Hot weather can be deadly for your Basenji

[JoT]

Please read this article and take care about dogs in hot cars.

http://www.suite101.com/content/in-just-a-few-moments-your-dog-can-die-in-a-hot-car-a228981

There is a link to a printable flyer that you can keep in your car if you see a situation that alarms you.

Please take care of your special ones and help educate others.

[Therese Leimback]

Great reminder to us all Jo, I honestly wouldn't leave any of my dogs in the car in the heat unless I left my child in there to watch the dog. Guess its a good thing I don't have kids.
I am printing these out today, great find.
Therese

[tanza]

@Therese:

Great reminder to us all Jo, I honestly wouldn't leave any of my dogs in the car in the heat unless I left my child in there to watch the dog. Guess its a good thing I don't have kids.
I am printing these out today, great find.
Therese

LOL Therese…. me too!!!! (the part about kids)

[DebraDownSouth]

Putting on my flame retardant material.

About 10 yrs ago I paid for gas and ran in to pay. Left child and Rottweiler in car. Policeman drove up, coming in as I was going out. He said sternly I shouldn't leave a child in the car for even a minute, could be abducted, etc. I said "approach my car." He looked at me funny, turned around to the car (btw, cash reg to car, no more than 30 feet, it's a tiny place, huge glass where I could see her every second). He hadn't gotten within 5 ft of car when Tasha came up off the seat where she was laying ROARING at him. He started laughing. Said, yeah, he guess I didn't have to worry.

Sadly our town is no longer so safe with massive growth, massive illegal immigrants, massive unemployed, and even talk of homeless shelter being built.

[Patty]

A very good reminder, Jo and very necessary in my opinion. Even at our dog shows there are often incidents of dogs being left in hot cars - this involving people who one would assume ought to know better.

If I am forced to leave a dog temporarily in the car (and yes this sometimes happens - for example filling up with petrol)) I open all my windows wide and prop open the back door (my car is a hatchback). I would never leave them for long though.

[Kipawa]

Thought I would piggy-back off this thread.

At what outdoor temperature do you refrain from taking your basenjis for a walk (or should I say run)? Yesterday I had Kipawa out in 80 degree heat. We were on the dykes, near the ocean, which have a nice breeze happening. After about 15 minutes, he was panting noticeably hard. I had his portable drinking bowl with me, and offered him water, but he didn't want any. I decided it was time for us to cut short our outdoor adventure and return to the car and its air conditioning. During hotter days, should I only take him out in the cooler morning and evenings?

[sharronhurlbut]

I don't run my b's on hot days. They just can't get rid of the heat that builds up that quickly.
Am and pm are good times. IMO.

[lvoss]

It depends on several factors. 80 degrees in Central Valley would be a nice moderate day and my dogs would love to be out in that kind of weather, we hit 103 yesterday. So what your dog is acclimated to makes a difference. Also, getting them wet before so they get the evaporative cooling effect when they are out in the heat since they don't sweat. Of course, that won't be effective if there is high humidity so you have to take that into account too. Age and condition will also figure in, puppies and older dogs do not deal with heat as well.

[MacPack]

Nicky, at 13 3/4, is having a hard time with the heat this summer so we only go walk late in the afternoon near sunset. A nice breeze and low humidity helps a lot; still air and over 80% humidity and I use her as an excuse not to go out at all!!
Maybe it's because we are all a year older but this summer seems especially hard on us all. If it's not comfortable for me, I know it isn't for them. If they are panting excessively, we go home, it needs to be fun for them and a dog will keep going with you till they collapse from heatstroke.

[Kipawa]

You guys are great - thanks for the responses. We are most often dealing with high humidity (being on the coast), so 80 degrees can feel much warmer. I think I will use 75 degrees as Kipawa's upper range. Also, the heat yesterday came on with a bang - no buildup to it. It just happened. So there was no time for man or beast to get used to it. Anne, your comment about "a dog will keep going with you till they collapse from heatstroke" is exactly what would happen to Kipawa. He just loves his outdoors and running so much. Once outside, he does not have a "slow" setting if he is off leash.