How Cold Affects Dogs

During this stormy season, and after the snow from Filomena, almost all of Spain has experienced an unusual cold snap; it felt like we were in Siberia. That's why we're going to give you some tips to keep your dog from getting cold.

Going for a walk with your dog has become quite an ordeal: first, the intense snowfalls made it impossible to move unless you had a Siberian husky, and then, with the ice, a series of dangerous slips and slides that made you risk your life.

Keep reading, and we'll tell you how to prevent your dog from getting cold.

Dogs, like people, get more or less cold depending on their breed and coat.

It also depends a lot on the life we lead with our dog; it's not the same to live on the beach as in the mountains, for example. We are all affected by temperature changes.

5 Factors to Consider to Know if Your Dog is Cold

1. Coat: if your dog has long hair, it will be more resistant to cold than a short-haired or almost hairless dog.

2. Size: similarly, a Chihuahua does not have the same body fat as a Great Dane.

3. Weight: small dogs are more vulnerable to cold than large dogs.

4. Age: age is an important factor when it comes to feeling cold; thus, puppies have more difficulty regulating their body temperature than adult dogs.

5. Health: if a dog is healthy and in full physical condition, it can cope with cold better than one that has a health problem.

But How Do I Know if My Dog is Cold?

To know if your dog is cold or uncomfortable, you should pay attention to its behavior. Some signs that your dog is cold are:

•        Trembling or shivering: If your dog is trembling or shivering a lot, it is probably cold.
•        Drowsiness: Dogs usually doze during the day, but does it sleep all day? If the answer is yes, something is wrong; it is probably hibernating, slowing its body down and warming up.
•        Slowdown: When your dog is cold, its breathing and movements become slower to force its body to retain heat.
•        Dry skin: If your dog has a very dry nose or you see that its eyes are dry, the temperature it is in may not be comfortable for it.

Now that you know the symptoms of a dog getting cold, here are some simple Tips to Keep Dogs Warm.

Tips to keep your dog warm:

•        Provide a soft blanket or snoozy bag that your dog can get into and snuggle up in.
•        Place its bed near a radiator or in a warm part of the house.
•        Acclimate the house and program the heating so your dog doesn't get cold.
•        Put a coat or sweater on your dog.
•        If it's very cold, or your dog is very old, put a hot water bottle in its bed so it doesn't get cold. 
•        Take shorter, more frequent walks, preferably during the less cold hours. 
•        Give your dog more food so it has more calories and can cope with the cold better.

The cold particularly affects a dog's ears and paws, so you'll need to observe them carefully.

The cold, pollution, snow, and, above all, the salt spread on the ground to prevent ice, are dangerous for your dog's paws. Its paw pads can suffer from cracks, chafing, and even burns. For them, these are their shoes, and if they get damaged, it can lead to serious health problems.

When they come back from a walk, you'll need to clean their paws very well and remove any dirt. Afterward, we recommend applying a layer of reparative balm Paw Care to keep their paw pads soft, hydrated, and ready to prevent any external aggression.

As you can see, if my dog is cold, the consequences can be crucial, as they affect more than you think, from simple tremors to vomiting and dizziness. As always, from tQel, we recommend consulting a veterinarian for any strange symptoms you detect in your dog.