My birthday is on January 20th. This January I got something I hoped I would never receive -- Hank strip tested positive for sugar in his urine. I just knew it would be Fanconi Syndrome. My mind went into top speed. Thoughts swirled around in my head like socks in a dryer. I immediately contacted friends with affected basenjis and I also went to the Basenji-l to get support. Susan K-M [Kamen-Marsicano] suggested it might be informative to share what it was like for me in the beginning. Below are my thoughts along with a bit of background.
Background
Hank is just four years old. He is my Hankster Prankster, super shredder, playful, tricolor rescue boy who had been deemed unadoptable by the local pound where I rescued him for BRAT over three years ago. He had been picked up as a stray, so I know nothing about his background. He is a super social boy and loves to lure course and play with all the dogs at the enclosed dog park. He has the softest coat in basenji-dom and sleeps snuggled under the blankets every night. Having five other dogs in the household provides him with enough activity to keep him from being an under-exercised maniac. His weight is good and his thyroid is fine.
I have been strip testing Hank monthly ever since he turned three. What I came to realize is that this routine testing is what enabled me to catch the condition very, very, very early. When I finally talked with Dr. Gonto and shared the values on Hank's tests, he was very impressed at how good things looked and credited it to the testing. Catching the condition early has meant that Hank takes relatively few meds each day.
Maybe I didn't test do the strip test correctly
I went back to George Woodard's wonderful website with step-by-step instructions on doing the test. I spoke with a number of folks whose dogs are Fanconi-affected, and learned it was important to strip test at different times of the day for a few days. The pattern I saw with Hank was that one strip would show a slight change in color; another showed no change; a third showed a clear change. Each time I used a watch with a second hand to make sure I was timing the test properly. It is very easy to be in denial about what you are seeing. In fact, the initial change of color was so subtle, I wasn't sure if the problem was the lighting in the room; still, my heart was in my throat.
Maybe the test strips were not working properly
Yep, I checked the expiration date, but I had recently purchased them with an eye to having very fresh ones. There was no problem with the strips. Something was going on with my boy.
Where could I find the information I needed?
I knew I wanted to find Dr. Steven Gonto's Fanconi protocol. Linda Daves' website has tons of info including a link to the protocol under her "Health Concerns" link. The Basenji Companions website has a wealth of info too. Dr. Gonto has been available consistently and generous with his time and input. As soon as Hank was diagnosed, I joined the Fanconi-l (yahoo groups) which is a remarkable list in terms of the experience, insights, and support provided.
Would my veterinarian work with me
on this and listen to folks with Fanconi experience?
I was fortunate. My vet is part of a group practice that has a reputation for being topnotch in Austin, Texas. Some of their staff publish regularly. Some blend holistic treatment with their more traditional practices. Acupuncture is also offered there. They are open to learning and growing, and my vet, although her practice is very full, has agreed to accept basenjis who are referred by me from rescue. When I printed off the protocol for myself, I made a copy for her, too. Whenever we discuss things, she pulls out the protocol and uses it as resource material.
Would my vet have the equipment
to do the tests that would be needed? If she didn't, where would I go?
Once again I was fortunate. While my vet did not have the I-STAT blood gas analyzer, the clinic did have a newer version (IRMA SL) used in hospitals for humans.
How long would it take to
get a diagnosis?
A number of tests were run and some had to be sent off elsewhere, but the blood gas results took less than half an hour to get so I just waited for them telltale value was the clincher -- it was Fanconi Syndrome.
Would I be able to find
the medicines he might need?
I got the conclusive opinion from Dr. Gonto on the telephone on the Monday evening after the trip to the vet's for the testing. That same night I jumped in my car and got busy gathering what I needed. Sodium bicarbonate tablets can be bought in bulk from most drug stores for darn little -- usually around $10 for 1000 tablets. I ordered the Pet Tabs Plus and the Pet Cal from KVVET and had them overnighted to me. I saved a bundle over what I would have paid at PetsMart. I got the Centrum at a large dis-count store and the Amino Fuel at the General Nutrition Center. That was it.
What would I need to
do for my basenji boy on a daily basis?
The whole trick is getting the tablets into your dog. Hank is slightly finicky so he is not fond of many things that are described as "chewable." Twice a day I make little pill-laden torpedoes out of mashed potatoes. I dip the end of those "torpedoes" in the oil from smoked salmon or in marinara sauce and he gulps them down. The rest of the canine gang sits around and watches and I give them little balls of mashed potatoes so they are included.
Hank's water consumption is up, but not like I hear of for so many dogs. In part, I believe, it is because I caught the condition so early and he takes just two sodium bicarbs in the morning and two more in the evening. He goes out to potty at midnight, then again when I get up in the wee hours of the morning. Other than that, no problem.
I did have to change his food and that was tricky. Fanconi dogs are routinely put on a high protein diet. Unfortunately, Hank's condition is more complicated, because the test results received a few days after getting the blood gas results showed that he also has renal insufficiency. This condition calls for a low protein diet. So I am trying to find a balance. Anyway, he is eating like a trooper now.
What was my boy going
to be like with Fanconi?
So far, so good. He did get a bladder infection, which is fairly common for Fanconi-affected dogs. After two days on the antibiotics--Whoa, Nelly!! The boy is full of it. He runs, he plays, he destroys pillows, ransacks the recycling, still tries to break into the refrigerator.........you get the picture...in fact, I hear him in the kitchen right now!
What's Next?
Well, he goes back at the end of March for a re-check of the venous blood gasses to ensure we are on target with his supplements. In truth, I have had my ups and downs emotionally, just because I want him to last forever. Then I stop and thank my lucky stars I was out there faithfully chasing him with my ladle to catch his pee-pee and strip test him and caught this early.
Article copyright © 2002 by Cheryl Silver.
All rights reserved.