Woof in Winter

I'm not a fan of cold weather, so when it's single digit temperatures outside, my dog walking enthusiasm takes a dip. If I don't want to go out when it's a whopping 8 degrees, why would my naked, barefoot dogs want to go out? 

Dogs CAN handle cold weather much better than humans can, especially if both are naked and only wearing a collar (I did not personally test this theory) as their coats are insulating, and their paws have fatty pads and "heat exchanger" blood vessels, but they can still get frost bite and hypothermia. 

• Read my articles on human hypothermia and frost bite.

Some breeds are better able to tolerate the cold. My dog Panda, a Great Pyrenees mix, is happy as clam sitting outside on some truly blustery days as I'm sure many huskies, malamutes and other breeds would be. One of my other dogs, Ruby, an American Bulldog mix, wants to curl up on a heated blanked or in front of the fire place. 

Photo courtesy of Adam Glick.

So how cold is too cold and what are some of the signs to look for that your dog isn't doing well?

First, as it pertains to temperature, it's hard to generalize. A sunny 32-degree day may feel warmer than a  cloudy, windy 40-degree day. 

In general, PetMD says that at temps below 45F, some dogs might feel cold.  At 32F dogs might start to be in danger of frost bite or hypothermia, and at 20F, you'll really have to be cautious,  If you have a puppy, older dog, or short coated dog, he/she is more at risk.

Also consider wet fur, wind chill, prolonged exposure, small size, and any underlying medical conditions as risk factors.

Heavy-coated breeds tolerate cold better but are not immune.

The two conditions to worry about are frost bite and hypothermia, same as in humans.

Frost bite is more common on the ears, paws, tail and scrotum. Some of the signs are; 

• Pale skin or bluish – grey
• Skin will feel cold
• May be associated with swelling and blistering (may evolve over hours/days)
• Dog will be exhibiting that he/she is in pain

If you think your dog is developing frost bite the first thing you need to do is to obviously get out of the cold. Slowly and passively re-warm the affected area (do not rub--tiny ice crystal can cause more damage), and if needed, use warm (not hot) compresses (no more than 100F). Mild frost bite (frost nip) should recover without a problem, but tissue damage may not be apparent right away, so keep an eye on your pup. 

Hypothermia occurs when the cold is affecting your dogs overall physiologic function. Dogs are normally warmer than humans, (approx. 101–102.5°F compared to our 98.6F). And while shivering a a common first sign for hypothermia in humans, it's not usually seen in dogs. 

So, instead of shivering, look for:

• fast then slow heart rate and breathing
• general slowing and confusion
• pale lips and gums
• dilated pupils

Hypothermia is graded based on temperature:

• Mild hypothermia: body temperature of 90 – 99°F
• Moderate hypothermia: body temperature of 82 – 90°F
• Severe hypothermia: any temperature less than 82°F

And as in humans, severe hypothermia is life-threatening.

Again, your first goal will be to remove the dog from the cold and to dry any wet fur. Mild hypothermia can be managed with just some insulating blankets and moderate hypothermia may need external warming such as warmed blankets and towels. Severe hypothermia is a medical emergency and needs veterinary care.

The good news is that all of this is preventable. We, as humans, can get up-to-the-minute weather updates for temperature, wind chill, and precipitation, and we can make smart decisions based on this info. My dogs may not like being cooped up inside all day, or they may not like me not letting them jump in a pond in winter, but that's okay. They also might hate wearing a jacket, but they do work. 

And that being said, I've never been able to get any of my dogs to tolerate booties, but I have had success with barrier creams on their pads.

(One other issue to consider for their pads is if they walk on ice-melt or rock salt and then lick their feet. It's always good to give their feet a good wipe with a towel.)

Many dogs love to play in the snow and still need exercise regardless of the season, and it's our job to make sure they do so safely.

Please remember, the information presented here, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.