community who submitted not only blood samples for DNA extraction but also detailed health surveys and health records for the dogs they submitted that researchers are interested in working with us to find markers for other diseases. The more each of us does to collect information on our own dogs and keep the information in the Canine Phenome Project up to date the closer we can come to having markers for the other diseases found in the breed.

Can you please supply a link to where and how we can check and rule out Fanconi in our Basenji? thanks in advance.

[tanza]

@Buddys:

Can you please supply a link to where and how we can check and rule out Fanconi in our Basenji? thanks in advance.

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....

[Buddys Pal]

@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....

[tanza]

@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.

[Guest]

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

[kimyko]

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.

[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! :)

[tanza]

@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

[lisastewart]

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.

[kimyko]

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!

[kimyko]

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

[Chealsie508]

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

[curt12345]

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.