Skip to content

Our Dogs - breed notes last week

Basenji Health Issues & Questions
  • I take it no-one has read the Our Dogs breed notes that were in last weeks paper - stating that there are no known health problems in Basenjis? I would have thought it would have at least prompted some debate - especially from our more experienced breeders.

  • Those are just Les's opinions. If you try to mention anything about Health testing/problems to him he will never print them in his breed notes. There are a few people like that in the breed over here I'm afraid. I think a lot of people over here feel maybe testing has become too much of an obsession and breeders should be more concerned about structural problems. Too much emphasis on Fanconi can lead to other problems such as patellas etc going unnoticed.

    (These are just views I have heard from other people and not necessarily my own opinions!)

  • Except that patellas are a health problem too and so instead of arguing for less emphasis on health testing, shouldn't there be more emphasis? I realize this is not your argument, just ones that you have heard but it is one of those things that just makes me mad.

    I would agree that we should not focus solely on Fanconi but that is because I feel strongly that we need to look at all the health issues in our breed. We do have more health issues in our breed than just Fanconi and many seem to be ignoring those in their breeding decision. I have seen breedings that people wouldn't have considered prior to the Fanconi test because of the high risk that now are being done with little regard to the fact that these pedigrees are loaded for PRA. I am concerned about the amount of Hip Dysplasia I am hearing about and the attitude that since it is only a 3% incidence we don't have to worry. It makes me wonder if these people understand how if we don't worry now when it is 3%, it will increase and then everyone's options are going to be a lot more limited.

  • Unfortunately, without actually re-typing the breed notes I can't post them on the forum. You need to either get the paper or subscribe to that part of the website.

    Health testing is a big talking point in the UK and the breed is very divided over these issues. The KC doesn't recognise any health problems in the breed, therefor there are no tests that can be forced upon breeders here.

  • There are NO forced health health tests in the US either. It is the responsibility of the breeder to ensure the health of our breed by testing… and not just for Fanconi. I agree that many people are getting hung up on only Fanconi Testing and pushing aside the other health concerns that we have... Eyes (PRA, Coloboma, excessive PPM, cataracts, etc), hips, elbows, patellas, thyroid... just to name a few...

    And remember, many structural faults can certainly be traced back to poor elbows, patellas and/or hips....

    And just like you have in the UK, we too have breeders with many of the same opinions... all we can do as responsible breeders is do the testing, educate the public...

  • Here in the US all health testing is by choice. BCOA has published what they consider the tests that all breeders should be doing in the form of the CHIC tests, hips, eyes, thyroid, and fanconi but it is a breeder's choice to do them. At this time there are 88 basenjis with a CHIC designation. There are 2800 dogs in the OFA database for Fanconi.

  • I don't have Our Dogs but Jules read it out to me, I think it is wrong that the kennel club were advised that we didn't have health problems. I would like to see compulsory testing for animals in breeding programmes.

    When the testing first came out there was much debate in that particular paper.

  • I'm not sure if anyone has watched this BBC dogumentary that was aired on the CBC here in Canada. I found the film very informative and something that all humans should watch when it comes to health concerns regarding breeds in general and the toll we had as humans wanting a better looking dog.

    I found this link on youtube, but the dogumentary has been split into different parts. I think if you click on the link, it should play the whole doc. consecutively:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3O0l0f50AAk&feature=PlayList&p=D68FCA74FDD7A6DC&index=0&playnext=1

    We can see this as a controversial issue, nor do we want to cause a stir, but there are great points and bad points that owners and breeders alike displayed. We don't think one person or group should be blamed.

  • @Benkura:

    Unfortunately, without actually re-typing the breed notes I can't post them on the forum. You need to either get the paper or subscribe to that part of the website.

    Health testing is a big talking point in the UK and the breed is very divided over these issues. The KC doesn't recognise any health problems in the breed, therefor there are no tests that can be forced upon breeders here.

    Is there a way you could possibly take a digital pic of the notes and post them on the forum?

Suggested Topics

  • senior dog and whining

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    11
    0 Votes
    11 Posts
    974 Views
    ZandeZ
    @kembe you will
  • Picky Fanconi dog

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    6
    0 Votes
    6 Posts
    6k Views
    tanzaT
    It is my understanding that Dr Gonto can only respond about the protocol to a Vet and can not give advise direct to an owner, so you may want to have your Vet sent that information to him. Or send the lab information and copy your Vet so that he can communicate directly with your Vet if he suggests changes.
  • Dog Origins Revisited

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    3
    0 Votes
    3 Posts
    4k Views
    curlytailsC
    The original article is here, for those interested: http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0028496 I'm no scientist, so much of it was lost on me. I do admit being inherently skeptical of attempts to represent THE origin of dogs… I can't figure out how these studies account for how human relationships with dogs have developed over tens of thousands of years, and I'm far more interested in the way that culture and history have shaped the way we think of dogs -- or even what even counts as "domestication!" A lot of the Asian spitzes historically straddled and crossed that line, for example, roaming free as packs of wild dogs. Anyway, I also find it interesting that they chose a number of island-based village dogs to sample (i.e., the Taiwanese tugou, which is also close to my heart). @Mr B, I chuckle at your comment about "phasing over to the Basenji." I frequently think of doing just that so I don't have to deal with all these giant furballs all around my home!! But I think I will always be partial to the Asian spitz breeds. I love the look of your Jindo, and your Shiba is adorable too.
  • Bumpy dogs?

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    6
    0 Votes
    6 Posts
    2k Views
    S
    Thanks everyone! Now I'm wracking my brain trying to remember where exactly her vaccines were. She got two in one day, and I preoccupied with holding her and giving her cookies! I keep rubbing it, and if anything, it seems a bit smaller, but I will absolutely let everyone know what happens next. Cheers
  • Dry Dog Foods

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    2
    0 Votes
    2 Posts
    2k Views
    S
    I use the Life Abudance and alternate between Paula Newmans. My dogs love it. Their coats look great. I totally support both of those dog foods.
  • Sleeping dogs!

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    12
    0 Votes
    12 Posts
    10k Views
    wizardW
    EL D (who will be 6 this December) sleeps (I think) most of the day while I'm at work. In the evenings when the weather was nice he would run around in the yard until it got too dark but now he generally just sits in his bed or on the couch if I'm involved in something, otherwise he's throwing his toys around or snooping in the basement.