{"id":4201,"date":"2018-12-04T11:38:58","date_gmt":"2018-12-04T17:38:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dev.diamondpet.wearewoodruff.xyz\/?p=4201"},"modified":"2025-11-20T11:07:41","modified_gmt":"2025-11-20T17:07:41","slug":"prep-your-dogs-for-winter-weather","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/blog\/health\/do-dogs-get-cold\/","title":{"rendered":"Do Dogs Get Cold?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Every year when the cold temperatures arrive, you pull out your heavy sweaters, winter coats, boots, gloves, hot water bottles and flannel sheets. But what about your dog when the temperature drops? Can they tolerate cold temperatures? And what are some ways you can help them stay warm? We\u2019ve compiled some winter pet care tips to help keep your furry friends comfortable and safe.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Do Dogs Get Cold in the Winter?<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many dogs can tolerate most cold-weather conditions \u2014 as long as they have time to acclimate to the chillier air temperatures. If you consistently walk your dog outside as summer gives way to fall and then winter, they will naturally adjust to colder weather. But if your dog spends most of their time indoors (or in warmer climates and you plan on taking them someplace cold for the holidays), you\u2019ll need to gradually introduce them to and shelter them from the colder air temperature.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Do Dogs Get Cold Like Humans?<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Just like people, a dog\u2019s ability to tolerate the cold can vary with their breed, the type and density of their coat, their age, the amount of body fat they have, their activity level and their health. It may seem obvious that dog breeds with thin coats will have trouble maintaining their body temperature on chilly days. But even breeds with long fur or those with thick coats will start having trouble tolerating the cold once they\u2019ve become senior dogs. All dogs show signs when they feel the cold, so watch out for these symptoms and behavioral clues:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shivering<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whining or whimpering<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Standing at the door of your home<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Seeking another type of shelter<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>How to Keep Dogs Warm While Outside in Winter<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It may be tempting to limit your dog&#8217;s time outdoors during the winter months. But even if your dog is one of the short-haired breeds, you can <\/span><a title=\"A Winter Survival Guide for Pets\" href=\"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/blog\/health\/conditions\/winter-survival-guide-for-pets\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">help them tolerate cold weather<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and get some great outdoors time all year round.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Just as you invest in sweaters and down coats to keep warm, you may need to buy cold weather apparel for your pup to stop them feeling the chill in the air. Sweaters or coats with insulation can be especially helpful for short-coated dogs whether they\u2019re being walked or being allowed outside to relieve themselves. If possible, you\u2019ll want to get your pet accustomed to wearing a jacket or sweater before cold temperatures arrive so that they\u2019re comfortable being dressed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Again, be aware of the signs that your dog needs some extra warmth. No matter how cold-tolerant they are, on particularly chilly days you may not be able to let your dog stay outside for extended periods. Those days are your chance to try a food puzzle or other toys suitable for playtime in the comfort of your house!<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Don\u2019t Forget Your Dog\u2019s Feet in Cold Weather<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Winter cold and snow can be tough on paw pads, so <\/span><a title=\"Avoid Winter Dog Paw Issues\" href=\"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/blog\/health\/sensitive-skin\/winter-dog-paw-issues\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">protecting your dog\u2019s paws becomes even more important<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> during cold months. Be sure to rinse (or at least wipe) and dry your dog\u2019s feet after each trip outside, especially if they\u2019ve been walking in areas where deicers have been used. You\u2019ll also want to monitor your dog\u2019s paws for ice or snow that collected between the toes and for cracks in the paw pads. A pet-safe balm applied to pads can help prevent dryness and cracking. Waterproof booties, if your dog will wear them, offer the best protection for paw pads and provide traction on icy surfaces. Protective paw wax is also available and can provide a semipermeable barrier between paws and salty sidewalks.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>How to Keep Outside Dogs Warm in Winter<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Any dog that spends substantial time outdoors should have access to an insulated shelter that keeps them dry and out of the wind. Their house should be just large enough for them to stand up, turn around and lie down comfortably. The shelter\u2019s floor should be off of the ground to minimize heat loss, and bedding (e.g., straw) should be thick, dry and changed often. Don\u2019t use towels, blankets or rugs because the fabric can absorb moisture and freeze.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most dogs who spend time outdoors in winter will need more food (calories) so they can maintain their body temperature. How much to feed them will depend on their activity level, housing and the outdoor temperature. Remember, dogs should always have access to fresh, unfrozen water.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>How Cold Is Too Cold for Dogs?<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Extreme cold and subzero wind chills are always exceptions, even with conditioning in the winter environment. It can simply get too cold for even the hardiest snow-loving dogs to spend long periods of time outside without proper shelter and nutrition. All owners should be aware that their dogs can develop <\/span><a title=\"Do Dogs Need Coats in the Winter?\" href=\"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/blog\/culture\/myths\/dog-fur-cold-weather-myth\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">cold-weather-related health problems<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, including hypothermia and frostbite on their skin, after exposure to temperatures below 20 degrees Fahrenheit.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When it comes to winter dog care, be sure to plan ahead. In general, dogs aren\u2019t any more immune to cold weather than we are. If it\u2019s cold for people, it\u2019s probably cold for dogs!<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Every year when the cold temperatures arrive, you pull out your heavy sweaters, winter coats, boots, gloves, hot water bottles and flannel sheets. But what about your dog when the temperature drops? Can they tolerate cold temperatures? And what are some ways you can help them stay warm? We\u2019ve compiled some winter pet care tips [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5550,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"Do Dogs Get Cold? Tips for Keeping Your Pup Warm This Winter","_seopress_titles_desc":"Learn how to keep your canine companion warm and healthy this winter with tips on cold weather care, outdoor protection, paw safety and proper shelter.","_seopress_robots_index":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_searchwp_excluded":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[578,134,10,70,54,750,82,126],"class_list":["post-4201","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health","tag-cold-weather","tag-diamond-pet-foods","tag-dog","tag-dog-health","tag-dogs","tag-fur","tag-seasonal","tag-winter"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4201","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4201"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4201\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5550"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4201"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4201"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4201"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}