Basenjis are relatively healthy dogs and if breeding is done with consideration to these main concerns, you will probably not encounter any genetically related health problems with your Basenji. BUT I could never say you would never encounter any. That would be foolish. So the following are a few things to be aware of:
Fanconi Syndrome- Fanconi Syndrome is an inherited disorder of the kidneys affecting Basenjis. Affected dogs typically start showing abnormal function of the kidneys in adulthood between 4yrs to 8yrs of age. Normally the kidneys
reabsorb most of the nutrients and electrolytes that they filter from the blood. The kidneys of affected dogs do not properly reabsorb nutrients and electrolytes and abnormally lose these nutrients in the urine. Symptoms of abnormal kidney function in affected dogs most commonly include increased urination and excessive drinking. Less often dogs may have weight loss despite a normal appetite, weakness, urinary incontinence and poor hair coat. A common characteristic of this disease is glucose in the urine with normal blood glucose levels. Fanconi Syndrome is treatable but not curable. If an affected dog is not treated, the disease can progress to chronic kidney failure and overall poor health. Appropriate treatment can preserve the health and quality of life of affected dogs. The median survival time after diagnosis is five years with most dogs dying around 12 years of age. This late age of onset allows for most dogs to be bred before diagnosis and subsequently, the disease is passed to offspring.
Genetic testing of the FAN1 gene in Basenjis can determine whether a dog is a genetic Carrier of Fanconi Syndrome. Fanconi Syndrome is inherited when a dog receives two copies of the mutated recessive gene (one from each parent) to develop the disease. In general, carrier dogs do not have features of the disease but when bred with another carrier of the same mutation, there is a risk of having affected pups. Each pup that is born to this pairing has a 25% chance of inheriting the disease and a 50% chance of inheriting one copy and being a carrier of the FAN1 gene mutation. Reliable genetic testing is important for determining breeding practices. Because symptoms typically do not appear until adulthood, genetic testing should be performed before breeding. In order to eliminate this mutation from breeding lines and to avoid the potential of producing affected pups, breeding of known carriers to each other is not recommended. Basenjis that are not carriers of the mutation have no increased risk of having affected pups.
Question: Have all my dogs been tested for Fanconi before breeding? YES! My dogs are tested and recorded with the OFA.
PRA - Progressive Retinal Atrophy Basenji Type (BAS-PRA)- PRA in Basenjis can cause progressive vision loss leading to blindness. There are many forms of PRA but one form caused by PRA- BJ1 accounts for about 50% of all PRA disease affecting Basenjis. Because PRA happens in later years of the dogs life it is important to have the genetic testing done before breeding.
.Question: Have my dogs been tested for PRA before breeding? Yes! My dogs are tested and recorded with the OFA
Hyperthyroidism - According to the health report on BOCA, Hyperthyroidism has a very low occurence in Basenjis (only about 5.38% tested). Again with careful breeding practices this can be greatly avoided. I have not experienced this with any of mine to this point.
Hip Dysplasia - This is a very rare occurrence for Basenjis. The BOCA reports only 3.34% tested abnomal for hips. I'm only mentioning it because people seem to ask about it. In my 30+ years of owning Basenjis, I have never had one with hip problems. his
***Regular health check-ups, vaccinations, dewormings and a good working relationship with your vet should lead to a long life and companionship with your Basenji!***