Over the past few days, our little area here in Colorado has seen quite the vicious winter blast despite it being just late October. Winter is surely coming hard and, for many pet owners, that brings special considerations.

When is it too cold to take my dog for a walk? How long can they stay outside in the backyard before it’s too much?

The answer is not always straightforward. It depends on your dog’s size, age, breed, tolerance to cold, and whether or not it is snowing.

For an easy guide, check out this great graph from Dogtopia. The information was collected from a study done by the veterinary school at Tufts.

From the folks at Petplan

What Makes Your Dog More Susceptible To Cold Weather?

Size

Smaller dogs tend to feel cold more than bigger dogs. The less body mass, the more easy it is for cold outdoor temps to sink in and cause a problem. Also the leaner your dog is, the more likely that they will feel the cold quicker and more intensely.

Age

Young puppies and old dogs are both very sensitive to the cold and can develop cold-related issues very quickly.

Breed

We’ve all heard of how northern breeds like Siberian Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes can tolerate (and love) extremely low temperatures. In fact, your northern breed dog may refuse to come inside when it’s truly this cold.

However, dogs with little to no hair are going to likely hate the cold and want to come right back inside almost as soon as they go out!

There’s also plenty of dogs that are right in the middle of the pack that have thick, double-layered coats (like Terrier breeds) that may do quite well in the cold.

Tolerance To Cold

This continues from the last paragraph about how some animals just love the cold. They may have a thick coat or a thin one, but they love the cold and would rather be outside in it no matter what.

Then there’s my Border Terrier who, despite having a super thick double coat, hates being outside.

Is It Snowing?

When it’s snowing, you add the element of getting wet into the situation. Just like with people, your chances of hypothermia go up dramatically if you’re wet.

This is a bigger warning for the short-coated breeds. Northern breeds have that natural double-thick coat that’s meant for this type of weather. While the snow may wet the exterior coat, that undercoat stays warm and dry.

What Are The Signs Of Hypothermia?

The following are the types of symptoms you can see when hypothermia is beginning to be an issue:

  • Shivering that increases in intensity as time goes on
  • Lethargy or weakness
  • Slow heart rate
  • Shallow breathing

If you have the ability to check the rectal temperature on your dog, typically you should see a range of 100.5 – 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit.

If your dog is showing any of the above signs and the temperature is below 99 degrees, then call your veterinarian.

When To Go To The ER With A Possibly Hypothermic Dog

Your regular family veterinarian can certainly help you out when there’s hypothermia, but if it’s late at night or the weekend you might need to visit the ER. There are certain situations where a visit to the emergency room is necessary to save your dog’s life when it comes to hypothermia.

  • If your dog has fallen into a pond or lake and is soaked with freezing water and is showing the signs listed above, go to the ER immediately
  • Your dog isn’t wet, but isn’t responding well to you, go to the ER
  • If you’re checking the temperature of your dog that’s been outside too long and dropping down to 98 and below, go to the ER
  • If you’re warming up your dog at home and they’re not becoming more alert and active after you’ve been performing the suggestions below for 20 minutes, go to the ER
  • If you’re worried and think your dog could be hypothermic and possibly frostbitten, go to the ER

How To Warm A Cold Dog

If your dog is just pretty cold and needs to warm up, there are things you can do to help out.

  • Dry the coat, if wet, with some dry towels. Doing this once inside will also help the blood circulate throughout your dog’s body and revive your dog.
  • Wrap the dog in thick blankets or towels, making sure to get under the dog as well. Pop those blankets or towels in the dryer for a few minutes before using in order to get an even toastier experience.
  • Hot water bottles are okay to use as long as there’s some barrier between the bottle and the dog. Wrap one in a smaller towel and place it on the abdomen where the heat will certainly absorb faster than almost any other location. Check the skin in that area every 10 minutes or so to make sure it doesn’t feel too hot.
  • If you don’t have a lot of towels, bring your dog into the bathroom and turn on the hot water in the shower. Shut the door and keep the fan off. Don’t put your dog in the water, but just let it lay on the floor wrapped up as much as you can. The room will become heated quickly and the warm, moist air will help to warm your dogs

How To Protect Your Dog When Outside In The Cold

  • Basic rule: If it’s too cold for you, it’s too cold for your dog. Use common sense.
  • Suit up! Your dog may need booties to protect its feet from the ice and cold. Other dogs will benefit from wearing a jacket or coat to keep it warm.

We are located at 10225 S. Parker Rd in Parker, Colorado.

Give us a call at 303-841-2120 to set up an appointment!