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Whether you reside in sunny California or snowy Alaska, taking the proper precautions can prevent illness or injury to your dog due to cold weather. Do you know how to keep dogs warm in winter weather?
Since many dogs give the impression of almost being indestructible, pet parents may neglect to take their comfort and safety into account when the winter months arrive. However, know that just like humans, dogs are in need of protection from ailments like hypothermia, frostbite and more.
In a press release, Stephanie Shain of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) warned, “Animals rely solely on their human caregivers for safety and comfort—especially during the winter months. Our pets are particularly vulnerable during this frigid season. We need a few extra precautions to help make sure that they stay safe and healthy.”
Be aware of these cold-weather dangers and the precautions you can take to keep your woofing buddy safe when the rain and snow begin. Keeping dogs warm in winter is not hard! Read this guide.
Dog Hypothermia
In an article from Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine’s newsletter, pet parents are advised to take special precautions for their pets when the wind chill sweeps into town. While it is strongly encouraged to bring all animals into the home and away from the harsh weather. This article acknowledges that many pets, dogs in particular, will find themselves out in the doghouse this winter. So why not try providing Fido the best dog crate made cozier with his personal bed, toys and blanket?
Experts say that dog owners be alert and aware of the potential harm of hypothermia. “[All] dogs, no matter how furry and powerful, are susceptible to hypothermia, a potentially fatal drop in body temperature that can result from prolonged exposure to a freezing-cold environment [1]”
Normal Dog Temperature
A dog’s normal body temperature ranges between 100.5 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. “Most dogs can tolerate a temperature decline of five or six degrees (mild hypothermia) without severe or lasting damage [2].”
Dog Hypothermia Treatment
If your dog has this level of hypothermia, you can help him return to a normal temperature by bringing him indoors and covering him with a thick blanket. Keeping your dog warm will prevent any further heat loss. He can then naturally regain his normal temperature. However, if your dog’s temperature falls below 95 degrees Fahrenheit, you should immediately take him to a veterinarian, who will know the best course of action to take.
Dog hypothermia symptoms
To spot the signs of hypothermia, pay close attention to your dog’s physical behaviors. According to experts, the symptoms of hypothermia includes:
- lethargy
- weakness
- shivering
- muscle stiffness and labored breathing
If your dog is unresponsive, seek veterinary medical attention immediately.
You also must make sure that your dog can’t go far away from you in the snow because the chances of it getting hypothermia greatly increases. A wireless dog fence or the best dog GPS tracker is a must when taking your dog out in snow without a lease.
Preventing Hypothermia
The No. 1 way to prevent hypothermia is to bring your dog into your home and away from potential cold-weather harm. The HSUS says that bringing your dog indoors is the humane answer to cold-weather woes.
“Dogs and cats are social animals who crave human companionship. Your animal companions deserve to live indoors with you and your family,” says the HSUS.
If your dog must be kept live outdoors during the winter months, you should try to keep him as warm as possible. “He must be protected by a dry, draft-free doghouse that is large enough to allow the dog to sit and lie down comfortably, but small enough to hold in his/her body heat,” the HSUS advises.
Tamar Geller, a dog behaviorist and dog trainer to celebrities including Oprah Winfrey, suggests on her website that pet parents also turn the doghouse away from the wind and cover its entrance with something resembling a doggie door. The door can be made out of plastic, burlap or a piece of carpet. She also suggests hanging a thermometer inside the doghouse to monitor whether the temperature is reaching a dangerous level.
Other Winter Safety Tips: Keeping dogs warm in winter
Be careful not to use blankets in your doghouse if you live in snow-covered parts of the country. Your dog can track snow inside the doghouse, creating a slushy, icy mess on the blanket and creating a situation where the dog sleep on a freezing-cold blanket. Instead of a blanket, use straw to line the floor of the doghouse. Here’s my guide on How To Keep A Dog Warm In His Crate.
If your small dogs can’t come into your house then try to make an area for him in the garage or on the patio, suggests Geller. Again, make sure he has a warmly covered doghouse. It should be elevated and as insulated as possible, with plenty of warm blankets. Geller warns not to run a car inside the garage to warm it up if your dog is in the garage. Since carbon monoxide is poisonous and could harm your dog.
The HSUS also reminds pet parents that dogs left outdoors during the winter are in need of more nourishment “because keeping warm depletes energy.”
Talk to your veterinarian about your dog’s diet during the winter months.
Geller insist that short-haired dogs, puppies and senior dogs should never be left outdoors in cold weather. These dogs are at much higher risk for hypothermia than others. In fact, it’s suggested that these dogs be given extra warmth by dressing them in comfortable, warm sweaters, especially when out on walks.
What is Frostbite?
Hypothermia’s not-so-distant cousin is frostbite. Again, like humans, dogs are at great risk for frostbite in freezing temperatures.
We can easily describe frostbite as:
“a condition in which an animal’s tissues — most frequently those on its paws, tail and the tips of its ears — are exposed to freezing extreme temperatures. When the temperature drops below freezing, the blood flow to the outer areas of a dog’s body diminishes, a natural response that ensures an adequate flow of blood to its vital organs.”
Symptoms of Frostbite in Dog Paws
When this occurs, ice crystals can build on the outer tissues of a dog’s paws, tail and ears, leading to what we call “tissue death.” The affected areas “will become brittle and discolored—turning white, red or gray—and may peel off.” (Make sure your dog’s nails are short and well-shaped—achieve this by using the best dog nail grinder before taking him out on a cold day)
A very sensitive condition, frostbite is extremely painful and best left in the hands of an experienced professional. If frostbite is suspected, immediately wrap your dog’s affected extremities with a blanket and take him to a veterinarian.
The veterinarian will cleanse the damaged area, but it may sometimes be necessary to amputate the affected area.
Preventing Frostbite in Dogs
Be sure to constantly check your dog’s paws, tails and ears for frostbite before it advances. Keeping any dog breed indoors or in a well-shielded dog house will protect from freezing extreme temperatures.
After your dog goes outdoors for a walk or to play, wipe him down with a warm blanket. Paying particular attention to those areas most susceptible to frostbite. We suggest limiting the amount of time that your dog spends outdoors in freezing weather. Using commercial cooking spray to coat his paws before going out on walks is also helpful. The spray can add an extra layer of paw protection against water which can collect on your dog’s paws and freeze, later leading to frostbite.
On her website, Geller also advises pet parents not to shave their dog’s coats down to the skin during winter months. The dog winter coat serves as protection against harsh weather. Geller recommends continuing a regular grooming schedule to keep your dog’s coat healthy and strong or keeping dogs warm in winter. She also advises adding flaxseed oil, olive oil or other supplements to your dog’s diet to maintain a healthy coat.
Antifreeze Poisoning
Numerous pet parents sadly lose their dogs to antifreeze poisoning every winter weather. Antifreeze is a chemical cryoprotectant used in car radiators. These deaths tend to be more prevalent in winter months, when antifreeze is in higher demand to maintain car heating systems.
For this reason, jugs of antifreeze and puddles of antifreeze can be found in backyards, driveways and on garage floors. Because it has a sweet taste, many dogs mistake antifreeze for a treat and lap it up. But the chemicals can lead to death in most cases of antifreeze ingestion among animals.
Preventing Antifreeze Poisoning in Dogs
To prevent antifreeze poisoning, make sure to keep antifreeze safely up and away from animals. Keep your garage floor clean, with no traces of antifreeze. Geller suggests that you can prevent your outdoor dog from licking antifreeze from the floor by covering the floor with non-toxic sand or kitty litter.
“The active ingredient in most brands of antifreeze is ethylene glycol, a sweet-tasting liquid that can be attractive to an animal. Especially one that does not have access to an abundant source of fresh water,” says our veterinarians. For this reason, make sure that your dog always has access to a fresh bowl of water. You should continually check it to make sure the water has not frozen. Possibly consider purchasing a heated water bowl for your outdoor dog.
The HSUS suggests using antifreeze products made with propylene glycol, which is non-toxic to animals.
“[A dog] can ingest salt, antifreeze or other potentially dangerous chemicals while licking his paws, and his paw pads may also bleed from snow or encrusted ice,” the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) reports [3]. For that reason it suggests you wipe down your dog’s body with a warm blanket after he enters your home to prevent him from possibly ingesting any antifreeze.
Winter and Cars
Pet owners are generally warned not to leave their dogs inside a car in the summer months because of the scorching hot temperatures it can reach. But rarely do you hear the same warning during the wintertime. In the winter months, a car can convert into a huge metal refrigerator in cold temperatures. A dog left in a car in these temperatures has essentially been left to freeze to death. Keep your dog safe and out of your car for prolonged periods of time.
Although dogs can suffer many risks during the winter months. Let’s not forget our smaller furry friends, including cats and small wildlife. In the winter, these animals seek refuge in the engines of cars where they can find shelter from cold wind.
Other Precautions
Most of veterinarians warns against potential winter injuries due to accidental falls over snow embankments or through holes in ice-covered ponds or lakes.
“A dog that tumbles through a hole in the ice is likely to drown if it is not immediately rescued.”
Even if it’s spared from drowning, hypothermia resulting from the accident can prove fatal if emergency care is not provided promptly. Be aware of and keep an eye on where you walk your dog. Try to stick to dry land or roads where the ice has been swept away for easy access.
Indoors, if you have a fireplace, Geller advises keeping a close eye on it when your dog is around. She suggests using a screen to keep tails from catching fire in an open flame.
Conclusion
As the temperatures drop in winter, many dog owners often wonder how to keep their dogs warm.
If you want to know how to keep your dogs warm and healthy in cold weather conditions there are some important things for you to consider. Simple things like making sure your dog has a place to warm up inside the house contribute a lot to their comfort.
Ensure that all dogs have access to the following at all times:
- fresh, warm water
- dog jacket
- heated beds and blankets
- dog winter coat
- dog boots
- heated bowls intended specifically for outdoor dogs
Finally, please do not let your dog be left outside for long periods of time. Stay aware, heed these precautions and enjoy a pleasant winter with a cup of warm cocoa and a warm doggie at your side!
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