Skip to content

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.

Suggested Topics

  • 0 Votes
    17 Posts
    3k Views
    A
    Thanks everyone. He is definitely back to his old self this week thank goodness!!! Playing with me again, trying to steal my dinner haha! His coat is even shinier. It must have been a rough few days for him trying to adjust to his holidays ending. I'm just so happy and thanks for all of the reassurance. We have enrolled in puppy classes, which start in two weeks. Sadly we never got to do them because of the covid lockdown. So that is something to look forward to!
  • 0 Votes
    2 Posts
    1k Views
    ?
    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
  • New Basenji/chi mix with loose hips

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    18
    0 Votes
    18 Posts
    4k Views
    svdreamerS
    He's a boy. :) And he's neutered as of three weeks ago. He's only about 10 months old.
  • Basenji in Alaska

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    22
    0 Votes
    22 Posts
    8k Views
    wizardW
    I saw that you have a sewing machine – its not hard to make your own coat. I made one for my previous beasties with fleece and wool. I made it with a high colar (for the backside of the neck) and an indentation for the tail and a big belly and chest band (I used snaps at first but then switched to velcro). It worked pretty good for our single digit temps (and the occasional below zero walks to the corner). My current beastie refuses to go out the door with a coat on, however. When the outside temps are below 10F she won't stay outside any longer than necessary to go potty - the squirrels can run around all they want then! With respect to booties, mine will at least tolerate them when we go for walks but it's more for the road salt. However, the good pair I bought this year leak somehow (maybe through the stitching?) and she doesn't like them with they get wet inside. Nevertheless be sure you get the best you can find.
  • Those Basenji ears?!?

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    8
    0 Votes
    8 Posts
    3k Views
    BarklessdogB
    Our red girl dog has the same problem. Freaks out when you touch her ears with a swab, but loves the inside of her ears rubbed when petting her. You know the two handed ear & cheek rub. That gave me an idea!. I found some real soft white - tight gardening gloves (unused), gave her an ear massage and cleaned her ears out. it worked well. I was extra careful not to push the dirt down her ears, but did kind of a wiping motion out and away from her inner ears. She loved it!
  • Basenji Health Endowment

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    2
    0 Votes
    2 Posts
    2k Views
    tanzaT
    @Quercus: Important update from the Basenji Club of America: The Basenji Health Endowment is pleased to announce the establishment of its own website and information portal for the Basenji Fancy. The BHE can be found at: http://www.BasenjiHealth.org or http://www.BasenjiHealthEndowment.org. To inagurate our new website, the Basenji Health Endowment is pleased to announce that it has directly funded Dr. Gary Johnson of the University of Missouri to develop a marker-based test for Fanconi Syndrome. You may read the complete press release at: http://www.BasenjiHealth.org/bhe042007.pdf And also there are links if you would like to donate to the Health Endowment… this is a very important break through for our breed and especially for breeders. For anyone that has had or knows of a Fanconi Affilicted Basenji.. knows what a terrible affilication this is.... and for us to finally start to get a handle on it is something we have been waiting for..... Please all remember strip test your Basenjis... at least once a month....