Skip to content

Hot weather can be deadly for your Basenji

Basenji Health Issues & Questions
  • 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.

  • 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

  • @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)

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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?

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

Suggested Topics

  • 0 Votes
    3 Posts
    2k Views
    lvossL
    Because the current test is a marker test and not a direct gene test, I don't know how useful the test would be. This is a question you would have to ask directly to the researchers.
  • Can I give my Basenji Ivomec?

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    5
    0 Votes
    5 Posts
    2k Views
    YodelDogsY
    I have used Ivomec (Ivermectin) for heartworm preventative in my dogs for years. A bottle normally costs under $40 and lasts for a couple of years.
  • Basenjis are popular..

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    14
    0 Votes
    14 Posts
    5k Views
    JannekeJ
    @ibi_n_sane: the ears of the basenji of the pictures you show look like their is really something wrong, but it is not right to think that a basenji with a bit thin fur on his ears also has a condition/ disease that causes this. Of course, this dog is diagnosed with pattern baldness. And no, you can't say that every basenji/dog with less fur on the ears has this condition. Like Tanza said: it could be flies, or maybe cold, malnutrition.. I do think that Tillo's bald blackish ear rims are more than just 'loosing hair because it's winter/spring/summer..' And I would love to know what's causing it. That's why I wanted to ask it at the University and that's why I was suprised to see the B-ears on the screen and to hear about this 'pattern baldness' :)
  • My Basenji, Polly,

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    19
    0 Votes
    19 Posts
    6k Views
    B
    Polly is 9 this Christmas. Dec 14th to be exact!
  • Basenji with problems

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    22
    0 Votes
    22 Posts
    7k Views
    QuercusQ
    @etzbseder: While I've got people looking at this, my B also has a minor umbilical hernia, I was wondering, how big of an issue is it, and should I get him fixed. Do the potential problems get overweighed by the benefits? That is usually not a big deal. The majority of Basenjis are born with umbilical hernias. Should you get him fixed? As in neutered? Yes. Should you get the hernia fixed? They could do it when they neuter him if it bothers you…but it isn't a health concern unless it is quite big.
  • Homeopathy for Basenjis?

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    5
    0 Votes
    5 Posts
    2k Views
    MaxBooBooBearM
    Yes–I forgot that there are actually homeopathic vets available. We are so lucky here in the Bay Area--we have great vets, specialists and also UC Davis veterinary school/drs not too far away--and believe me--I have used all of these resources over the past 18 years.....