| Fanconi Syndrome
Fanconi syndrome is a disorder in which the kidney�s proximal renal tubules do not properly reabsorb electrolytes and nutrients back into the body, but instead "spill" them into the urine. Symptoms include excessive drinking (polydipsia), excessive urination (polyuria), and glucose in the urine (glucosuria.) If Fanconi is left untreated, muscle wasting, acidosis, and poor condition will also occur. Untreated, a Basenji with Fanconi syndrome will generally die from the disorder. If caught early and put on the treatment protocol, affected Basenjis can do well. The onset of Fanconi is typically between four and eight years of age, although onsets as early as three years and as late as ten years have occurred. In 1990 Dr. Steve Gonto developed a treatment protocol, based on the treatments human Fanconi patients receive. The protocol involves acid neutralization, and replacing the lost electrolytes and nutrients, using bicarbonate and other supplements in specified doses to re-establish the body's acid-base balance and keep electrolytes at appropriate levels. Dr. Gonto was given lifetime membership in the Basenji Club of America in recognition of the importance of his work. Gonto Protocol Checking for Fanconi The earlier the disease is detected, the less damage is done to tissues and organs. The vast majority of Basenjis with Fanconi "spill" glucose into their urine, although it is possible in very rare cases for a dog to have Fanconi and not spill glucose. It is generally recommended that Basenji owners test their dog's urine for glucose every month, starting at age 3. Urine glucose test strips (not blood test strips), such as those used by diabetics, are inexpensive and can be purchased at most pharmacies. The strip should be placed in the Basenji's urine stream and then read as specified in the strip instructions. If it is not possible to place the strip in the urine stream, then the owner may need to catch the urine in a clean container DNA testing for Fanconi A linkage marker DNA test has been developed to test for the mutation for Fanconi syndrome. The mode of inheritance has been determined to be recessive. The test can determine if a dog is a carrier, clear, or affected with a high degree of accuracy, and can predict that a dog will become affected prior to the development of symptoms. The test is available through the University of Missouri School of Veterinary Medicine. For more information, see www.basenjihealth.org All Basenji matings should have at least one parent that tests clear, so affected offspring are not produced. Breeders should test breeding stock. All litters should have at least one clear parent. IPSID IPSID stands for immunoproliferative small intestinal disease, but it is a disease of many names. It is also called basenji enteropathy, immunoproliferative lymphoplasmacytic enteritis, basenji diarrheal syndrome, and malabsorption IPSID is one of several different types of inflammatory bowel disease, which result in the dog not being able to utilize and absorb nutrients correctly from food. Symptoms can include diarrhea (both large and small bowel), vomiting, weight loss, protein loss, increased or decreased appetite, depression, and gas. The type of symptoms and their severity differ from dog to dog, and from one time to another. Dogs with IPSID often will have good periods and bad periods. For more information go to the Basenji Club of America Health Information. Hemolytic Anemia Pyruvate kinase-deficient hemolytic anemia was first diagnosed in Basenjis in the 1960s, although prior to that date Basenjis had died of a then-unknown form of anemia. Research began in the 1960s, with a carrier test available in 1972. Hip Dysplasia Hip dysplasia is a condition in which the hip socket is badly formed, often leading to lameness and arthritis. It is believed to be polygenic, with multiple genes involved in its expression. |
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