Kitoko Basenjis
ABOUT BASENJIS
'Basenji
GENERAL APPEARANCE
Lightly built, finely boned aristocratic-looking animal, high on leg compared with its length, always poised, alert and intelligent. Wrinkled head, with pricked ears, proudly carried on a well-arched neck. Deep brisket runs up into a definite waist, tail tightly curled presenting a picture of a well balanced dog of gazelle-like grace.
THE BARKLESS DOG
The Basenji does not bark, but he is far from silent. Although generally very quiet, he has quite a wide repertoire of sounds. The Basenji is well known for his yodel which is usually reserved for when he is happy or excited. The Basenjis vocal chords are slightly different from other dogs making them incapable of barking.
A NATURAL DOG
Their combination of remarkable speed, sense of smell, sight and intelligence makes the Basenji a special dog. A naturally developed dog, he was not bred by man for a particular purpose as other breeds, thus they can be a challenge to live with at times. However their many endearing qualities such as their cleanliness, playfulness, independence, high intelligence and affectionate nature make them a charming, interesting and lovable companion.
Basenji History
The Basenji is a native hunting dog from Central Africa used by tribesmen as hunting companions and is known as one of the oldest dog breeds in existence today. Their history predates the ancient Egyptians. The Pharaohs kept Basenjis as companions as well as for their hunting skills; evidenced by the various artforms depicting Basenji-like dogs with curly tails and upright ears from the Ancient Egyptian Period.
The world-famous Basenji expert Miss Veronica Tudor-Williams wrote an article (Journal of the Society for the Preservation of the Fauna of the Empire, Nr.54) on the Basenjis of Central Africa and called them "living fossils". She wrote: "It would be a tragedy if these canines of such ancient lineage, having maintained their identity over numerous centuries, would now be lost to us forever as a consequence of expanding civilization".
Is a Basenji right for me?
Being a mischievous and stubborn breed, the Basenji is not the right fit for everyone!
It is the natural instinct of a Basenji to chase things that are moving. Basenjis are extremely quick and also have no road sense and a large percentage of Basenjis that get loose on the streets end up being hit by cars and killed. For this reason, Basenjis should always be kept on a leash when not in a completely fenced area.
Basenji Health
The Basenji is a sturdy little breed, and when compared to other purebred breeds has very few health problems.
FANCONI
Fanconi Syndrome is a kidney disorder that was first reported in the Basenji in 1976. The normal function of the kidney is to filter the blood, reclaiming amino acids, electrolytes, and important chemicals and letting the wastes leave the body via the urine. With Fanconi Syndrome, the cells of the proximal tubule in the kidney do not function properly so that chemicals that should be reclaimed by the body spill out into the urine instead. The body thus loses vital nutrients needed for normal functioning. A New DNA test for Fanconi Syndrome has been developed.
PRA
Progressive Retinol Atrophy - PRA is considered rare in the Basenji but it has been diagnosed in Australia. PRA causes the blood vessels of the retina to atrophy and die causing blindness. The first symptom usually noticed is that of night blindness which can progress slowly or rapidly to total blindness. A new DNA test for one type of PRA has been developed.
PPM
Persistent Pupillary Membrane is very common in Basenji puppies and can reduce and disappear with age. It is estimated that the majority of Basenjis do have PPM to some degree. During foetal development, a fibrovascular tissue, the Pupillary Membrane, forms a layer across the front of the eye to form a blood supply to nourish the developing lens. Normally this temporary membrane deteriorates and is completely gone by the time the puppy is 14 days old. When it does not deteriorate completely by 14 days of age, it is known as PPM. This condition is not progressive and does not require any treatment. PPM's may be very extensive and visible to the naked eye or may be very tiny and require considerable magnification to be seen. Iris to Iris strands of PPM generally cause no problems. Iris sheets however can lead to blindness and if the PPM are attached to the cornea or lens the remaining strands may eventually lead to cataracts. Examination for PPM should be done by a veterinary ophthalmologist through the use of a 'slit lamp' exam.
