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Basenji Heat Tolerance?

Basenji Health Issues & Questions
  • Medjai loves to go play in the snow when it's only about 25 degrees. I don't understand how, because I'm on the other side of the window freezing.

    Now that it's in the 80s, Medjai still just lays there in the sun soaking up the heat, inside and out.

  • @myran:

    It´s disgusting that people leave their dog´s in cars during hot summer day´s even at dog shows.Here we have a rule at dog shows that dog´s are forbidden to be kept in cars even in the shade .They call you over the loudspeakers and if you do not come they´ll smash the windows and they have the right to do so:@

    I was in a supermarket about an hour ago when an announcement was made telling the person who left a dog locked up in their car to come to the front entrance IMMEDIATELY! When I left the store I saw a police officer really chewing out the owners. It was 92 degrees F outside. I can't imagine how hot the car interior must have been. :mad: :mad: :mad: I think it is against the law here to leave an animal in a car. I know (at least locally) that they tightened up a lot of animal protection laws and you also can't let your dog ride loose in the back of a pickup truck now.

    Pat

  • @BasenjiDiva:

    I was in a supermarket about an hour ago when an announcement was made telling the person who left a dog locked up in their car to come to the front entrance IMMEDIATELY! When I left the store I saw a police officer really chewing out the owners. It was 92 degrees F outside. I can't imagine how hot the car interior must have been. :mad: :mad: :mad: I think it is against the law here to leave an animal in a car. I know (at least locally) that they tightened up a lot of animal protection laws and you also can't let your dog ride loose in the back of a pickup truck now.

    Pat

    That has always totally "pissed me off" to see a dog in the back of a pickup tied or not!… I would like to put the people in there and see how they like the sun beating down on them...... crap blowing in your eyes, nose, mouth, ears.... sigh.. they should ban dogs in pickups, unless in a carrier that is secure..

  • Sadly, we will always have the "stupid on toast" folks…but with the laws on our side, that helps.
    I call when I see a dog loose in the back.
    I give the license plate.
    I only hope, one day, they get a big ticket!

  • My basenji loves the summer heat here in Florida, 90-100 days. She enjoys lying outside on the driveway. If she gets too hot she moves to a grassy area in the shade. She is outside most all day although she has access to the house via her doggie door.

  • Now that it's warming up here in Seattle (almost 90!), I'm finding out how Ziggy and Zhara deal with the heat. They go for the "conservation of energy" approach - laying around in the coolest part of the house and not moving very much. Do other people find that their Bs become pretty inactive or lethargic when the weather is warm?

    Lori

  • We're headed to Az for the 4th where the temps are 119 now. Chey and Apache always take it easy there. They get their morning walk when it's about 90 but after that they lay inside most of the day with short outings onto the covered patio. I've tried to convince them the pool is great for cooling off..but they aren't at all interested…imagine that.:rolleyes:

  • @ZenGrrrl:

    Now that it's warming up here in Seattle (almost 90!), I'm finding out how Ziggy and Zhara deal with the heat. They go for the "conservation of energy" approach - laying around in the coolest part of the house and not moving very much. Do other people find that their Bs become pretty inactive or lethargic when the weather is warm?

    Lori

    For sure they do…..

  • @ZenGrrrl:

    Now that it's warming up here in Seattle (almost 90!), I'm finding out how Ziggy and Zhara deal with the heat. They go for the "conservation of energy" approach - laying around in the coolest part of the house and not moving very much. Do other people find that their Bs become pretty inactive or lethargic when the weather is warm?

    Lori

    Pretty much the same here in Maine. One exception though, even if it is 90/100 here, Ruby will still find the sun in the house and lie down in it. And when it cools off in the evening, they make up for all the resting they've done during the heat of the day. :eek: :eek:

  • Mine eat less as well.

  • And for those of you with "elders" note that with age they do become more sensitive to heat…. while mine when younger would lay in the sun at 100 degrees... they don't now at 14+... also I find that they pant more when it is really hot

  • Serenjane loves the heat, she will lie out in the sun most of the day, time to time she moves to a shady spot. I have noticed she is less active in the summer, eating less and drinking more.

  • Here in Minnesota where it can get kind of hot and humid, the dogs do fine if they have enough room to move around from sun to shade. Mine has the run of the house while I'm at work and the fenced garden/yard when I get home.
    My previous beastie used to like to sleep on the deck in the hot hot sun for quite some time before finally moving into the shade. My current beastie will move onto the vinyl kichen floor if it gets too humid outside (I generally don't run AC because my house is so shaded but I do run fans when it gets humid).
    And when it comes to winter (with our seriously below freezing temps), they will usually just stay inside (except to pee/poop) and under the bed covers all day :)

  • @tanza:

    And for those of you with "elders" note that with age they do become more sensitive to heat…. while mine when younger would lay in the sun at 100 degrees... they don't now at 14+... also I find that they pant more when it is really hot

    That's good info…I forget about how the age makes a big difference with such things.

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    I too am sorry for not seeing this thread sooner and hopefully the poster will return. My Basenji had some teeth removed and the vet prescribed Carprofen as the follow up antibiotic. My Basenji turned out to be allergic to Carprofen which caused her liver to fail. I went through the same scenario you are describing. She gradually quit eating over the course of several days and then her water consumption started to go down. The eating had me worried since she had an excellent appetite upon return from the vet and the final purging of the anesthesia from her system. Nevertheless, her condition started to degrade. I followed her outside and watched her urinate. Her urine was a very bright yellow. I suspected then a liver issue. Once back inside she was shivering - off to the vet we went. LIver panel blood work up showed very high on specific indicators for failing liver. Vet prescribed Denamarin (containing SAM-e and silybin). SAM-e helps protect liver cells from cell death and aids in cell repair and regeneration. The Vet also started fluid injections. Fluid injections were everyday for two weeks. My Basenji showed a remarkable response to the fluid injections becoming much more her normal self even after the first day. She hated the injections and I could hear her cry when receiving them at the vet (believe me that will tear you up). But she was doing better and she (me) were going to have to tuff this out. Also a different antibiotic was prescribed to prevent liver infection during recovery. The Denamarin comes in dosages based on weight (medium for us). It is the size of a large human like solid oblong vitamin pill. Instructions want you to give it on an empty stomach and preferably not to cut it or place in something similar to a pill pocket however you can if necessary. My Basenji would not take that size (can't blame her). Cutting and disguising it did not work either. I was frantic and got the SAM-e in powder form. I couldn't slip her that either. All though some folks had success with peanut butter and liverwurst. I finally after three days had to have the vet pill her along with her fluid treatments. A week later another blood sample and her liver panel indicators were coming down. The pilling would last for a month and it took two people to get the pill down her. The important part is - she fully recovered from the liver failure. She is 13 1/2 yrs old. My experience after having 5 Basenjis is that the breed is sensitive to medications (anesthesia also). Many of the medications work just fine in most other breeds and mixes. The vet, if not that experienced with the Basenji, must be cautioned. Mine was not. Before accepting any medication have the vet go over any contraindications with you and to double check their resources for potential side effects when dealing with Basenjis. They may switch to something else if a medication has a bad track history with Basenjis. Know what to watch for should your Basenji start to react in a non-positive manner. The poster did not indicate if there were medications in play when the dog started showing degenerating conditions. I sincerely hopes this helps in some way and helps other Basenji owners
  • Missing a heat?

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    I REALLY wanted the plaque vaccine to pan out. When it came out, my vets (who are cautious) said to wait a couple of years. Well, it has been found safe, but they discontinued it as it doesn't work. I really need a miracle. Though the truth is, she is good about it now and heck, I spent more time grooming the chow 2x a week than I do brushing her teeth every night. I still have to get them cleaned every 3 mos though. My vet recommended trying a water pik. ROFLMAO, me and what army? Sigh. So we just keep getting them cleaned. For the record, she isn't forming tartar, it is the actual plaque her gums react to. http://veterinarynews.dvm360.com/dvm/Breaking+News/Pfizer-discontinues-production-of-veterinary-perio/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/718560
  • Sick Basenji

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    Yes, Spencer is much better now, but he is still very thin. He lost six pounds. Even strong antibiotics cannot fight a severe abscess. I'm sure your vet found and resolved the problem under anesthesia, so that should put Egyn over the hump. SubQs and a few weeks of antiobiotics will hopefully get him back on the road to health. I had to feed Spencer critical care dog food through a syringe for several days after the surgery, then make him special soft food– the aforementioned meatballs-- for weeks after that. Good luck to you-- and positive thoughts to Egyn!
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    We use a cool coat on our dogs from time to time, mostly at shows.