Basenji

The Basenji is commonly known as the "Barkless Dog." They are one of the oldest breeds. The first dogs were brought from the source of the Nile as presents to the Pharaohs of ancient Egypt. When the civilization of Egypt fell, the breed lapsed into obscurity. They were still valued and preserved in their native land of Central Africa-they were highly prized for their intelligence, speed, hunting power, and silence.

in 1895 an English explorer rediscovered the breed and brought a pair to England. The dogs both contracted Distemper and died shortly after. In 1937 a pair were brought to New York City. The pair had a litter of puppies but had also contracted Distemper. All but the male died. Shortly after that, a female was brought to Boston and the surviving male from New York were mated. This resulted in the first litter of Basenji puppies to be raised to maturity in America.

In 1942 the Basenji Club of America was founded, and in 1944 they were accepted into the American Kennel Club. Males should be 17 inches tall and weight 24 pounds. Females 16 inches and weigh 22 pounds. Their coat is short, fine, and very shiny. Their colors can be red, pure black, tricolor, and brindle.

The Basenji is an intelligent dog, independent, but very affectionate and alert. They can be a tad aloof with strangers. Though they don't bark, they have a distinct sound unlike any other dog-The sound is somewhere between a chortle and a yodel.

Health concerns with the Basenji include Fanconi Syndrome, which is a disorder in which the proximal renal tubules of the kidney do not properly reabsorb electrolytes and nutrients back into the body, but instead "spill" them in 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.

IPSID (Immunoproliferative small intestinal disease, malabsorption, immunoproliferative enteropathy of Basenjis, IPEB, etc.) , which is a chronic intestinal problem with symptoms including diarrhea, weight loss, loss of appetite, and, if unchecked, potentially death. Its frequency and mode of inheritance are unknown. Age of onset varies widely. It is an autoimmune problem, associated with the proliferation of lymphocytes and plasmocytes in the intestine. The mode of inheritance is not yet clearly understood, but it appears to be a hereditary problem.

Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) is an eye condition in which the retina begins to deteriorate, causing visual loss and generally leading to blindness.

Pyruvate-kinase deficient hemolytic anemia was first diagnosed in Basenjis in the 1960's. Before then there were many Basenjis who had died of a then-unknown form of anemia. Research began in the 1960's, with a carrier test available in the early 1970's.

Other health problems the breed could have include hip dysplasia, cataracts, corneal dystrophy as well as other eye problems, thyroid problems, and umbilical and inguinal hernias.

When purchasing a Basenji puppy, be sure to discuss these problems with the breeder to see if they have had any of the above problems in the line and if they do health screenings to help prevent these problems.