Like us, at this time of year our dogs can also be affected by low temperatures and higher humidity. So it is not surprising that during the winter they want to stay close to us when we enjoy a moment of sofa and blanket. Although they may be more prepared than we are, thanks to their coat and higher body temperature, dogs will also notice the sudden changes of adverse weather effects such as cold snaps.
The dog’s body must adapt to these environmental changes taking into account several conditions. Your state of health, where you live, and characteristics such as size and coat will affect you one way or another. Certain Nordic breeds, such as the Siberian husky, Alaskan malamute, and Samoyed, adapt well to cold climates because of their greater body fat, which helps keep them warm, and thick fur. At the other extreme are those of smaller size (less than 10 kilos) and/or short-haired. If your dog has these characteristics, it is likely that he will shiver in the cold: it is the physiological response to raise his body temperature, which must be maintained between 38ºC and 39ºC.
Since it is a complex subject, to help pet parents, veterinarians at Tufts University (USA) have prepared the following table, which reflects the risk that a dog can suffer depending on the temperatures depending on its size. This table has also been disseminated by the General Directorate for Animal Rights and has various color bands: green represents that there is no evidence of cold and an unlikely risk; yellow poses a risk based on race; the orange color symbolizes a dangerous strip and the red represents the critical temperature.
In general, most dogs can withstand up to 7ºC outside temperatures, but below that scale, some small and medium-sized dogs could be at risk. For example, a husky is able to withstand down to -40ºC, while a Chihuahua could already have certain problems with temperatures of around 4ºC. In any case, according to the table above, from -4ºC there is a greater risk for small and medium-sized dogs, and -6ºC for large ones.
A drop in body temperature, shivering and shivering, huddling, less interest in going outside, or walking slower than usual may be signs that your dog is cold. Also, that his skin dries up and that when you touch his nose and ears, you notice them icy. To help him regulate his temperature we can do several things. The first thing is to prevent risk situations by avoiding exposure to adverse temperatures and taking into account the characteristics of our dog.
At home the temperature should be stable, without reaching extreme heat, since you will notice a strong change when you go outside. It is also better that you sleep in padded and warm beds that insulate you from the cold and humidity. The blanket, in which he will curl up or hide, will keep him warm. When in doubt, the best thing you can do is give your dog alternatives so that he can choose the option in which he feels most comfortable.
There are other characteristics that influence how cold they may be. Males tend to tolerate it better than females and the pet parents of a puppy or a senior dog must be especially careful with low temperatures, since being much more vulnerable than the rest, it is difficult for them to maintain a constant body temperature. In these cases, the risk of hypothermia is increased by prolonged exposure to high temperatures. But they are not the only problems that can present.
What’s more, if our dog has a chronic disease, especially respiratory or cardiac, we must protect it much more. You also have to take into account his immune system. In puppies, which do not have it fully developed, lung infections can occur. Something that can also happen to senior or older dogs, precisely because their system is likely to no longer work as efficiently. Coughing symptoms can also be accentuated at this time of year and if the dog has a degenerative joint pathology, such as osteoarthritis, its pain and stiffness could increase with cold and humidity.
In a dog that has access to the outdoors, we will probably detect that with the cold its appetite increases, since it will need more calories to maintain its body temperature. In these cases, the recommendation is that you consider whether it is necessary to increase the amount of food daily, in addition to giving it the necessary resources so that it does not get cold.
As long as the outside temperature conditions are acceptable for him, our dog should continue going out because walks are essential so that he can relieve himself, exercise and socialize with other dogs. However, it is convenient that we prepare it well. It is advisable to try to get the dogs to go for a walk when it is not so cold, avoiding for example the first thing in the morning and at night, and that the walks are short. If your dog needs a longer walk, it is better that it be at noon or in the sunniest moments.
If it is not possible for us to adapt the routine to the schedules with a higher temperature, we can also consider putting our dog in warm and waterproof clothing. It is advisable to cover some breeds such as the Chihuahua and the greyhound with layers, since low temperatures are more harmful for them (due to their small size, the former and the lack of fur in the latter). If the rain surprises us on our walk, we must always dry it well when we return home and paying close attention to the pads of its paws, since these come into direct contact with the cold and humidity, which can cause small cracks. If this is the case, it is recommended to apply special protective creams.
Even at this time of year, it’s important that dogs with osteoarthritis also get regular physical exercise to maintain their muscle mass, as muscle loss can aggravate symptoms.
If there is ice or snow, it is preferable to protect them with footwear that has a good grip and frees them from possible burns. If you are not used to booties or find them uncomfortable, another option is to cover the pads with barrier creams. On those trips to the snow, you must not neglect applying protective cream on your nose and that your coat or necklace have something striking enough to locate it if you dare to run around in a controlled area.
If you follow these guidelines and put our advice into practice, you will protect your dog from low temperatures and, also, whenever possible and safe for him, you will be able to enjoy winter walks and plans together.
