Heat Loss in Dogs During the Cold Months

Some people believe that dogs have their own coat and can therefore cope fine without any additional warmth during the winter months. However, anybody who owns a dog knows that their dog gets cold and appreciates a warm fire, extra blankets and more cuddles during the cold seasons.

How do dogs regulate their temperature?

Most people are aware that dogs don’t have many sweat glands so they can cool themselves down by panting. However, dogs mostly lose heat through contact with a cold surface (conduction) and by moving heat around their body from their warm parts to their cold parts (convection).

A dogs coat is designed to keep warm air in and cold air out (known as an insulator) but in the colder months we all appreciate a few extra layers. We all have our own preference for when we put the heating on but do you know your dog’s preference?

Nobody knows your dog better than you but as a guideline we should all pay closer attention when the weather drops to the following levels:

- Below 10 degrees how quickly your dog will get cold depends on their size, age, health, purpose of going outside and their activity levels.

- Below 5 degrees we should be even more mindful of the above factors as your dog will feel the cold more acutely.

- Below freezing and most dogs will need some extra warmth and also need you to be mindful of hypothermia, frostbite and paw injuries.

What factors affect how cold my dog gets?

While many dogs can cope with the cold weather for short periods, some will definitely feel the chill and appreciate some extra warmth. If your dog is obviously unhappy, reluctant to walk or whining, or if they are shivering or slowing down then these are real indicators that your dog is too cold.

In particular you should pay special attention to your dog in the cold weather if they have any of the following characteristics:

- Dogs with very fine, thin or short fur.

- Small dogs.

- Very young or very old dogs.

- Dogs that are underweight and/or on special diets.

- Dogs that are unwell or recovering from a recent illness.

What is dog hypothermia?

Like humans, if a dog’s body temperature drops too low they can suffer from hypothermia. A healthy dog’s body temperature is a little warmer than it is for people, around 38-39.2 degrees. If your dogs body temperature drops below 37 degrees then hypothermia is setting in.

There are important signs to look out for if you think your dog has hypothermia and as the condition progresses. Your dog’s extremities (ears, legs and paws) will feel cold and they will shiver and become lethargic as their body attempts to heat up. You may also notice their muscles become stiff, their gums turn pale and they begin to show signs of confusion. The critical stages would be when your dog stops shivering and they develop irregular heart and breathing rates. Pupils dilate and become fixed followed by coma and death.

Let’s all keep warm!

Any responsible owner will clearly seek veterinary attention if they suspect their dog is suffering in the cold weather and especially if they think their dog is becoming hypothermic. When the cold months come we all make changes to our lifestyles and homes and your dog is no less susceptible to the cold than you are.

We may not be able to do much about the cold and wind but we can help to keep our dogs dry and warm on their daily walks with a suitable outdoor coat. This is especially important if you dog has any of the risk factors mentioned above, but even if your dog is in their prime, they may appreciate some added warmth on those longer walks or those particularly cold days and nights.