Overheating Too Quickly?!?

[stephaneew]

I have a 9 month old girl, and we have started taking her, along with her 1 1/2 old brother, on walks. The brother (Diesel) will go on runs with me, but I want to wait a little while longer to take the girl. Well, Im starting to notice that she gets very warm, Very quickly. For example: I just took her on a walk yesterday at about 1:00pm, it was 80-85 degrees out, a little warm, but by no means a heat wave. We went about a mile and I decided she was too warm, so we turned around. Is this normal? I am worried, because eventually I am wanting to take her on runs with me.

 

[MKAD]

I have read that boxers are sensitive to heat & cold. My Sally can not handle warm weather very well.

 

[Cami]

Just my opinion but I would never have taken my girl on a walk during the middle of the day with temps 80-85 degrees.
Early morning or late evenings, low humidity and below 70 degrees for any type of longer term walk (30 minutes or so).
They are unable to cool off like longer nosed breeds are. Far too easy to overheat a Boxer!
With temps in the 80's I would allow my girl outside in the yard to soak up some sun or for short periods of play, 10 minutes at a stretch... max.

 

[darwinsmom]

80 to 85 is pretty warm for boxers, especially if it is also humid and they are not acclimated to the heat. Because of their short snouts boxers have a much harder time cooling themselves. Not sure why Diesel is more tolerant - perhaps he is just in better physical condition at this point because he is accustomed to running with you. I wouldn't run with her until temps are in low 70s. And make sure you have access to water for her depending on the length of the run.

 

[Boxer Lover]

Anything over 80 and we don't walk. Sam is 9 and he will pant the whole way. Expecially being in Texas we have to go REALLY early.

 

[argosrocks]

80-85 might as well be the surface of the sun to a boxer,because its the same thing to them in my opinion,anything above 75 and i have to take numerous water breaks,or he just stops,looks for shade,sits down and gives me that look like "not today dad!!"

 

[srennie]

I agree with the others....I'm in CA and we take our runs around 8pm after the sun has set because even early in the morning it's already too hot for them. We might take a 20 minute walk where half of it is shaded with trees in higher temps but that is it.

 

[Gatorblu]

I understand wanting to take your dog with you, but the 80's is getting a bit warm, especially for a short nosed breed. Last week we were hitting high 80's-low 90's, so our playtimes outside had to be kept short. I'm fortunate enough to stay home with my pups so I can take them out frequently. However last week it was above 80 at after 10pm. So any walks would have to be first thing in the morning and only then. I've taken Arabella for many hikes but last week I don't think we got 1/2 mile before we had to turn around because the trail we were on had very little shade. (It was our 1st time on it) I thought it would be ok because we went in the morning and the trail runs along a creek. However creek access was very limited and it got warm very quickly that day. Each dog is different, Thor is less tolerant of the heat so I don't even take him on hikes.

 

[ehayes21]

I think it really depends on your dog and your awareness of how they cope with the heat. My boy is usually okay with mild exercise, but my girl can't handle it, just be very aware of their behavior - I was lucky - here is her story. This was a scary eye opening experience.

http://www.boxerworld.com/forums/dog-health-issues-questions/125158-heat-stroke.html

 

[samsons]

i liked the chilled towel idea in the other thread u linked to. I wonder if they make a " frozen neck thing " for dogs .. the kind u see construction workers and factory ppl use. u freeze it and it wraps around ur neck and keeps u cool.

hmmmmmmmm.........