Hypothermia and Frostbite

Hypothermia is classified when your dog's body temperature significantly falls below 100.5 degrees. Taking a dog's temperature is the best way to detect hypothermia.

Mild hypothermia (around 96 degrees) causes shivering which helps your dog's body generate extra heat. Moderate hypothermia (between 90 and 95 degrees) can result in mental dullness and loss of muscle coordination. Severe hypothermia (below 86 degrees) can cause loss of consciousness, cardiac arrest, and death.

Frostbite (frozen tissue, usually on the tail, ears, and toes) appears as a white skin patch. This area will redden with inflammation as the tissue thaws.

Treatment:

• If your dog has mild hypothermia, move him inside and warm him with blankets. Take a more severely hypothermic dog to the veterinarian, who will slowly boost the dog's body temperature from the inside out with warm intravenous fluids. A warm-water bath is not a good idea as such rapid external rewarming can damage the heart.
• If your dog has frostbite, warm-water soaks are a good idea. Rubbing is not, because friction can further damage frostbitten tissue. Your veterinarian may prescribe medication to help dull your dog's pain as the tissue thaws. If the frostbitten tissue dies, your veterinarian will have to remove it.

Prevention:

• Don't leave small, shorthaird, elderly, or ailing dogs outside for long in cold weather. Large, healthy, heavily coated dogs are also at risk if wind chills are severe or if the dog's haircoat gets wet.
• If your dog is outside during cold weather, make sure it always has access to a dry, wind-free shelter and unfrozen drinking water.
• Those ever-popular dog sweaters may diminish heat loss, but they are no substitute for common sense.