New Wellness Core

[Sweetpeaelf]

My guys really enjoy this brand. It has no grains at all, which is what I like. It is recommend for 1 year and over. For me it was around 50 dollars for the big bag. If you're looking for a new brand, try this one!

[AnandaKiora]

I feed this to my dogs, they do really well on it, and love the taste.I am thinking of mixing half and half with another brand though since I don't believe that any one brand has it all so to speak. But it is excellent food and I am very pleased with it.That's about the same price for me also.

[Vicki]

Wellness is a wonderful product.

[Jannie]

I feed my girls raw and use this for their snack. They love it and they are so much more healthier.

[Tayda_Lenny]

I feed this to Tayda and Lenny along w/ the occasional raw about 1-2 times per week. I did have them on 100% raw but have switched back to a mix. They are LOVING the wellness and I swear their coats are soft and shiny and very healthy looking! Seems they are not shedding as much either anymore, but that could be because its getting cold out now!

[Sharla]

They are also coming out with a Core canned food. It is suppose to avail sometime this month. Also, they are also taking a price increase this month. So if you need food I would buy it soon. In San Diego it went up approx 10-15 % depending on the item

[Tayda_Lenny]

The store I get Tayda and Lenny's food from is increasing their Wellness core by $10 per 26 lb bag. I used to get it for $45 and now its $55! I got two bags this time around.....

[chiya]

Since we are discussing grain free food, I would like to add my two cents worth. I been using Blue Buffalo Wilderness for a few months now, I am extremely happy with my brat pack's soft shinny coat, they love the taste, I love that they have the life source bits with added vitamins and antioxidants, I add a little Wilderness canned for extra good taste. I can't be more pleased! I often mix in some Blue Buffalo Fish/Sweet potato kibbles, poo are nice and firm! Two paws up!!!!!!! I paid $48 for a 28 lb bag at Petsmart.

[gbroxon]

Since we are discussing grain free food, I would like to add my two cents worth. I been using Blue Buffalo Wilderness for a few months now, I am extremely happy with my brat pack's soft shinny coat, they love the taste, I love that they have the life source bits with added vitamins and antioxidants, I add a little Wilderness canned for extra good taste. I can't be more pleased! I often mix in some Blue Buffalo Fish/Sweet potato kibbles, poo are nice and firm! Two paws up!!!!!!! I paid $48 for a 28 lb bag at Petsmart.

I was considering Blue Buffalo Wilderness awhile back (as a go-to if I forgot to thaw some raw), but it had a grain (oatmeal) in it. It's been removed from the recipe?

[Faita]

Hi There,

My dog is half basenji and half shiba inu. She has tried wellness and does not eat it. I have tried a new product called ORIJEN. It is considered high in protein equivalent to EVO which is 42% protein. I know that basenji's are at risk for falcones disease so i wonder if the high protein will be hard on my dog's kidneys. It is a grain free diet and it apparently one of the top products out for dry kibble. I was hoping to get some ideas on what others think of it. She loves it so much that when i mixed it with her wellness..she picked out all the Orijen and left the wellness behind.

Thanks so much for any help in this!!!

[AnandaKiora]

No, high protein diets will not be harmful to her. With Fanconi syndrome dogs actually loose essential nutrients so the need a high protein diet (and daily vitamin supplements), kind of the opposite of regular kidney desiese. There is a test you can have done to tell if your dog has the gene that causes Fanconi's. Maybe someone can chip in and tell us if it is available to mixed breeds?
It is good that you found a high quality food your dog likes, some B's can be real picky...not mine though, she is a chow hound! I have heard good things about Orijen and I think some of the other members feed it to their B's as well.

[tanza]

No, high protein diets will not be harmful to her. With Fanconi syndrome dogs actually loose essential nutrients so the need a high protein diet (and daily vitamin supplements), kind of the opposite of regular kidney desiese. There is a test you can have done to tell if your dog has the gene that causes Fanconi's. Maybe someone can chip in and tell us if it is available to mixed breeds?
It is good that you found a high quality food your dog likes, some B's can be real picky...not mine though, she is a chow hound! I have heard good things about Orijen and I think some of the other members feed it to their B's as well.

The Fanconi test is available for any Basenji, but again, since the gene is recessive and not known (as far as I know) in Shiba's, I don't think that the test is necessary.

Dr Gonto, who developed the Fanconi Protocol, I believe recommends lower protein

[tanza]

No, high protein diets will not be harmful to her. With Fanconi syndrome dogs actually loose essential nutrients so the need a high protein diet (and daily vitamin supplements), kind of the opposite of regular kidney desiese. There is a test you can have done to tell if your dog has the gene that causes Fanconi's. Maybe someone can chip in and tell us if it is available to mixed breeds?
It is good that you found a high quality food your dog likes, some B's can be real picky...not mine though, she is a chow hound! I have heard good things about Orijen and I think some of the other members feed it to their B's as well.

The Fanconi test is available for any Basenji, but again, since the gene is recessive and not known (as far as I know) in Shiba's, I don't think that the test is necessary.

Dr Gonto, who developed the Fanconi Protocol, I believe recommends lower protein

[AnandaKiora]

That' not what it says here: http://basenjicompanions.org/health/images/Protocol2003.html
but maybe there's a newer one with revisions?

[Tayda_Lenny]

Dr. Gonto does prefer lower protein diets. The protocol does say "high protein" is required but "high" in this case means something like 25-30% protein. Here is what he responded to one of my inquiries about food when I wrote that I was feeding Wellness Core and that she had elevated BUN and Creatinine levels:

" Yes..that damned diet with TOO MUCH PROTEIN TO BE HEALTHY FOR ANY DOGS KIDNEYS (in my humble, personal opinion). I am already in contact with Wellness to find out what research they used to back such an outrageous formula. I bet her kidneys were simply dumping and unable to process that insanely high amount of protein in that dog food. What are these Wellness people thinking? My daughter is an Olympic athlete and I would not have her on that high of a protein diet!!! Eskimo sled dogs, dogs that work the hardest and live in the harshest climate of ANY dog on earth...they eat seal blubber and stews made from elk and some winter wheat. Even those HARD working dogs eat a diet only about 35% protein!!!"

And in a separate email chain when I asked him how he felt about raw feeding he answered this:

"No problem with all natural raw food. That is, if your dogs go out, run down a gazelle and kill it, then eat it where they felled it...fine. But I am guessing you are talking about a slab of meat from a hormone filled cow, slaughtered in a filthy, bacterial laden slaughter house and processed with tools oozing in a host of bacteria, mold and fungus and then stored for a few months before you buy it "fresh" in a supermarket??? Would YOU eat that raw? Would you feed it to your child? WHY NOT.....your ancestors ate it that way, right? Must be good for you...right? After all, they DID live to the ripe old age of 23 or so...IF they were REALLY, REALLY lucky. (just like dogs in the wild, who sometimes make it to seven or eight....all diseased up and sore covered...but HEY....."IT'S ALL NATURAL"..yahooooo. "

[nomrbddgs]

Yes, he's sarcastically funny! hahahahaaha I guess I have to revise some of my thinking. I never thought about the hormone laden meat we get. AHhhh something else to add to my mix!

[renaultf1]

Dr. Gonto does prefer lower protein diets. The protocol does say "high protein" is required but "high" in this case means something like 25-30% protein. Here is what he responded to one of my inquiries about food when I wrote that I was feeding Wellness Core and that she had elevated BUN and Creatinine levels:

" Yes..that damned diet with TOO MUCH PROTEIN TO BE HEALTHY FOR ANY DOGS KIDNEYS (in my humble, personal opinion). I am already in contact with Wellness to find out what research they used to back such an outrageous formula. I bet her kidneys were simply dumping and unable to process that insanely high amount of protein in that dog food. What are these Wellness people thinking? My daughter is an Olympic athlete and I would not have her on that high of a protein diet!!! Eskimo sled dogs, dogs that work the hardest and live in the harshest climate of ANY dog on earth...they eat seal blubber and stews made from elk and some winter wheat. Even those HARD working dogs eat a diet only about 35% protein!!!"

And in a separate email chain when I asked him how he felt about raw feeding he answered this:

"No problem with all natural raw food. That is, if your dogs go out, run down a gazelle and kill it, then eat it where they felled it...fine. But I am guessing you are talking about a slab of meat from a hormone filled cow, slaughtered in a filthy, bacterial laden slaughter house and processed with tools oozing in a host of bacteria, mold and fungus and then stored for a few months before you buy it "fresh" in a supermarket??? Would YOU eat that raw? Would you feed it to your child? WHY NOT.....your ancestors ate it that way, right? Must be good for you...right? After all, they DID live to the ripe old age of 23 or so...IF they were REALLY, REALLY lucky. (just like dogs in the wild, who sometimes make it to seven or eight....all diseased up and sore covered...but HEY....."IT'S ALL NATURAL"..yahooooo. "

Thanks for posting that...quite honestly, ever since you posted in the other thread about what Dr. Gonto said about the food having too high a protein level, I certainly am rethinking again the food choice for my kids. I've had them on Orijen (6 fresh fish)...the protein level of that is 42% (if I remember right) and if he thinks Core is too high I can only imagine what he'd say about that. Not to mention, EVO or Solid Gold (Barking at the Moon). It's a tough call because all the grain free foods seem to be super high in protein...Core is a little more moderate. Granted, Ruby is a clear and Brando is a carrier, but I've kind of always wondered about the kidney aspect of high-protein food even relative to a healthy dog.

BTW, I had started giving Ruby Core (Ocean) in the last month because she had put on a couple pounds...she has since lost the weight, so the Core seems to work for her. Boy, and after reading what he said about raw (he's so funny), I think the only way I'd do it is if I was doing organic...heck, I personally don't eat meat or fish that isn't organic (for the very reasons he wrote) so why should the b'kids.

Can I ask, what food did you switch Tayda to?

[Tayda_Lenny]

Per Dr. Gonto's suggestion, I switched her to a senior food... I chose Innova Senior. http://www.innovapet.com/product_line.asp?id=1674 It has about 18.5% protein and also has the probiotics that are supposed to help against urinary tract infections (which Fanconi dogs are prone to). I'm anxious to see how it affects her blood work when I take her back in a couple months...

I know, I never knew about the potential adverse effects of high protein foods on the dogs kidneys. And I would not have known if not for the bloodwork for Fanconi. Her regular bloodwork from a year ago showed she had elevated BUN and Creatinine levels also, not above normal, but at the high end of the normal range. The vet chalked it up to her having had a few treats right before the blood draw - which now I'm doubting. I'm hoping this switch of food will bring her levels down...

Also, FYI, Dr. Gonto mentioned to me that he feeds his own dogs Nutro Ultra http://www.ultraholistic.com/index.html

[renaultf1]

Thanks Michelle.

[lvoss]

I have never thought that comparing wet diets to dry was a very good idea. A big difference between what sled dogs eat and a grain free kibble is the moisture available.

Here is an interesting article about high protein kibbles, http://www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?page=protein_myth

I do think it is really important no matter what kibble you feed, that you make sure your dogs are getting enough water. I have noticed that my basenjis, like my cats, are not always very good about drinking water. So I feed my dogs much like I feed my cats, they get one meal of canned food a day, and I try to add water to kibble meals.

[AnandaKiora]

This is similar to how I feed my dogs. Kiora, and Ananda (coyote mix) both drink pretty sparingly. they share a can of moist food a day and they get warm water in their food to hydrate them and swell the kibbles a bit.

IMO Wellness core has very moderate protien, especially compared to other kinds of grain free kibbles. I chose it because though my dogs are excersized daily they aren't athletes and they don't need a huge amount of protien. Wellness core has 34% protien..only 45% more then the amount you said was reccomended. here is the analysis:
Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein min. 34%
Crude Fat min. 14%
Crude Fiber max. 4%
Moisture max. 10%
Calcium max. 2%
Phosphorus max. 1.4%
Vitamin E min. 150 IU/kg
Omega 6 Fatty Acids* min. 3.25%
Omega 3 Fatty Acids* min. 0.70%
Glucosamin Hydrochloride* min. 250 mg/kg
Chondroitin Sulfate min. 200 mg/kg
Total Micro-organisms* min. 80,000,000 CFU/lb
Crude Protein min. 5 mg/kg

And here is the analysis for a can of Wellness 95% Salmon
Guaranteed Analysis (Label Statement)
Crude Protein
Not Less Than
8%

Crude Fat
Not Less Than
6%

Crude Fiber
Not More Than
1%

Moisture
Not More Than
78%

Now if sled dogs are eating 37% protein in stew form......hmmm.
Here's the analysis for some Chicken breast Jerky treats:
Ingredients
100% fresh chicken breast meat

Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein 80.0% min
. Crude Fat 2.0% min.
Crude Fiber 1.0% max.
Moisture 12.0% max.

Now I'm not saying that a wild dogs diet is 80% protein but if you removed the moisture from all that elk and seal blubber it's pretty hard to imagine it only has 37% protein. The chicken jerky has 46% more protein then Wellness Core , and 2% more moisture.
And how is a comparison to the amount of protein a human consumes even a relevent comparison? Humans are omnivores, dogs are carnivores...they may be able survive omnivorously but it isn't a natural state for them like it is for us. I only eat meat a few times a week, I certianly wouldn't expect my dogs to eat like that. If my dogs were athletes I wouldn't hesitate to feed them kibbles with 40 or 50% protein, a bit closer to the levels they might get naturally.

I totally agree about the raw food. I wouldn't feed my dogs raw from the grocery store either. I would only feed raw if I could feed organic.
Now maybe I could see this protein statement being valid to healthy dogs of breeds that have been bred away from their natural state like Bulldogs or Yorkies. But for a healthy specimen of a natural breed like a Basenji? I seriously doubt that B's in Africa are only getting 25-30% protein.
As far as the Fanconi regimen if Dr.Gonto has such a specific percentage of protein that he reccomends it should say it right there. everything I read about it said High, High, high protein. If high protein isn't what he means then why is the information available so misleading?

Also if high protein is bad for dogs no one ever told my dogs that because they have never been in better health with grained kibbles then they are now.

[AnandaKiora]

Oops my bad I thought it said 37% for sled dogs when it actually says 35%. Nevertheless my argument remains valid.

[renaultf1]

As far as the Fanconi regimen if Dr.Gonto has such a specific percentage of protein that he reccomends it should say it right there. everything I read about it said High, High, high protein. If high protein isn't what he means then why is the information available so misleading?


In the link that you posted from Basenji Companions, it does say that low protein should be given to fanconi dogs showing renal failure - there is the section on Renal Failure - Hybrid Protocol.

Michelle's dog Tayda is in renal failure (as posted in the other thread), hence Dr. Gonto is prescribing low protein protein food.

[AnandaKiora]

No I understand that. I was talking about the protein reccomendation for normal fanconi dogs of 25-30% as posted by Tayda_Lenny. I did read about the alternate protacol for dogs with renal failure. If I had to feed my dogs a low protein diet I would pick something similar to Innnova senior as the protein is from authentic meat source not soy or corn gluten.

[MacPack]

This has been an informative thread. I mix 50:50 regular adult Innova and Beef EVO for my 3 dogs ages 13, 11 & 9. They actually thrived on the Innova but when EVO came out I thought it might be better. It was too rich and alone, caused too soft stool, but the 50:50 mix has been good. Rethinking their ages and the stress on the kidneys from too much protein, I think I will back down to good old regular Innova! I have tired Senior...and they are not impressed.
Thanks for the information shared in this topic.
Anne

[tanza]

No I understand that. I was talking about the protein reccomendation for normal fanconi dogs of 25-30% as posted by Tanza. I did read about the alternate protacol for dogs with renal failure. If I had to feed my dogs a low protein diet I would pick something similar to Innnova senior as the protein is from authentic meat source not soy or corn gluten.

I didn't post anything about %, only that very high protein is not what Dr. Gonto recommends, below is taken from his protocol, note that High Protein is recommend "once" a week.... and he notes as long as the dog is not in Renal Failure.....

2. Any good quality dry food may be fed, with the addition of at least one can per week of HIGH PROTIEN “wet meat” mammal meat based dog food (Beef,
Lamb…etc.) to replace long-chain amino acids and phosphorus. Poultry based foods have proven far less effective in management of this disorder then mammal
based meats. The only exception to this high protien diet, in this protien-losing uropathy, is documented renal failure (increasing BUN/CREATININE). In this type
situation, see the “RENAL FAILURE HYBRID PROTOCOL” section later in this instruction set.

[AnandaKiora]

I am sorry you are right Tanza Tayda_Lenny made the comment about the protien level here is the quote:
"Dr. Gonto does prefer lower protein diets. The protocol does say "high protein" is required but "high" in this case means something like 25-30% protein."
If there is a specific, stringent % of protein required by Dr.Gonto then shouldn't he just say so instead of being so vague? Maybe it should say any good quality dry food with 25-30% protien? In my mind and in others too Wellness Core is very high quality. if he wants us to stay away from high protein then why is the the only referance to low protein in the hybrid protocal for renal failure? And yes I am aware of the hybrid protocal, no need to shout, as I posted earlier. I am talking about the normal protocal. But that does bring up a point that if low protein is the normal reccomendation then why would there even be a hybrid protocal? Maybe I'm crazy but when I read "High protein diet" I think that that is what he really means. The main obvious conflict I can see with Wellness Core is that it is poultry based and he reccomends mammal based. When I think of a high quality mammal based food I think Innova EVO Red...this has even higher protein then Wellness. Since he doesn't say anything about restricting protein for Normal Protocal Fanconi dogs...how is one supposed to know that one should?....guess? Telepathy? Perhaps there is a secret memo nobody sent me.
Additionally references to "high protein" in conjuction with fsnconi seem to be in abundance:
"If you suspect that your Basenji has Fanconi, do not place your dog on a "kidney" diet -- which is usually low in protein. Protein is what a Fanconi-afflicted Basenji needs! Fanconi afflicted dogs are literally urinating away vital proteins and amino acids that their bodies require in order to live."
http://www.voyuz.net/voyuz.net/basenji_FAQ/Entries/2008/11/18_10_Health_Problems.html

"Another way to prevent Fanconi is by making sure your pup has a beneficial diet. DO NOT restrict your Basenji's protein intake. These dogs require higher amounts of protein on a normal basis and when afflicted by Fanconi, the dog 'passes' the proteins and amino acids necessary for healthy living. Recent studies have shown that the Basenji breed does better when given small amounts of high quality meat."
http://www.tajirikennels.com/index/basenjis.htm

"In “kidney failure,” he says, the dog retains fluid, buffers, protein and metabolic waste products. In Fanconi Syndrome, the dog’s renal tubules are not performing their proper job of filtering buffers, protein and nutrients back into the system, and these protein, buffers, nutrients and water are being “slushed on through,” unutilized, at a great rate.

A Fanconi dog must be given additional protein, water, nutrients, and buffers to maintain the integrity of all of the organs; whereas a dog in “kidney failure” needs to have Iess protein, fluids, etc."
http://www.basenjicompanions.org/health/fanconi/gonto.html

[tanza]

The good news, however about Fanconi is that from July 2007, as long as we have all responsible breeders that test DNA "before" breeding, we will never again produce an affected Basenji!

[nomrbddgs]

Sorry Pat. That is wrong. I talked to Jon Curby. The test is approx. 90-95% accurate. This is not a 100% test. There could still be a fanconi produced dog.

[Tayda_Lenny]

Wow I haven’t checked this thread in a while. Didn’t mean to cause any controversy…

You're right the protocol as it stands does not list a specific percentage associated with "high" protein. What I shared with the forum was from personal emails exchanged between Dr. Gonto and myself specifically about Tayda and her condition. And to be clear, her condition is:

- Diagnosed Fanconi
- BUN and Creatinine levels at the high end of normal range (not yet considered renal failure, we are hoping that by lowering the protein in her diet, these levels will come down. If that happens, I will be convinced that the high levels of protein in her previous diet were a large contributor)

So her treatment plan is somewhere in between the “traditional Fanconi” and the “modified for renal failure” plan…

I’m not trying to tell anyone what to feed or not feed their dogs. I was just sharing what I've learned in the last few weeks from Dr. Gonto as a result of Tayda's diagnosis. I was also surprised to hear his opinion about Wellness Core being too high in protein, and think it would be a good idea to specify in the protocol a certain percentage of protein that is recommended. But I have to say he is happy and willing to correspond with people about their basenjis and that to me is more valuable than anything else right now. Each dogs situation could be a little different depending on the results of their blood work and whats good for one dog is not necessarily good for another.

[tanza]

Sorry Pat. That is wrong. I talked to Jon Curby. The test is approx. 90-95% accurate. This is not a 100% test. There could still be a fanconi produced dog.

It is more then we had before and better the NOT testing.. and so far from the 2000+ tests there have not been any results that don't make sense... and the couple that were in question were re-run with the cheek swab to verify....

And in the end, I will take the 90-95% compared to not testing at all

[nomrbddgs]

I will too, just a caution to anyone who thinks it can't happen. It can. I hope it doesn't because then we would really start to question a lot of things and breedings we have done. For myself, the indeterminates don't make sense. That, to me, produces a margin of error I'm not comfortable with. So I, personally, use it only as another tool, much the same as a pedigree.

[tanza]

Wow I haven’t checked this thread in a while. Didn’t mean to cause any controversy…

You're right the protocol as it stands does not list a specific percentage associated with "high" protein. What I shared with the forum was from personal emails exchanged between Dr. Gonto and myself specifically about Tayda and her condition. And to be clear, her condition is:

- Diagnosed Fanconi
- BUN and Creatinine levels at the high end of normal range (not yet considered renal failure, we are hoping that by lowering the protein in her diet, these levels will come down. If that happens, I will be convinced that the high levels of protein in her previous diet were a large contributor)

So her treatment plan is somewhere in between the “traditional Fanconi” and the “modified for renal failure” plan…

I’m not trying to tell anyone what to feed or not feed their dogs. I was just sharing what I've learned in the last few weeks from Dr. Gonto as a result of Tayda's diagnosis. I was also surprised to hear his opinion about Wellness Core being too high in protein, and think it would be a good idea to specify in the protocol a certain percentage of protein that is recommended. But I have to say he is happy and willing to correspond with people about their basenjis and that to me is more valuable than anything else right now. Each dogs situation could be a little different depending on the results of their blood work and whats good for one dog is not necessarily good for another.

You might want to ask Dr. Gonto what he thinks of Azodyl. I have had good results from my elders with Kidney issues (due to old age)
http://www.vetoquinolusa.com/pages/pro_azodyl.html

[tanza]

I will too, just a caution to anyone who thinks it can't happen. It can. I hope it doesn't because then we would really start to question a lot of things and breedings we have done. For myself, the indeterminates don't make sense. That, to me, produces a margin of error I'm not comfortable with. So I, personally, use it only as another tool, much the same as a pedigree.

Indeterminates as far as I am concerned are considered Carriers and should only be bred to Clears. This is also the recommedation of BCOA. Even if Indeterminates turn our to be affecteds, breeding to clear could produce Carriers, not affecteds

And while I also use both, I have far less faith in "pedigrees" depending on who the breeder is.

[nomrbddgs]

We'll have to disagree here. I only find this a tool and since I feel this is a recessive, it could pop up any time. You still have a 10% chance of a carrier or clear being an affected. True, the possibility is remote, but still a chance. There are many recessive genes that suddenly pop up 3,4,5 generations down the line. I still feel it gives a false sense of comfort.

[lvoss]

I will too, just a caution to anyone who thinks it can't happen. It can. I hope it doesn't because then we would really start to question a lot of things and breedings we have done. For myself, the indeterminates don't make sense. That, to me, produces a margin of error I'm not comfortable with. So I, personally, use it only as another tool, much the same as a pedigree.
Because we are using a marker test and not a direct gene test we get Indeterminates. It is explained in the FAQ at http://www.basenjihealth.org The test uses three markers that surround the area on the chromosome where the gene is thought to be. Because of crossing over in Prophase I of meiosis where homologous chromosomes can exchange segments these markers can become separated making impossible to tell which imcomplete set of markers the gene is actually with.

There are a couple of other reasons that an IND result can crop up like mutation in the short repeating sequence that they use as a marker. The longer they are doing the test the better they will be able to gauge how often this may occur.

Right now the largest source of error is not in the test itself, it is the human factor. Actually, the most likely case of a breeder producing an affected from dogs that test results seem unable to do so is because one of the parents probably received a result in error. This is why it is critically important that the lab promptly notify any person whose dog was in a batch where a human error has occurred.

[lvoss]

We'll have to disagree here. I only find this a tool and since I feel this is a recessive, it could pop up any time. You still have a 10% chance of a carrier or clear being an affected. True, the possibility is remote, but still a chance. There are many recessive genes that suddenly pop up 3,4,5 generations down the line. I still feel it gives a false sense of comfort.
When a test is available for a gene, a recessive does not pop up out of nowhere. The reason why recessive genes can surprise a breeder by showing up 3 or 4 generations down the line is because dogs who have 1 copy of the gene do not express the trait so it is masked until an offspring with 2 copies gene shows up.

I think that it is important that breeders do more than just test the dog they are going to breed and use that one result in isolation of any other information. As I stated in the above posts most of the errors that have occurred are human errors and they were caught because the results didn't make sense based on the results of parents or offspring. This is not the same as just looking at a pedigree, this is based on the test results of other dogs the result is not possible.

[AnandaKiora]

No not at all, I am the contoversy causer.:o Sorry I know I tend to stir things up. I was just extremly disconcerted because when I was waited for Kiora's test results I read the protocal and the other info around the web and I from what I read I felt confident that if Kiora was affected I wouldn't have to make a major change in her diet. I guess I didn't think that in 2003 25-30% protein was high. However it's not considered so anymore with more and more people, myself included are feeding grain free, low carb, high protein kibbles. So I would hope that there would be a revision soon to indicate what range of protein he reccomends.
Thank you Tayda_Lenny for helping to explain some things. Without your inside knowledge I would still be confused. I hope Tayda's levels improve on her new diet Innova Senior is one of the highest quality low protein foods around with real meat and easy to digest grains.
Tanza you are right with the new test there will be a significant decrease in Fanconi basenjis! Sadly there are still lots of BYB out there though. Alot of the people I know were shocked when I had Kiora spayed...including the man I adopted her from. Why didn't you breed her and make a profit they said. If that man hadn't have adopted her out to me she might have spent her days popping out "basenjipoos" or something.

nomrbddgs Does that mean I should still Glucose test Kiora even though she tested clearon the DNA test?

[nomrbddgs]

I don't strip test mine. But, I based it on the pedigree as well. But this is my own personal choice. My point is just that I don't think anyone should be saying Fanconi is dead until we get a 100% test. This test, IMO, is still a great tool, as Pat and Lisa say, but it's still a probable test. If you don't know the background of the dog, don't trust the breeder, have started hearing things about the breeder and she won't answer questions, then I would be more concerned. But since she came back clear, personally I would probably not strip test. This is just my personal preference.

Lisa, I understood everything except the last sentence. It didn't make sense to me. Can you please rephrase that one. My thinking cap can't wrap its way around that.

There are also a lot of lines that are dying out that don't have the luxury of knowing the intricacies (?) of the pedigree. I have a Bluestones. Which came up quickly and is dying out quickly. dmccarty has a bluestones as well, I believe. Trying to get to some of the dogs is proving to be difficult because of the owner. I do have some methods in mind, but will have to wait till next year. This is where, I find, I really have to depend on the probable test. Hope this post makes sense.

[lvoss]

What I mean is that when many people say they are studying the pedigree they are using anecdotal information from owners about whether a dog is ill or not. Because Fanconi is a recessive you can have generations of dogs that never become ill because they are carriers, have 1 copy of the gene, but they can produce the disease. In some lines where breeders successfully reduced the frequency of the gene they would have many generations with no affected then outcross to the general population where the gene frequency was much higher and it would show up.

The best way to catch potential errors with the DNA marker test is to test as much of the family as is available. The more generations that are tested with the test in the pedigree, the more likely any inconsistent results will show up. This means looking for results that can not be produced based on either parents or offspring. Like when my mom got Levi's result of Probably Affected when his dam had already tested Probably Clear. After submitting a new sample, and having that extracted and tested, Levi is Probably Clear. His sire has also tested Probably Clear so the only result that would make sense for Levi is Probably Clear. My mom would never have known Levi's result was in error if she hadn't had his dam's data.

In contrast, prior to the test being available it was not unheard of to hear a breeder say, well so and so only produced Fanconi with only one bitch so he's low risk 'cause its not like its in every litter. I know of at least one breeder who even with the test is continuing to breed with what is pretty much this attitude even with DNA marker results showing Probably Carrier.

[nomrbddgs]

I understand now. My thoughts run the same line. The families should be tested as much as possible. This gives a truer indication of who is carrier and the probabilites of such. Thanks for the clarification.