I have a 5 yr old basenji. Two weeks ago we moved to a new apartment. He started itching all over and there were bumps on his hind legs and tail which turned into hives. Took him to his vet this thursday. Vet determined that the bumps looke like bite marks but could not find any fleas on his body. So he gave him a Depo shot for allergy and applied a dose of Revolution (we normally use Frontline on him) for getting rid of any fleas or other insects that my be biting and causing the adverse reaction.
On coming back from the vet, the shot took care of the bumps and allergy but he started acting really strange. At various times during the day he would shake his head as if trying to shake off something in his ear/on his head. Then he would get up from where he is sitting and pace around restlessly and go to another room. He would lie down there and the whole routine repeats again. Since today, he has been wanting to go out or into the closet (like when there is a thunder storm out). he has woken up at 4 am today and he has been like that since. We took him to another open clinic today thinking it might be an ear infection - but the doctor found his ears to be fine (no infection - mites or anything). he found him to be having a temperature of 102 so a 14 day course of Simplicef antibiotics were prescribed and blood was drawn to look for skin infections, etc. This dr seemed to think that it was a side effect of Revolution. There has been no change in his behavior since coming back from the vet today and we are out of ideas 
. Thanks for reading this long post….... Any inputs/ideas would be greatly appreciated.
My dogs act restless like this when they have been bit and are having a reaction - they will try to "get away" from the irritant by hiding under chairs, beds, in closets or small spaces.
While the depo might have helped take care of the hives, it might not have gotten rid of the itch/irritation loing term and he might still be reacting. I would suggest giving benadryl (1mg/pound - usual basenji does is about 25mg tablet) evey 8 hours. Giving it should not hurt and might help to calm him down in more ways then one as it has sedative properties to it. I would give for at least 5-7 days.
If you can not find any little critters to account for his problem - I would look at anything he comes into contact with causing it then wash with no dye, no scent, enviro soap/laundry detergent or else get rid of it.
Thanks a lot for your reply sinbaje. Sunny being our first dog, we are at our wits end. Do you suggest the regular Benadryl or Children's Benadryl. Have you ever tried it on any of your own dogs? Have you ever heard of a possibility of an adverse reaction to Benadryl?
Use adult. You only want diphenhydramine as the ONLY ingredient. Any dog can react to any medication so can not gurantee. Yes - I have used many times on my own dogs and have used it on hundreds of dogs at work. I am surprised your vet did not give a benadryl inj with the depo that is usually standard operating procedures when dealing with possible allergic reaction. Feel free to google diphenhydramine and dogs for more info.
Use adult. You only want diphenhydramine as the ONLY ingredient. Any dog can react to any medication so can not gurantee. Yes - I have used many times on my own dogs and have used it on hundreds of dogs at work. I am surprised your vet did not give a benadryl inj with the depo that is usually standard operating procedures when dealing with possible allergic reaction. Feel free to google diphenhydramine and dogs for more info.
That would be my thoughts too… add to that a new living situation.. in a new apartment can also add to any stress that will make any possible "critter" bites a bigger problem....
I too have used Benadryl many times with never a side effect even in pups as young as 10wks.
I've used benadryl in my basenjis and never had an adverse reaction to it.
You may also want to give him a bath in some gentle (oatmeal for example) pet shampoo just incase he is having a reaction to something topical. Sometimes cleaning ingredients, new carpets, etc can be irratating to our pets. I'd also wash his bedding/blankets in Woolite and vacuum the carpets just incase (since you mentioned the new appartment). Hopefully something helps.
Hmmm… this happened AFTER you moved? Could it possibly be bed bugs? They don't only live in beds. They might be in your new home.
Could he be having an allergic reaction to new carpet? Or maybe cleaning supplies? I would think if there were 'bugs' there you would be bitten as well.
No ideas, but we use benadryl with no ill effects, as told, one every 8 hours around the clock for about a week.
Good luck, it's an awful feeling to see your pup miserable and not know how to help them.
My 2 year old started acting the same way after he got a grass seed stuck down on his ear drum.
Is there any way he might have something stuck in his ear too? Maybe he walked through a web or hive?
The pacing/shaking really sounds like the he might have something in his ear.
Again i cant begin to tell how helpful all your suggestions have been. I started him on 25mg of benedryl from this morning, keeping my fingers crossed that it will do the trick.
I checked his ears and so did the vet we both did not see anything that does not belong there.
Sunny usually sleeps a good 12 to 13 hours a day if not more, since this drama started its been 48 hours that we or the dog slept. Yesterday his breathing was very shallow and rapid that concerned me a lot. Did any of your basenjis go through this type of breathing and sleepless rotiune????for
Thanks a lot for all your help and advice 
It does sound like an allergy reaction to me.
Hopefully, he will do better once the benedryl kicks in.
Do let us know how it goes.
It could be stress due to move, it could be… as others said... carpet chemicals.
I have used Benedryl on my dogs for 30 yrs I suppose... while no one can say it can't cause a reaction, I have never in my life heard of one. I actually do a dose, 2nd in 4 hrs, then every 8 hours.
The breathing can be pain or stress. Check his gums and make sure nice and pink. White gums would indicate internal bleeding.
He is doing much better …..i think. The isane head shaking and pacing is not there anymore. But he still is not sleeping just laying down with eyes open. But much less stressed .....................thank god........i thought i lost him last night. Hopefully this night everything will go smoothly.
All the floors in this apt are hardwood, so no carpet chemicals. it could be the move stress but he seemed ok and not stressed. I am thinking it is bug bite allergy.
His gums are nice and pinl and when i press the boold is filling back well.so hopefully is rapid breathing is not pain realted. Wicsh me luck tonight is the toughest time. i will keep u posted.
I pray that things are on the up now and that tomorrow will find him much improved.
Is he at home alone during the day? Could there be something going on in another apt. or outside that is stressing him out? Perhaps there is some kind of loud noise, banging, lawn mowing, repairman, etc. When I lived in an apt. in Houston, the neighbor upstairs was babysitting and the door was constantly being opened and closed loudly. It vibrated the walls. I did not know this until I was home ill all day. It was worse than any motel the dogs and I ever stayed at.
Jennifer
Hi everyone….... very very glad and thrilled to inform that sunny is back to his normal self today. It was an allergy reaction and the depo shot did not work much.
I stay at home , so he is with me all day , no loud noises. It could be that he is a little stressed out with the new accomodations, but now he is better.
Thanks everyone all the prayers, advice and support. THOS FORUM ROCKS
WHEW! Glad he is okay!
Cheers to both of you for making it through a bit of a rough patch. Hopefully you will now both be sailing on smoother seas!
I had a Basenji hide under a table whimpering just from a few fleas.
So nice to hear..keep us posted please.
