Do basenjis shed? 

Do basenjis shed? Yes....most do, or most have the ability to, but not the environment to cause it. Basenjis who live in areas with drastic climate changes are more likely to shed seasonally than those who live where year round temperatures don’t vary that much on average. Additionally basenjis with longer coats will more noticeably shed than those with very short coats. You may also notice your basenji shedding during times of stress or illness. Basenjis still do not shed as much as many other breeds and no where near as much as Nordic breeds with thick under coats. If your basenji is excessively shedding during a “non-normal” time of year, if their coat is overly thin, dry, or brittle feeling, or if they have hair loss anywhere, but usually on the tail toward the tip...it’s time to have your vet check their thyroid levels. Remember to get an accurate reading for basenjis, they need a full thyroid panel, to include total thyroxine (T4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free T4 by dialysis, and thyroglobulin autoantibody (TgAA or TAA.) Make sure you ask your veterinarian for the specific tests mentioned above, or they may only run the basic thyroid panel that most other breeds require, and you may miss thyroid issues in your basenji until symptom are much more severe. All basenjis should have regular thyroid screenings as part of their routine veterinary care. A good rule of thumb is to have a baseline thyroid done between 12-24 months so you have a baseline of which to compare all other tests to. If non symptomatic and non-breeding, thyroid can be repeated every 2 years. #educatedowners #advocateforyourdogshealth #responsiblepetownership #themoreyouknow