With the cold weather headed our way, I thought it was time to write about protecting pets outdoors. Every pet is different in regards to what they can tolerate.

Some dogs and cats love the cold weather. My dog Bourbon, a Catahoula Aussie mix with a heavy double coat, dashes outside like a kid, cutting to the front of the lunch line when the temperatures drop below fifty. Several years senior to Bourbon, our dog Max, only goes outdoors in the cold weather when he is coerced with treats. His body senses the drop in barometric pressure. His joints stiffen in the damp, cold air and are hard to bear weight on while the other dogs run circles around him, chasing one another through the fallen leaves.

The difference between Bourbon and Max is more than the length of the coat. Max, whose coat is short, has arthritis exacerbated by the cold. It’s not always about age and health conditions though; our Bully Maze, who will turn three years old soon, prefers the indoors any day.

While I don’t go into detail about my cats in this post, note that the information you read here also applies to them.

Before I go any further, a disclaimer…

I’m not a veterinarian, vet tech, or medical professional. I am a pet parent, researching for the sake of pets and pet parents.

Please seek a veterinarian if your pet shows signs of hypothermia, frostbite, or other medical condition

Core temperature and cold weather

While a dog and cat’s core temperature is higher than that of a human, they can develop frostbite and hypothermia in the extreme cold or prolonged exposure to the cold. The human body temperature is around 98.6°F (37°C ). Baseline temperatures for dogs and cats range from 101.0-102.5°F (38.3 to 39.2°C) but can fall outside these numbers slightly. A temperature greater than 104°F (40.0°C) or less than 99°F (37.2°C) is when you should worry and take your pet to the vet. Found at https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/taking-your-pets-temperature

Like the human body, dogs and cats undergo a process called vasoconstriction to conserve heat and maintain core temperature. The word “vaso” refers to the blood vessels in this case. The blood vessels narrow or constrict, diverting blood inwards from the skin they otherwise supply. The blood is deflected to deeper tissues of internal organs and the brain, enabling the body to maintain a stable core temperature. The external areas of the body, all of which are exposed, have a greater chance of freezing after vasoconstriction occurs.

Frostbite

The combination of decreased warm blood in the area and freezing temperatures or prolonged subjection to the cold can cause frostbite to the body. Areas such as the ears, footpads, limbs, testicles, and tail are usually the first to suffer. Severe cold exposure can result in damage to the internal organs. Found at https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/frostbite-in-dogs

Frostbite may take days to appear.

Signs include

Change in skin color of the exposed area

Cold and frail when touched

Painful when touched

Swelling, blisters, or skin ulcers

Black or dead skin.

As tissues thaw, they may become red and painful

Found at https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/frostbite-in-dogs

If you believe your pet has frostbite, seek emergency medical help from a veterinarian. The veterinarian will likely perform a physical and take into account the pet’s history. In severe cases, blood work and a urine test may be necessary to check on internal organs.

Hypothermia in pets

Hypothermia occurs when a dog or cat’s temperature falls below baseline to 98˚F or 99˚F (37°C). Senior dogs, puppies, dogs with short, sparse coats, dogs with health conditions, dogs that are not active or overweight, dogs that lack muscle mass, underweight and malnourished dogs, and dogs that have not adapted have an increased chance of developing hypothermia. Found at https://cpt-training.com/blog/preventing-cold-weather-calamities

Signs of hypothermia range from mild to advanced.

Shaking

Stiffness

Weak or exhausted

Problematic gait

Light colored gums

The body is clammy to the touch

Disoriented looking

As hypothermia progresses

Shaking ceases

Collapse

Pupils enlarge

Heartbeat and respiration rate decrease or are abnormal

Loss of consciousness

Death

Found at https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/cardiovascular/dog-hypothermia

To-do list when a pet shows signs of frostbite or hypothermia

Veterinarian assistance is needed right away in cases of frostbite or hypothermia. Bring the pet to a warm, dry location and wrap him in dry towels or blankets.

Hot water bottles wrapped in towels should be set next to the pet who is also wrapped. Do not wet a pet who is outside or exposed to cold, as this can further the progression of hypothermia or frostbite.

Warming the injured area with water that is comfortably warm to you is okay, but do so with warm compresses or soaking. Pat the damaged tissue dry. Rubbing will further damage the site of injury.

Appliances such as heating pads and hair dryers should not be used on the pet.

Use the clothes dryer to warm towels and blankets used on the pet. On the way to the vet, keep the pet wrapped in towels or blankets.

Pain medicines for humans are toxic to pets. Do not use them.

Found at https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/frostbite-in-dogs

Outdoor Temperature Recommendations

Grouping dogs into categories to determine their cold tolerance is difficult. Director of Veterinary Medicine Jennifer Coates says, “… cold should not become a problem for most dogs until the temperature falls below 45 F, at which point some cold-averse dogs might begin to feel uncomfortable.” https://www.petmd.com/dog/care/how-cold-too-cold-dog

At 32 F, elderly dogs, dogs afflicted by illness, small breeds, and those with short or thin coats are prone to frostbite or hypothermia if exposed to the cold for an extended time. Make bathroom visits outdoors brief.

At 20 F or lower, all pets are at risk if they are outside too long. Bring the dogs out to take care of their needs, watch everyone, and bring them back indoors.

If your pet exhibits antsy behavior or appears to struggle with the cold, head them indoors or to a warm location. If they show signs of frostbite or hypothermia, seek the help of a veterinarian right away. Found at https://www.petmd.com/dog/care/how-cold-too-cold-dog

I bring my dogs in when the temperature drops to 45 F. Though my husband has a different opinion and thinks the dogs can handle lower temperatures, he respects my decision. The dogs go to the backyard to take care of business. I watch them through the window and head everyone back inside as soon as they are finished.

My male cat, Kid, loves the outdoors but heads indoors when the weather is cold. I keep a couple of enclosed cat beds in the garage and run a greenhouse heater for the cats and my plants.

Protection and Warmth

A good rule of thumb to remember is if you are cold, your pets are probably cold, too. Sweaters and coats are good options to keep the pets warm if they have to go outdoors but don’t forget to supervise your pet. Booties can protect your pet's footpads and keep them from cracking. Stay out of wet areas. Cold and wet conditions heighten the chance of vasoconstriction. Frostbite and hypothermia are painful and dangerous.

Keep pets in a warm, sheltered location, preferably indoors with you. The wind is fierce, piercing the natural insulation that not all pets have. Not all pets are acclimated to the cold. Take, for instance, my elderly cat, Sophia, who has very little body weight and an absence of muscle mass due to her age and health condition.

Warm blankets, towels, or hay go a long way in keeping feral cats and strays warm. Cut a door in a plastic tote and add hay. The door only needs to be large enough for an animal to enter so it keeps out the surrounding cold air. If you have unused pet beds in the house, place them in the garage, shed, or greenhouse. Keep a crack in the door so the animals can enter.

I use a greenhouse heater with an automatic shut-off in my garage and check on it frequently. You can’t be too cautious with so many house fires reported during the winter. Ask the neighbors for help if you need it. In my neighborhood, we have people who foster pets; we’re always volunteering or sharing resources with one another to make sure strays and feral are protected. Facebook has been an excellent place for communicating and sharing. Someone might be looking to get rid of a d or cat crate that they don’t use. The walls make a decent shelter from the wind for a pet. Throw a blanket inside.

Antifreeze kills. Clean it up. Do not let pets near it.

Remember, warmth and safety are the goals. Make life a priority.

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Sources:

Coates, J., DVM (2021, October 20). Dog hypothermia. Retrieved January 13, 2024, from https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/cardiovascular/dog-hypothermia

Coates, J., DVM (2024, January 4). How Cold is too Cold? Retrieved January 13, 2024, from https://www.petmd.com/dog/care/how-cold-too-cold-dog

CPT comprehensive pet thereapy (2014, November 8). Preventing cold weather calamities. CPT Comprehensive Pet Therapy. Retrieved January 13, 2024, from https://cpt-training.com/blog/preventing-cold-weather-calamities

Hunter, T., DVM, & Ward, E., DVM (n.d.). Frostbite in dogs. VCA Animal Hospital. Retrieved January 13, 2024, from https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/frostbite-in-dogs

Weir, M., DVM, & Buzhardt, L., DVM (n.d.). Taking your pet's temperature. VCA Animal Hospital. Retrieved January 13, 2024, from https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/taking-your-pets-temperature