Why Is My Dog Cold To The Touch?

In this research you will know the answer to the query “Why Is My Dog Cold To The Touch?“.

You notice your dog feels much colder than normal when she comes around for the usual pet.

Its not common for a dogs body to feel cold so being concerned if your dog feels cold when touched is natural. 

The weather is the most common cause of this.

Due to the cold weather your dog may feel cold to the touch.

When its cold outside all of us get cold hands and feet and pets are no exception.

Then again a dog can feel cold due to an underlying illness especially if it isnot cold outside.  

Why is my dog so cold to touch?

Several causes can cause a dog to feel cold to the touch and the first suspect is usually a cold environment. Whenever your dogs body feels very cold to the touch you should check if the house is too cold for him. Throw him/her a blanket over their shoulders and turn on the heat to keep them warm or put on a snugly-fitted dog sweater to keep them warm. 

It is more common for puppies and dogs with short coats to feel cold when they are in cold environments. Cold weather is very tough on some dog breeds but not all breeds can handle it. In this case keep your dog warm and comfortable if you find that they are cold.  

My dog’s ears and paws are cold

You notice that on a very cold day your fingers and ears get very cold the same thing happens to dogs. After a dog has been out in cold weather or has been left in an air-conditioned room for a long period of time its ears and paws can feel very cold. 

Again if your dogs extremities are very cold to the touch first check the weather and the environment for clues. There might be a reason for it if the weather is cold and the house is chilly. 

You should check your dogs body temperature if the house is not cold but they still feel cold. There may be something else wrong. A dogs body temperature is between 101 and 102.5 o F anything below 99 o F is too cold. 

By inserting a thermometer into your dogs rectum for a few seconds you can determine the dogs internal body temperature. You should get someone to assist in holding your dog as this is not a pleasant exercise for dogs. If you get a reading below 99 o F contact your veterinarian right away. 

Is it normal for dogs to feel cold?

It isnot unusual for dogs to get cold in fact they get chilly whenever they find themselves in an environment that is too cold for them. Short-haired dogs are less tolerant of cold weather than dogs with thick fur and long coats. 

The length of a dogs coat plays a very important role in insulating the animal from cold weather. The longer and thicker the coat the more resistant the dog is to cold weather. The opposite is also true as thin-furred dogs do not have much insulation from cold and will feel the chilly weather really fast. 

Another type of insulation is a thick layer of body fat. Cold temperatures trigger certain fat cells to burn calories and release stored energy in the form of heat which warms up the body. 

Therefore thin-coated dogs with a thick layer of body fat will also cope with cold weather since they have a thick layer of fat to compensate for their lack of hair. Slim dog breeds with thin coats however cannot do much to protect themselves from the cold and if your dog falls into this category you will need to provide them with warm sweaters and blankets to keep warm. 

What causes the low temperature in dogs?

Hyperthermia can be caused by overexposure to cold being in cold water for a long time wet fur or trauma. Veterinary medicine uses the term hyperthermia to describe dogs with extremely low temperatures. Without any means of staying warm a dogs body temperature can drop to dangerously low levels leading to hypothermia. 

Hypothalamic diseases which affect the hypothalamus can also cause extremely low body temperatures since they interfere with the brains ability to regulate and maintain normal body temperature. Hypothyroidism is a hypothalamic disorder characterized by a deficiency of thyroid hormones that affects all aspects of metabolism including heart rate and body temperature. 

The degree of hypothermia can range from mild to severe with complications impacting the immune system breathing heart rate and blood flow. If the body cannot maintain its normal temperature for an extended period of time hypothermia can be fatal.

Dogs have a normal body temperature ranging from 100.9 to 102.5 o F. Mild hypothermia occurs when a dogs internal body temperature falls to 95 to 89.2 o F. Moderate hypothermia occurs when the temperature drops below 89.6 oF while severe hypothermia occurs when the temperature drops below 82.4 oF.

Even if you have done everything possible to keep your dog warm if they still feel cold or if they feel cold on a warm day contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.

What to do if my dog is cold?

You should wrap your dog in a thick blanket as soon as you notice they are cold and turn the heat on. A heater or tumble dryer can be used to heat the blankets and you can also place a hot water bottle close to their bodies. You should also monitor your dogs temperature very closely every 15 minutes.

Make sure you act quickly when your dog is cold because quick treatment prevents complications. Dogs too can get frostbite in cold weather especially on their feet ears and tails. Make sure they are not left out in the cold for too long. 

A dog left out in the cold for a long period of time can quickly succumb to severe hypothermia. You should get your vet involved if your dog does not improve after taking measures to keep him. Perhaps your dog has a more serious problem and needs warm water enemas and IV fluids to raise its internal body temperature.  

Do puppies get cold easily?

Puppy dogs unlike adult dogs do not have enough body fat or thick-enough fur to keep them warm on chilly days. As they have not yet built up enough body fat and a thick coat they cannot keep themselves warm efficiently. At least one year old is the age when even long-haired puppies have enough hair. 

Dogs are like babies and they require extra attention and care. Puppy mothers will use their bodies to shield their puppies from the cold when its cold outside. If you have ever seen puppies with their mothers you know they huddle around their mothers when its cold. 

Therefore if you have a puppy make sure they are kept warm in a pen with blankets sweaters and heating pads. Make sure the houses temperature is warm and comfortable during freezing weather.

How do I protect my dog from the cold?

Listed below are some steps you can take to protect your dog from the cold if it is very sensitive to it.

Keeping them warm with clothes is a good idea. Dogs with thin coats puppies senior dogs and sick dogs are all sensitive to cold and a nice comfy sweater and warm blankets will go a long way to keep them warm. Its imperative to dress your dog warmly in cold weather especially if you’re taking them outside. 

Even dogs with the thickest fur cannot survive outdoors in frigid temperatures for very long. They have exposed paws and ears which can get frostbite. If the weather is cold keep your dog indoors. And do not leave your dog in the car alone. Winter can be very cold in cars so leaving your dog in a cold one is not a good idea.

If your dogs sleep outside at night and you can not bring them inside when its cold make sure they have enough insulation. ​If you want to keep them warm provide them with extra warm clothes insulating materials and a heat source. Check on them as often as possible to ensure that they are comfortable and not freezing.

Conclusion

If your dog feels cold to the touch in chilly weather it may be that their environment is too cold for them. In extreme cold dogs get sick and their body parts can freeze so you should avoid prolonged exposure to cold temperatures. 

Hypothermia occurs when the bodys temperature drops too low and severe hypothermia can be deadly. By taking a few extra steps to keep your dog warm in cold weather you can prevent your dog from getting too cold. You should still make sure your dog does not get too cold even if they have thick fur.

If you want to read more about dog health tips read here: Dog Health Tips and Tricks.

Why Is My Dog Cold To The Touch? (Watch Video)