interbreeding

Question
I'm just sick about this.  I was keeping my 3 yr. old male basenji away from his sister in the house for the entire start of her heat cycle and on about the, I belive 11th or 12th day he somehow pounced the backdoor, got out without my knowing chewed through the lock on the gate where I had his sister and the rest is history.  Do I need to be super concerned about the health of the puppy or puppies? I know she is pregnant, and will definetly get them both fixed after this.  My concern is the health of the pups.

Answer
Hi Annee

Some breeders use in-breeding as a tool to narrow in on a specific trait. Don't correctly and with knowledge it can be a good tool in a breeding program.  Without that care and knowledge it's a gamble.

The Basenji originates from a small gene pool in Africa, so there has been in-breeding in the breed.  The problem is that it causes inherent health issues that now run rampant through out the breed (and this can happen to any breed).

The upside of in-breeding, the best of these pups will be the very best.  You may get one or two if you're lucky.

The down side is if your pair have any of the health issues currently plaguing the breed such as Fanconi Syndrome, immunoproliferative systemic intestinal disease, hemolytic anemia, hypothyroidism or coloboma, just to name a few more common ones, then there is a very, very good chance that the pups may have long term health issues.

Good luck