Hypothermia in Dogs 

Can Dogs Feel Cold?

Wolves, deer, hares, or wild boars – many wild animals spend the entire winter outdoors, seemingly never freezing. After all, they have protective fur that successfully repels cold and moisture. But does this natural protective coat also work for our dogs? As descendants of wolves, dogs usually have thick fur that reliably protects them from the cold.

While many dogs visibly struggle with excessive heat, most dogs seem unbothered by snow, storms, or cold winds. However, appearances can be deceiving. In fact, our dogs can feel cold or even become hypothermic. But why is that?

Why Some Dogs Feel the Cold More Than Others

With the domestication of dogs, our “best friend” has adapted more and more to our living conditions. Whereas most dogs used to be pure working dogs, spending their entire lives outside in the yard or on the pasture, they now live indoors with us and have also become accustomed to the dry indoor air and warm heating in winter.

The breeding of purely indoor and fashionable dogs has lessened the need for a protective winter coat. Some breeds today, for example, lack the thick undercoat that large herding and working dogs have to guard against winter cold. Especially small, short-haired dogs with thin fur feel cold very quickly. Also, dogs from southern origins feel the cold more intensely than sled dogs, which are used to snow and icy winds.

Factors Affecting Dogs’ Sensitivity to Cold

Whether a dog feels cold or not depends on the breed and the nature of its fur. Dobermans, Greyhounds, Boxers, and all toy dogs suffer from the cold much more than Huskies or Bernese Mountain Dogs. However, other factors also influence a dog’s sensitivity to cold.

The age, health status, and weight of the dog play a significant role in determining whether a dog feels cold. Dogs with arthritis are extremely sensitive to the cold, as are older senior dogs or lightweight dogs. To summarise, whether your dog feels cold quickly depends on the following five factors: 

• Breed 
• Fur characteristics 
• Age 
• Health status 
• Weight 

How to Recognise if Your Dog is Cold 

Of course, a higher sensitivity to cold does not automatically mean that your dog is actually freezing. A small dog without a thick undercoat can still enjoy the snow if it is moving a lot, jumping around, or chasing a ball. After all, muscles warm up during movement.

But how do you know when your dog is getting too cold outside, and it’s time to go back to a warm house? By observing your dog closely, you can often recognise typical symptoms and prevent impending hypothermia in time. Specific behaviours and body postures indicate that your dog is cold. These include mainly the following four symptoms: 

• Tense body posture: The dog arches its back and tucks in its rod 
• Shivering: The dog raises its fur and starts to shiver 
• Restlessness: The dog shows clear signs of discomfort. It whines or pushes to go home 
• Lethargy: The dog walks slower, appears sleepy and listless 

If your dog shows one or more of these symptoms, you should head back as soon as possible and find a warmer place. By the way: shivering is not necessarily a sign of cold; emotional or stress-related situations or various diseases can also cause shivering. In such cases, the shivering continues even in a warm house. 

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How to Warm Up Your Dog

Back at home, your dog usually warms up quickly, the shivering stops, and it relaxes. At this point, drafts or a too-cold surface (tiles, laminate) should be avoided. Provide warm blankets and make your four-legged friend’s sleeping place cosy and warm. If your dog prefers to lie on the floor next to its basket, a warming carpet, a Styrofoam pad, or a thick blanket can be helpful.

However, keep your dog away from hot fireplaces, radiators, and heaters to prevent burns. 

How Does Hypothermia in Dogs Occur? 

Despite all precautions and observation of possible symptoms, a dog can still become hypothermic. Short-haired and small dogs are particularly at risk of hypothermia, beginning to feel cold even around freezing temperatures.

However, larger dogs with long, thick fur can also experience hypothermia. A winter ice bath, wet fur in freezing wind, or long waits on frozen ground can lead to hypothermia in healthy, robust dogs.

A significant drop in body temperature to 30°C or less can lead to serious health risks. If your dog feels very cold to the touch or stops shivering even though it is still exposed to the cold, this is a life-threatening warning signal.

Dogs that are already severely hypothermic are no longer able to shiver. If you notice any of the following symptoms in your dog, immediate action is required: 

Signs of Hypothermia

• Very intense, continuous shivering 
• Pale to bluish-tinged mucous membranes 
• Ice-cold ears, paws, and rod 
• Stopping shivering despite still being exposed to the cold 
• Shallow breathing and weak pulse 
• Lethargy (dog lies completely still) 

First Aid for a Hypothermic Dog 

If you notice any of these signs, the dog must be immediately brought to a warm place and given the following first aid. 

• Measure the temperature (if still possible) 
• Gently rub your dog with a towel (especially if its fur is wet) and wrap it in a blanket. If you have a dryer, you can briefly warm the towel beforehand 
• Wrap a hot water bottle or a warmed cherry pit pillow in a towel and place it on your dog’s belly, in the armpits, or around the loins. Since blood vessels are close to the surface in these areas, the body temperature can be more easily increased 
• Pull the blanket over your dog’s head and nose if possible, but make sure your dog can still breathe comfortably and its breathing is not restricted 
• Offer your dog some lukewarm water or a slightly warmed broth to drink to warm it from the inside 
• If you have stabilised and warmed your dog, you should take it to a vet or animal clinic as quickly as possible. Severe hypothermia requires immediate veterinary care. Even if your dog seems significantly better, it should still be examined by a vet 

Slow Warming and Avoiding Panic

It’s important to warm the dog slowly. Rapid warming or exposure to intense heat from a hairdryer or electric blanket can lead to burns or life-threatening heart fibrillation. Additionally, avoid panicked behaviour when dealing with a severely hypothermic dog. Stay calm and give your dog the feeling that everything is okay and there is no reason to panic. This helps your dog relax and brings its body temperature back to normal.

How to Protect Your Dog from Cold and Hypothermia

If hypothermia is not treated in time, it can lead to coma and eventually death. Even if a dog survives hypothermia, it can cause permanent health damage. Dogs that have been hypothermic once may cool down more quickly than other healthy dogs. Therefore, it’s best to prevent hypothermia in your dog from the beginning. But how do you protect your dog from cold and hypothermia? 

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Prevention is the Best Protection

Especially in winter, when temperatures may fall well below freezing, increased attention and care are essential as a preventive measure against cold, frostbite, and hypothermia. Naturally, skipping daily walks is not an option. Even in the cold, your dog needs regular exercise to stay balanced, satisfied, and fit. To ensure your dog doesn’t get cold or hypothermic during its daily outings, consider the following tips: 

• Multiple short walks rather than one long one: It’s better to go out more frequently in the cold for shorter durations. The risk of hypothermia is naturally higher during long walks lasting over an hour 
• Ensure movement: The more your dog moves outside, the warmer it will feel and the less likely hypothermia becomes. If your dog enjoys games of fetch, use this interest and take a ball, a frisbee or a dummy on every winter walk to throw for your dog to chase. More physically demanding paths, like a forest trail with obstacles or stairs, can also help prevent your dog from feeling cold. However, avoid overexertion for very young or arthritic dogs 
• Don’t let your dog wait: Do your shopping without your pet in the cold season. Waiting on icy concrete outside the supermarket can quickly chill your dog. Also, don’t leave your dog alone in the car. It gets chilly quickly inside the car when temperatures are below zero outside 
• Go out when it’s warmest: Even if you and your dog are used to going out early morning and late evening, it might be better to adjust these times in winter. Go out later in the morning when the temperature has risen slightly. If your dog insists on its morning and evening routine, keep it short and plan a longer walk around noon when it’s potentially warmer and the sun can add some warmth 
• Enhance coat care if needed: Regular coat care, such as gentle brushing and grooming, is always important for long-haired breeds, but it’s especially crucial in winter. It prevents tangles and helps maintain the natural insulating function of the coat 
• Dry damp fur thoroughly: Cold dampness is particularly insidious at icy temperatures and can quickly lead to hypothermia. Snow can make your dog’s fur wet. As soon as you’re back inside, rub your dog down thoroughly with a towel. While the fur is still damp, keep your dog away from drafts or a cold surface, as this can cause pneumonia or cystitis. Only go back outside when the fur is completely dry – this also applies if you’ve just bathed your dog 
• Avoid dry skin: Dry heating air can cause cracked and flaky skin in dogs as well as in humans. Damaged skin is less protected against the cold than healthy skin. Special home remedies, such as adding fish oil to food, may help 
• Intensify paw care: Your dog’s paws endure a lot in winter since road salt on streets and pavements is harmful to its feet. When the pads are already dry and cracked, salt can enter the cracks and cause severe pain. Rinse the paws with warm water (e.g., a quick footbath) and apply a fatty ointment or vaseline immediately after a walk. Convince your dog to hold still with regular training, gentle persuasion, and rewards. If your dog has hair between the pads, trim it in winter to prevent ice formation and frostbite 

Does My Dog Need a Coat and Winter Booties?

Wouldn’t it be practical to bundle up your dog just as warmly as yourself to protect it from cold and hypothermia? In fact, a dog coat is more than just a fashionable accessory. Especially dogs with short fur and no undercoat or small dogs with short legs close to the cold ground can benefit from a winter coat. Pinschers, Dobermans, Weimaraners, Dachshunds, or Chihuahuas welcome the added “fur” around their bellies.

Additionally, coats can be useful for puppies, old dogs, or dogs that spend a lot of time outside.

The same goes for winter booties, especially recommended for dogs with very sensitive or already cracked pads. Good booties reliably protect the paw from salt or sharp-edged, hard ice. Ensure the booties fit well so the dog’s natural gait is not altered.

If your dog does not have paw issues, regular application of fatty creams to the pads should suffice for protection against road salt.

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Enjoy Winter! 

With a little more care and attention, you can keep your dog safe and healthy through the winter and enjoy the beauty of this cold season with peace of mind. We wish you and your dog a lovely time!