New to the board; have a health issue! :(

[PongoGirl]

Hi everyone!

Well, I'm a semi-basenji owner...I just moved out of my parents house, and that's where we keep our two basenjis (they were really once mine, but now my parents could never bear to part with them!!!)

Anyway, I saw my mom today (we only live like 10 mins apart) and she told me that our boy had another seizure (history: he is 10 yrs old and around October/November time had one seizure, followed by another 2 months later, then another just this week...he's been to the vet- of course rushed him there the second the first one happened!- and they basically can't tell us anything. We started going to another vet for a second opinion, and we really like him, but we still don't have any answers or solutions.) My mom is really really concerned about his well-being, and says that if he starts having more of them and they get worse, we are going to have to discuss having him PTS (can't even bring myself to type it out). I want the best for my little boy, but I'm terrified of the possibility of letting him go.

Anyway, just wondering if anyone else has had this kind of thing happen (his other symptoms include excessive drinking and urinating, but other than that he seems normal). We have tried testing his urine but it's so watered down that we can't get a clear reading), we give him vitamins and have changed his diet to have him eat twice per day with veggies too. I know this post is probably all over the place, but I'm fairly distraught to say the least, and I'm really just looking for some support :(

[barkless513]

Im so sorry about your boy. Maybe you should try to get a better reading on his urine, lets see..... If you try it early in the morning after taking his water up overnight so that he can't graze & drink all night, you might have more success on a good urinalysis. My mother-in-law has a labordor who is a diabetic and his symptoms where...siezures, excessive thirst, excessive and bloody urination, and lethargy. Good luck and I hope your boy get well!

[lvoss]

The excessive drinking and urination sound like he may have Fanconi. When you say you can't get a clear reading, is there any color change on the test strip? There are a few people on the forums with Fanconi dogs that may be able to tell you if the seizures could also be related.

[PongoGirl]

Thanks for the quick replies...we have tried reading his urine at all hours of the day/night, but apparently nothing works as he does get out of bed to get drinks. I'll have to talk to my mom about the color change, since she has taken charge of this since I left home. I feel so awful leaving at a time like this, but it's actually better for me, as I dont' cope well with loss, and I was a total complete wreck in every sense the night of his first seizure :( I will be reading about Fanconi tonight...I know my mom had checked this out, but I'd like to read about it for myself. Glad to have found this message board!

[Quercus]

What do you mean by nothing works? If the strip changes, he is spilling sugar in his urine...if it doesn't change color he isn't spilling sugar. It sure does sound like Fanconi though. Has he been test stripped all along over the last few years?

Best of luck, I hope you figure it out.

[youngandtired]

I am so sorry to hear about your baby, I sure hope things change for the better. I would be like you myself if my B ever got that ill. Let us know what happens.

[PongoGirl]

What do you mean by nothing works? If the strip changes, he is spilling sugar in his urine...if it doesn't change color he isn't spilling sugar. It sure does sound like Fanconi though. Has he been test stripped all along over the last few years?

Best of luck, I hope you figure it out.

Well, what my mom has told me is that the vet asked us for a urine sample, which we provided...then he said it was too watered down to tell anything...so we tried many more times, all at different times of day/night, but all to no avail. As for the strips, I've seen them in the kitchen and I know my mom has been using them, but what she has actually found out by them, I'm not entirely sure...I suppose I should be asking her these questions rather than moaning and crying about it...:(

He's had regular vet checks, but I can't remember any urine tests...he's never shown any signs of being unhealthy, so I don't think we ever thought or knew to test for anything! Will know now for future though :(

[lvoss]

If the strips change color at all then what he will need is a blood test to determine if he is diabetic. If his blood sugar is normal he will need a blood gas done.
http://www.basenji.org/old/fanconiprotocol2003.pdf

[lvoss]

Where in California are you located? Maybe someone knows a basenji experienced vet in your area.

[PongoGirl]

Where in California are you located? Maybe someone knows a basenji experienced vet in your area.

Thanks for the link! I'm in Orange County, but anywhere in Southern CA is accessible for us.

[MaxBooBooBear]

I don't understand the way the vet is getting a urine sample. I've been told for a urinalysis what really needs to be done is the vet takes a sample directly from the bladder with a needle? That's how my vet would test Max's urine (this is when they do the urinalysis at the vets or send out to a lab). With an experienced vet--it isn't painful. Also--if Max had just gone potty--and his bladder was empty--they would sometimes have to confine him there at the vets in a kennel and wait for his bladder to fill up before taking any with a needle. This might take a a couple of hours to get a good sample.

[PongoGirl]

Our vet did do that, but didn't keep him til his bladder was full. I'll call my mom later today and post more information...thanks for all your help so far guys!!

[yonae12]

I don't understand the way the vet is getting a urine sample. I've been told for a urinalysis what really needs to be done is the vet takes a sample directly from the bladder with a needle? That's how my vet would test Max's urine (this is when they do the urinalysis at the vets or send out to a lab). With an experienced vet--it isn't painful. Also--if Max had just gone potty--and his bladder was empty--they would sometimes have to confine him there at the vets in a kennel and wait for his bladder to fill up before taking any with a needle. This might take a a couple of hours to get a good sample.

That also struck me as odd that the vet didn't draw direct. It sounds very serious :( I know how you feel. I hope he gets better soon!

[PongoGirl]

Okay, just talked with my mom, and she said that there has been no color change on the strips. She is going to see the vet on Thursday to see if there is anything we can do about the seizures. Anyone else have any ideas or insight into this? I'm hoping the vet comes up with something. I hate not knowing what is going on with the baby!! :(

[PongoGirl]

Just spoke with mom again; she said we have been testing his urine for the last three years, both ourselves and the vet. She also said that he seems to be having a lot of muscular pain and weakness lately too...just generally unstable :(

[lvoss]

The excessive thirst could be indicative of diabetes. He should probably have bloodwork done to make sure there is nothing out of balance. Check for things like diabetes and hypothyroidism.

[JazzysMom]

The excessive thirst and urination do sound like Diabetes -- LOL, that's how my two kids with Diabetes were diagnosed -- and out of whack blood sugars will lead to seizure. The over-drinking will dilute the urine, so a blood test would probably be in order to check for Diabetes.
I'm not sure how it would play out in a dog, but I'd certainly ask about it.

[PongoGirl]

Okay, talked to mom again and she tells me that the vet believes that he has diabetes insipidus, but that this is difficult to diagnose so he isn't positive. Also, his thyroid level was slightly elevated, but nothing out of the normal range apparently.

What we really need to know now is if there is anything we can do to help or stop the seizures from happening...is there anything we can give him that anyone knows of or has experience with? We have put him on a new spread out diet to accomodate for the blood sugar levels. Mom is going to ask this to the vet on Thursday as well, but thought I would check here too to see if anyone's doggie has gone through something similar. She is also going to ask for the bloodwork records so that we can see what they say first hand. Thanks again for reading guys, it really means a lot to me!! <3

[PongoGirl]

Also just read that seizures and muscle deterioration can be symptoms of Fanconi as well. Do you think that even if the vet doesn't give a finite diagnosis of Fanconi that we should start treatment for it?

[lvoss]

If he does not have elevated Blood Sugar, I would have the vet run a blood gas test. Also, you can contact Dr Gonto, he has talked to many Fanconi dog owners and may have additional insight, I believe his email address is listed on the Fanconi Protocol

[PongoGirl]

Thanks Ivoss, that's a big help...I'll be sure to email him about all this!!

[PongoGirl]

Just thought I would give an update on my doggie's condition.

He had a full thyroid panel, which came back negative for anything out of the ordinary. So our vet has put him on phenobarbital to try to prevent the seizures. It totally knocks him out when we give it to him. He hasn't had a seizure yet, so fingers crossed.

Got a call from my dad last night who said that he thought Pongo was having an allergic reaction. He had been given some peanut butter treats and some cashews earlier (he's never been given nuts, why now, I don't know!) so we were thinking it was coming from that. Apparently he looked like he wanted out of his own skin. So they took him to the all night vet, who gave him a steroid injection and prescribed Valium if he didn't calm down. Luckily he calmed down and went right to sleep (although he had an accident in the bed :eek: ) and today our regular vet said he seemed to be over it, but not to give him nuts again!

Our vet did some more tests, and it now appears that he may also be losing some of his vision! :(

Will this ever end in happiness?!! Poor guy, he is only 10...we have a perfectly healthy female who is 13!! It's so sad to see all this happening to our little guy. :(

[tanza]

There are a number of Basenji people in So. California... if you go to the Basenji Club of America website and then to breeder listings, you might be able to find someone close to you and they should be able to recommend a Vet....
Have you have blood work done? To me that is the biggest and most important thing to have done.. it will tell you lots of things... or rule out lots of things. Also, I am very surprised why your Vet has not taken the urine sample himself? They cath. the dog and take it directly from the bladder... only takes a few minutes.... have they tried that? The only other way that you can find out if it is Fanconi, if you are not able to get a reading, but like Andrea, I find that strange... is to have blood gases done...

[tanza]

By the way to all.... I do blood work on mine all the time... at least once when they are young pups to have a base line, then any time before any type of surgery, at least every two years till age 9 or 10 and then every year after that...

[bellabasenji]

I am worried about your boy and my main concern is also Fanconi. My Bella is only a year old and I have not dealt with the disease directly. (I pray I don't have to). All I can say is learn all you can about the syndrome and don't be afraid to ask questions. Is your Vet. open to suggestions about treatment or is he/she sort of "running the show"? Fanconi can be managed with proper care (if that is what this is). You need a Vet. who has experience with Basenjis or who is very open to learning about the specific needs of Basenjis. I hope you find out very soon what is making your boy so sick. The sooner the better for his treatment and subsequent health...

[lvoss]

For the vision loss, I would get him in to see a veterinarian opthamalogist. An exam usually runs about $35-$45 and you will get a specialists opinion about what is going on.

You do not mention whether or not your vet was ever able to confirm a diagnosis of diabetes or fanconi. This would really concern me. If your dog has either one of these conditions they could be contributing to the seizures and other symptoms.

[PongoGirl]

As far as I know, diabetes was ruled out, and I know my mom mentioned Fanconi and took our vet that handy dandy printout for vets, and he seems to think it's a tumor. He has had extensive bloodwork done, and his urine was tested at the vet, all coming out normal.

As for the vision, we haven't noticed a thing with it, and the vet said it could very well me the aftermath of the allergic reaction, and he might have been in a fog. I guess he had laid a treat down to the side of him, and it was obvious that he only found it by scent; he literally just didn't see it. So we will have that checked again after a couple days have gone by and he is feeling better.

I will check on the basenji vet idea...I know my mom loves this new vet we have, and she is really really picky about the care our boy is getting. So even though I don't have all the details quite straight (it changes daily!), I trust her judgement. Thanks all for the support!! :)

Will post more again later, OH is begging me to come watch 24! :)

[bellabasenji]

Seems like you are really trying to get to the root of the problem. I hope to see him feeling better soon, as I'm sure you are... Where is his tumor possibly located?

[PongoGirl]

They think it is in the brain or pituitary gland...he is feeling better right now, sleeping through the night finally!! :)

[bellabasenji]

That's what I suspected from the symptoms... I hope it is in the early stages. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
God bless, Lis.

[YodelDogs]

It sounds like Cushing's Disease.

[bellabasenji]

Yes, it does sound like it may be. The possible tumor, the seizures, thirst, excessive urination, etc... How is it treated?

[bellabasenji]

Most patients are treated with a medication called Lysodren or Mitotane. Anipryl (Deprenyl) and Ketoconazole (Nizoral) are two other medications that can be used to treat Cushing's. If Pongo has an adrenal tumor, the adrenal gland may be removed and/or treated with Lysodren.

[bellabasenji]

http://vetmedicine.about.com/library/viewers/uccushings.htm
Viewer Viewpoint - Cushing's Disease in the dog