Your dog may have a thick coat, but did you know that extremely low temperatures can still cause his body temperature to drop leading to hypothermia? Just like in humans, dangerously low body temperature in your dog can create medical complications or even lead to death. To avoid a serious, and possibly deadly, situation, here are some tips on what to look for with dog hypothermia.
Symptoms
If you notice your dog is shivering a lot, hypothermia may be setting in. Also, it’s important to pay attention to his gums to see if he has gone pale. You will notice that his paw pads, ears and scrotum will also become pale.
What to Do
If you notice any of the symptoms above, you need to take your dog to the vet immediately. As you load him into the car, get someone else to wrap warm blankets around him. If you have a hot water bottle, warm it up, put it in a towel and place it against your dog’s tummy. You don’t want to use a hot water bottle without some kind of insulation around it because it could burn his skin.
If you are waiting for the vet to come to you, warm up some fluids for him to drink. If he doesn’t seem to be interested in that, put the warm fluids into turkey baster and try to force him to drink. Take his temperature every 10 minutes or so and, if his temperature remains below 98° F, get him to an emergency vet right away. Once his temperature comes above 100° F, you can take the hot water bottle away and keep him in a warm room.
Prevention
All dogs need to go outside to do their business, but it’s important to limit the exposure to extreme cold as much as possible. If your dog is very young or very old, make sure to put him in a dog sweater and dog booties to keep him warm. Always go outside with your dog to prevent him from wandering off and you can’t find him.
If your dog is outside for any length of time and seems to be suffering from hypothermia, try the steps above. When in doubt, get your dog to the veterinarian as soon as possible.
Have you dealt with dog hypothermia before?
