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

  • Age of your basenji?

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    42
    2 Votes
    42 Posts
    10k Views
    DebraDownSouthD
    Yeah you told me about that before and I'm clueless, but I'll try it if I need to, lol. could be the noise of occasional thump, could be they can hear it even tho we can't. My chow would be drooling buckets before we got a mile away. I just had to keep towels down and take off and bag along the trip. But I took her for a 7 hr trip to atlanta and she threw up and threw up, then stopped. Never threw up again. :( on your back. I had been getting radiofrequency ablations in the US, and they really helped. But doctors here will only do them once or twice. I have had at least 6 on one side, 3 on the other. :( But it's miraculous pain relief when it is done right. Maybe your dog acupuncturists knows of a human one they'd recommend?
  • Carsick Basenji

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    4
    0 Votes
    4 Posts
    2k Views
    eeeefarmE
    My first girl got carsick. I used Dramamine (Gravol) for her. Luckily she outgrew the problem, because every time I had to pill her the neighbours thought I was killing her. She screamed her head off! (and of course spit out the pill). She did best riding loose in the back seat. That was in the '60s, and we didn't worry about such things…...
  • Is it a Basenji???

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    13
    0 Votes
    13 Posts
    7k Views
    MandyM
    I have gotten the comment of min doberman. lol…. could have been her spiked Harley collar.
  • Canned tuna?

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    5
    0 Votes
    5 Posts
    2k Views
    rnastoR
    The B might explode (just in his/her rear portion). But thats about it.
  • Its HOT Out There

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    15
    0 Votes
    15 Posts
    4k Views
    tanzaT
    Just remember to "pamper" her with the road or sidewalks… if you think that the pads will be able to manage that for more then a short time... I can tell you, it doesn't happen.... especially in the heat of the day.... she might not burn them again.. but it still is way to hot to walk on for any longer then a few minutes....
  • 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.....