Hypothermia is a serious condition that can occur when a dog’s body temperature drops below normal. It can become life-threatening, so it’s important to be able to recognize the signs and act quickly. Here’s what to know about hypothermia and dogs:

What is Hypothermia in Dogs?

When a dog’s body temperature dips below normal, hypothermia can occur. A healthy body temperature for a dog is anywhere between 99.5°F and 102.5°F. At birth, puppies typically have a temperature of 93°F to 97°F, and this body temperature rises as they grow.

By 4 weeks of age, their normal body temperature range is 99°-101°F, much closer to the normal temperature range for older puppies and adult dogs. Typically, anything over 103°F is considered a fever in dogs, and anything below 99°F is cause for concern and can develop into hypothermia.

What Causes Hypothermia in Dogs?

There are a few causes of hypothermia in dogs. A dog’s body temperature can fluctuate, and some breeds have a higher tolerance for cold due to insulated coats, such as Huskies, so the causes of hypothermia can vary. While prolonged exposure to cold weather is the most obvious cause, dogs can also lose body temperature from illness or injury. Here are a few common causes of hypothermia in dogs:

1. Cold weather
2. Surgery or general anesthesia
3. Sickness or injury

1. Cold Weather

If a dog is in the cold too long, especially if the temperature is below 32°F, hypothermia can occur. Even if you have a cold-weather snow dog breed, such as a Bernese Mountain Dog or Husky, you still need to keep an eye on how long they are in the cold.

Body heat is lost faster when it’s colder or if the windchill is severe. Excess moisture in the air, such as snow or sleet, can also make hypothermia set in faster. Keeping your dog out of the cold is an essential winter safety tip for dogs.

Like humans, dogs lose most of their body heat through their skin that touches cold surfaces, such as pavement or snow. Body heat can also be lost through the skin to the air. The risk of hypothermia means you should not let your dog be outside in cold weather for a long period of time. They should also not be left out if there’s extreme windchill or if it’s snowing or sleeting.

2. Surgery or General Anesthesia

Hypothermia can set in if a dog needs to have surgery and anesthesia. Veterinarians do take measures to prevent hypothermia from occurring, but surgery can result in body temperature loss due to shaving an area of skin and a cold environment in the surgical room.

Dogs are also laid on stainless steel surgical tables, which can be very cold. During surgery, your dog’s body temperature will be monitored, and steps will be taken to help prevent hypothermia from setting in.

3. Sickness or Injury

Certain injuries or illnesses can cause hypothermia. If your dog is sick or injured, there is a higher risk for them to become hypothermic. This is often because some illnesses can hinder their body from not being able to regulate their own body temperature. These diseases or illnesses can include:

• Kidney disease
• Heart failure
• Canine diabetes
• Certain types of poison
• Blood loss

Signs of Hypothermia in Dogs

If a dog begins to become hypothermic, the blood vessels close to the surface of the skin will start to send blood away from those areas and send it to essential internal organs, like the heart and brain. When this happens, there are some signs and symptoms you should never ignore in your dog that you will notice that can indicate hypothermia.

These signs will begin to progress as hypothermia becomes more severe:

• Shivering in an effort to conserve body heat
• Stiff muscles
• Lethargy
• Trouble walking or disorientation
• Pale gums
• Ears, paws, and nose will be cold to the touch

As your dog’s body temperature continues to drop, you will notice the following changes:

• Your dog will stop shivering.
• They will collapse and stop responding to you.
• They will have fixed and dilated pupils.
• Their breathing and heart rate will become irregular.
• Without treatment, they will die.

If you notice any of these symptoms, get your dog to your vet or an emergency vet clinic as soon as possible. The sooner the intervention, the better your dog’s chance of recovery.

How is Hypothermia in Dogs Diagnosed?

When a vet diagnoses a dog with hypothermia, they base it on the dog’s internal body temperature. The most accurate way to get a temperature reading is to use a rectal thermometer. If a dog has a rectal temperature of under 98°F, the veterinarian considers them to be hypothermic.

How to Treat Hypothermia in Dogs

Here’s how to treat hypothermia in dogs:

1. Get to the vet.
2. Warm up your dog gradually.
3. The vet will administer IV fluids and care.
4. Provide continuous monitoring.

1. Get to the Vet

If you think your dog has hypothermia, make sure you get them to a veterinarian or a veterinary emergency clinic as soon as you possibly can. If your dog has hypothermia, they will need to be gradually re-warmed.

However, this re-warming process must happen slowly and gradually. You don’t want their body temperature to jump too much, as this can cause shock. It’s best to have medical professionals on hand to help warm your dog up, manage symptoms, and monitor.

2. Warm Up Your Dog Gradually

If you can, try to help them slowly warm up by wrapping them in warm blankets. You can warm blankets up by putting them in the dryer for a little bit or by using a hairdryer.

Do not try to warm them up by using a heating pad because these tend to give off too much heat that can burn the skin. Heating up too quickly can also cause shock by directing too much blood flow to the skin.

3. The Vet Will Administer IV Fluids and Care

Once your dog is at the veterinarian clinic, the medical team can use much more aggressive techniques to help your dog warm up. Dogs are given IV fluids that are warmed and infused into their stomach and abdominal cavity. They may also be put in a room that has warm and humid air to help them breathe easier.

4. Provide Continuous Monitoring

A veterinary team will take care to monitor any change in body temperature, heart rate, oxygenation levels, and blood work. This helps the veterinary team manage any problems that might arise.

If any underlying health problems might be contributing to hypothermia, such as illness or injury, these problems will be addressed, as well as making sure your dog is properly warmed up to the right body temperature.

What’s the Recovery and Prognosis of Hypothermia in Dogs?

Dogs with mild or even moderate hypothermia have a fairly good chance of survival if they can get treatment quickly. Unfortunately, severe hypothermia can be fatal in some dogs. However, some dogs still have a chance of survival. It’s almost impossible to know how a dog will recover from hypothermia until a veterinarian has a chance to examine the dog and quickly begin the re-warming process.

How to Prevent Hypothermia In Dogs

Here are some ways to help prevent hypothermia in dogs:

1. Make sure they have a warm and dry environment.
2. Equip your dog with appropriate outdoor gear.
3. Provide plenty of water and nutritious food.

1. Make Sure They Have a Warm and Dry Environment

One of the best ways to prevent hypothermia in dogs is to make sure that they have a warm and dry environment, especially in cold weather. Check your dog’s sleeping area and make sure there are no drafts that might be causing them to be too cold at night. If they sleep on a cold floor, consider investing in a dog bed or some cozy bedding to help keep them warm.

If you have a breed like a Bernese Mountain Dog that loves to spend a lot of time outside, make sure they have a shelter they can seek at all times. Even a simple dog house with some straw for added insulation, if needed, can provide some short-term shelter for a dog who likes to be outside.

2. Equip Your Dog With Appropriate Outdoor Gear

Making sure that your dog is properly equipped for the outdoors is also helpful. This is especially important for small dogs or dogs that have short hair. These dogs should not spend a lot of time in cold weather without proper protection. Make sure your dog’s paws are protected as well to prevent frostbite in dogs!

3. Provide Plenty of Water and Nutritious Food

Nutrition is also really important to help prevent hypothermia in dogs. Dogs burn more calories to help them stay warm, so they might need more food to counteract those extra calories burned. If you have any questions about whether this is even necessary for your dog during the wintertime, don’t be afraid to reach out to your veterinarian. Your dog should also always have access to freshwater, even in the wintertime.

This is just an overview of what to know about hypothermia in dogs. It’s extremely important to recognize the symptoms and understand what causes hypothermia to keep your dog safe.