With regards to a dogs well being, why is it most important to ensure they remain warm and dry?

Dogs don’t use their skin to perspire, like humans, because of their insulating coat. Their coat keeps them both cool in hot weather and warm in cool weather. Dogs do have sweat glands, located in the pads of their feet and in their ear canals, but sweating plays a minor role in regulating body temperature.

Table of Contents Show

Making a suitable environment
More useful links
Hot dogs and cold dogs
Keeping pets cosy and comfy indoors
Keeping outdoor pets warm and dry
Winter exercise – keeping your pet active in the cold and wet
Does your pet need a winter wardrobe?
Encouraging your dog outdoors in the cold or rain
Indoor exercise for freezing or foul weather
Exercising your cat during winter
Maintaining your pet’s health through winter
Weight gain
Skin and coat conditions
Parasite treatments

When the temperature is very hot and especially when it is humid, everything heats up…including a dog’s body. His body responds by trying to cool off and it basically attempts to use conduction, convection, radiation, and evaporation. He will seek a cool place in the shade to lie down to absorb the coolness (conduction). His blood vessels will dilate in his skin and tongue bringing hot blood close to the surface radiating his internal heat. He will seek out fans or breezes to blow air to transfer the heat from body to air (convection). He will pant to bring air into his upper respiratory system to evaporate water from his mucous membranes. He will drink a lot of water to compensate for the evaporation.

Stationary cars or other enclosed areas in that are in direct sunlight heat up very rapidly and stay heated even though there may be some slight ventilation. This is sometimes called the “hot house” effect. Basically, the windows allow the sun’s rays to enter but preclude the heat waves to exit. The whole interior of the car heats up quite quickly (seats, steering wheel, dash board) and hold the heat. Putting an animal into this situation is like putting an animal into an oven and turning on the heat.

How do dogs cool themselves down?

Once their body temperature rises, dogs can’t sweat through their skin like we do to cool off. Dogs do sweat through their paw pads, but it’s by panting that dogs circulate the necessary air through their bodies to cool down. Note: Dogs with short faces, because of the structure of their upper airways, do not effectively cool by panting and do not tolerate high temperatures.

How does a dog maintain homeostasis?

Sweating is your body’s way of cooling down, thus maintaining homeostasis. As the liquid dries on your skin, it cools your skin and lowers your temperature. Because dogs do not have sweat glands, they pant. … The major blood vessel in a dog’s head runs very close to the surface of its nose.

How do I cool down a hot dog?

Let your dog stand in a cool pool. Aside from panting, dogs cool down through the sweat glands in their paws. Having them stand in a cool pool of water or giving them a quick foot soak can help lower their body temperature. It can also be helpful to put some cold water on your dog’s chest.

Should I shave my dog in the summer?

NO!!

[excerpt] “The “no shave” rule applies not only to super-furry northern breeds like Samoyeds, Huskies or Malamutes but to other double-coated breeds as well. Herding breeds like Aussie Shepherds, Border Collies, and Shelties are double-coated. So are Golden Retrievers, Newfoundlands, Bernese Mountain Dogs and many more.

Double-coated breeds have two layers to protect against arctic weather. The long guard hairs form the outer layer and protect against snow or ice and even shed water. The soft undercoat lies close to the skin and keeps your dog warm and dry. In winter this undercoat can be so thick you may have trouble finding your dog’s skin.

In summer, your dog should shed his soft undercoat, leaving just the guard hairs. The job of the guard hairs in warm weather is to protect your dog from sunburn and insulate him against the heat. Without the undercoat, air can circulate through the guard hairs, cooling the skin.

Unlike single coated breeds, who have hair that just keeps growing, double coats grow to a certain length and don’t get any longer. So you can shave a single-coated breed down and the coat will grow back again without really changing it. But that’s not true for double coats. Shaving a double-coated breed can really ruin the coat.” Learn more >>

How do you know if it’s too hot to walk your dog?

Use the five-second rule to make sure it’s safe to walk your dog. This tip comes via Moon Valley Canine Training, and it’s pretty simple. Whenever you take your dog out, place the back of your hand on the pavement. If you can’t hold it there for five seconds, it’s too hot to walk your dog.

This flashcard is meant to be used for studying, quizzing and learning new information. Many scouting web questions are common questions that are typically seen in the classroom, for homework or on quizzes and tests. Flashcards vary depending on the topic, questions and age group. The cards are meant to be seen as a digital flashcard as they appear double sided, or rather hide the answer giving you the opportunity to think about the question at hand and answer it in your head or on a sheet before revealing the correct answer to yourself or studying partner. Some questions will include multiple choice options to show you the options involved and other questions will just have the questions and corrects answers. Simply reveal the answer when you are ready to check your work. Absolutely no cheating is acceptable.

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Your dog needs a safe environment and, whether it lives inside or outside the house, it needs protection from dangers in the home.

Examples of hazards in the home include:

open windows and balconies in high buildings, which may be inadequately protected to prevent your dog from falling from them
household and garden chemicals
poisonous plants

Dogs are naturally inquisitive and a dog may put itself in danger if it is left to explore unsupervised.

Your dog needs a safe, comfortable place to rest, situated in a dry, draught-free area. Living in a cold or damp place can lead to unnecessary suffering. If your dog lives outside, it will need protection from adverse weather or other threats.

All dogs must be able to avoid things that frighten them and need a place to hide where they feel safe.

A dog is by nature unlikely to soil its living area and needs regular opportunities to use a toilet area, or it will become distressed. Some dogs may need access to a toilet area more often, for example:

very young
very old
dogs that are ill

Dogs are particularly vulnerable to heat stress which can quickly become serious and result in death. In hot weather they rapidly become distressed when enclosed in areas such as conservatories, cars and small kennels.

Some signs of heat stress include:

rapid heart rate
exaggerated panting
too much drooling
vomiting
dizziness and confusion
shaking
seizures
loss of consciousness

Making a suitable environment

You should:

provide your dog with a safe, clean environment
provide adequate protection from hazards
provide your dog with a comfortable, clean, dry, quiet, draught-free rest area
change your dog’s bedding regularly and make sure it's comfortable
provide your dog with somewhere it can go to avoid things that frighten it
provide your dog with access to a suitable place, away from its resting area, which it can use as a toilet area as needed
allow your dog, if it lives outside, to spend time with its owners and to be part of the family environment
make sure that any place you leave your dog is large enough at all times, a comfortable area with effective ventilation and temperature control

If your dog is kept in a kennel, or tethered, you should check it often and make sure it's not in danger or distressed. Dogs should not be kept tethered permanently or for long periods and it is recommended that they should be given the opportunity to run free.

Your dog must be able to move around comfortably and be able to avoid becoming too hot or too cold. Dogs showing signs of heat stress need immediate medical treatment, so contact your vet without delay.

When you transport your dog make sure it is comfortable and safe at all times, and do not leave your dog unattended in an unsafe environment, or for any period of time that is likely to cause it distress.

Hot dogs and cold dogs

Did you know that some dogs cope well in the colder weather, while others may find winter’s chilly temperatures a real struggle?

Some breeds are more suited to cool temperatures than others, largely because they originated in colder climates and adapted to suit the conditions. Naturally, Arctic breeds and those with thick, double coats find our comparatively mild winter conditions a breeze.

Breeds that were bred for the cold include the Alaskan Husky, Alaskan Malamute, German Shepherd, Keeshond, Newfoundland, Norwegian Elkhound, Tibetan Mastiff, Siberian Husky, and St Bernard

On the other hand, there are many breeds with short, single coats, sparse coats and even hairless breeds who really feel the winter chill.

These dogs tend to really struggle in the winter cold:

Very young and very old dogs have a hard time regulating body temperature, so they have more extreme reactions to changes in weather. Therefore, it’s generally advisable to keep older dogs and puppies indoors as much as possible during winter, as well as those suffering from chronic conditions like arthritis.

The biggest challenge for many owners this time of year is keeping their dogs active and sufficiently exercised in the cold and rainy weather. If your otherwise-healthy dog prefers to hibernate indoors than to venture out for some much-needed exercise and fresh air, you may need to take some steps to encourage them, such as investing in some warm and waterproof winter clothing and/or modifying their exercise routine.

Be sure to read on for some great advice, tips and tricks to get your dog out the door when the temperature plummets or the rain sets in.

Cool cats

There are many reasons why cats should remain exclusively indoors, and it’s not usually to do with the temperature outside. Most cats handle cold temperatures very well, thanks to their warm coats and thick undercoats.

However, that doesn’t mean cats won’t come to harm being outdoors in the cold. Apart from all of the other risks, such as getting lost, being injured in a traffic accident or in a fight with another animal, allowing our cats to spend time outdoors in temperatures below 7ºC puts them at risk of developing hypothermia and frostbite. Note that during July, our coldest winter month, the average minimum temperature is 7ºC in Sydney and 6ºC in Melbourne, while in Hobart it’s 4.6ºC and in Canberra it’s a mere 0.1ºC. And the risk is far greater for older, thinner or hairless cats like the Sphynx.

Keeping pets cosy and comfy indoors

If the temperature indoors is comfortable for us, it should be just fine for our pets as well. But if you live in an older home that’s draughty and prone to growing chilly, or your pet usually sleeps on the kitchen or laundry floor, you may need to take a few steps to ensure your fur baby stays warm during winter.

Our pets will spend more time resting and sleeping this time of year, so make sure they have some warm bedding – a good quality bed or mattress and some cosy blankets will do nicely. Place their bedding in a draught-free position for winter nights, preferably away from doors or windows; glass is not a good insulator and will make the animal even colder during the night. During the day, however, a spot behind a sunny window or glass door is the perfect place for a nice warm nap!

Ensure that the bed or mattress is raised off the ground or is thick enough to prevent them from feeling the cold concrete, timber or floor tiles. For dogs, trampoline-type beds are ideal, although small dogs may prefer an igloo-style bed that they can burrow into. On really cold nights, most dogs will appreciate an extra blanket or two, or having a heated snuggle pad added to their beds.

Cats definitely prefer to sleep and rest elevated off the cold ground, so try to place their bedding on a raised, stable surface. By day they will probably seek out sunny spots to lie in or small areas to curl up in for a bit of extra warmth. If you’re looking for some new bedding, consider purchasing a cat igloo or box which keeps in the warmth from their own body. You can also place a heated snuggle pad into their bedding before they go to bed.

Our article Top 10 Winter Products for Dogs and our Dog Beds product review will help you with some recommendations for your dog.

Our article Top winter warmers for cats has some great recommendations and further tips and advice for cat owners.

Keeping outdoor pets warm and dry

If your pet sleeps outdoors, you may think they are immune to the cold. However, no matter how thick their coats, they will still feel uncomfortable in a windy or damp environment.

Make sure their kennel is designed for outdoor living and is completely draught-free and waterproof. Outdoor kennels should be raised off the ground, even if just with bricks underneath. Check the kennel regularly for any sign of damp or leaks.

If they don’t yet have one, purchase a raised sleeping platform or mattress so they are not lying on the bare floor of the kennel. This is even more important as they get older, as arthritis can flare up from lying on a cold surface. Provide plenty of blankets and hang them out every few days to allow them to air. You can also give them a microwavable disk or snuggle pad for extra warmth and comfort. They are safe to use overnight in outdoors kennels and will last for up to 10 hours.

A dry kennel, or at least a cosy nook, is recommended for outdoor cats too, including any feral cats living in your neighbourhood.

Take a look at our Kennel Guide for recommendations.

Winter exercise – keeping your pet active in the cold and wet

Whether it’s a walk in the rain, a romp in the garden or some indoor fun and games, pets of all ages and sizes generally need some form of activity every day, winter included. A little more preparation may be required during the colder months – for both your pet and yourself – to make your pet a willing and cooperative participant.

Does your pet need a winter wardrobe?

Determining whether your dog needs a winter jacket, jumper or raincoat for outdoor expeditions should be based on the conditions in your region as well as individual characteristics such as your dog’s breed, body type, coat length, age and health.

Small, delicate, and short-haired dogs, as well as medium and large lean breeds, may benefit from a sturdy winter coat and/or a fitted sweater even in more moderate winter climates. Jackets that cover the belly are best at keeping a dog warm as they trap the heat in from their own body. Also consider whether your dog’s paws are suffering from the cold – there are booties and socks that can protect them and keep them warm.

When it comes to cats, most have plenty of fur to keep warm. The majority of cats even have a thick undercoat, so they don’t generally require any clothing to venture outside (unless they are a Sphynx, in which case they may appreciate a fleece-lined jacket!).

Encouraging your dog outdoors in the cold or rain

While many dogs are happy to head out for their daily exercise come rain, hail or storm, there are those that will stubbornly refuse to step beyond the front door when it’s particularly cold or raining (or even threatening to rain!), despite all your efforts and encouragement. For these dogs, your first goal is to get them to go outside with you, even if only to the front gate. These tips might just help to coax them out the door.

Dress them (and yourself) in warm and/or rainproof clothing while still indoors
Put on their harness and/or lead while still indoors
Exit the house as nonchalantly as possible, as if it’s just a normal day in normal weather
Praise and/or reward them for going out the door with you
Try for a short walk (just around the block or to the end of the street or even just in the garden or down the driveway)
Share your umbrella or other shelter with them if possible
Don’t force them to go outside or punish them if they refuse
Praise and/or reward them each time you get a little bit further from home
Don’t give up if they refuse – try again the next day and the next – persistence usually pays off in the long run.

Indoor exercise for freezing or foul weather

There are always those winter days when it’s just too cold and miserable – for you, if not your dog – to venture outdoors. While short romps outside will help your dog’s body get used to the change in the weather, in extreme cold, it’s a good idea to keep dogs inside, with the exception of the heavy-coated northern breeds that thrive in low temperatures.

There are many indoor interactive dog games that can provide dogs with some fun and engaging opportunities to get the mental and physical exercise they need.

See our article Indoor workouts for dogs to learn some new ways to provide your dog with indoor exercise.

Exercising your cat during winter

Generally, cats will move at their own pace and create their own exercise. However, indoor cats may need to be encouraged to exercise, especially when the weather turns cold. Help your cat stay active and healthy by engaging in extra playtime, for example rolling ping pong balls for them to chase and using other cat toys that encourage movement.

See our article Cat play and toys – it’s not just fun & games! to learn some new fun ways to provide your cat with exercise.

If your cat is used to spending time outdoors, they may become bored if they are now remaining exclusively indoors, so it’s even more important to spend some time each day engaging them in interactive play. Alternatively, provide them with opportunities for self-play, such as a cat tower to climb up or an outdoor cat run or enclosure to move about in.

See our article The best outdoor runs and enclosures for cats to learn how to provide your cat with safe and responsible exercise opportunities.

You could also try walking your cat on a lead if this is something you haven’t previously attempted. This requires some equipment, so make sure you are fully prepared and practice at home in the yard before hitting the streets.

See our article Walking with cats to learn how to provide your cat with safe and responsible exercise opportunities.

Maintaining your pet’s health through winter

Senior pets in particular are prone to conditions that may require extra attention during winter, such as arthritis or a weakened immune system. Heat regulation tends to decline with age, making even a thick-coated older pet uncomfortable in the cold. However, pets of all ages can benefit from some extra care to protect them from some common winter ailments and issues.

Arthritis

Arthritis, or joint inflammation, causes discomfort and pain and hampers movement, and even more so during winter when your pet is cold and less active.

Symptoms of arthritis in dogs include limping, difficulty in getting off a bed or up and down stairs, a reduced willingness to move and obvious pain after exercise. All of these are exacerbated when the animal has spent a long period of time lying in the same position on a cold floor, a hard surface or in a chilly kennel.

Arthritis in cats may be less evident, but you may notice some difficulty or hesitation when jumping onto the bed or couch, or increased matting of their coats as they find it painful to turn and groom themselves. Some cats may even become uncharacteristically aloof or aggressive, or they may show signs of pain when being patted or picked up.

If your pet’s arthritis isn’t already being managed by your vet, schedule a check up as soon as possible. The next most important things to do are to find ways to ease your pet’s pain and to make it feel more comfortable by providing a warm environment and bedding.

See our article Arthritis in dogs and cats to learn more about this condition.

Weight gain

Be careful not to overfeed your pet during winter, unless they live and/or sleep outside. Outdoor dogs and cats actually burn off more calories in winter than they do in summer in order to keep themselves warm, so they may require more food and/or different food during the winter months to maintain the same weight.

Indoor pets are a different story, as their bodies don’t need to work nearly as hard to keep warm. Additionally, if they are getting less exercise during winter, they are expending fewer calories and will therefore put on weight if they continue to eat the same amount. This means that the quantity of their food may need to be reduced during the winter months. Consult your vet if you are in any doubt.

See our article How to help your dog lose weight to learn more about this topic.

Skin and coat conditions

Cats and dogs can experience dry, red, itchy, scaly and flaky skin during winter, just like us. While it’s important to check your pet’s skin regularly for any issues all year round, it’s especially so in winter. If you notice any issues, including excessive licking and scratching, it’s always best to consult your vet. While they can cause your pet considerable pain and discomfort, most skin and coat conditions are treatable.

It’s important to maintain a good grooming regime through winter, especially in pets with long coats. While longer, thicker fur can help to insulate them from the cold, knots and matting can cause discomfort if you don’t help your pet to maintain their coat with regular grooming. Use a good quality brush to remove excess fur; furminators are particularly good in winter as they strip out the dead hair whilst still leaving it long for that extra warmth. Avoid shaving or cutting their hair if possible, because the longer fur keeps them warm during winter.

Dogs don’t need to be bathed as often as we might think during winter, but if they do need a wash, make sure the water is warm and dry them off completely so that they don’t get a chill. Regular brushing will also help alleviate dander between washes.

See our article Hair coat and skin conditions in dogs to learn more about this topic.

Parasite treatments

While parasites are more prevalent during the warmer seasons, they live in our environment all year round. It’s essential for your pet’s health that you continue to provide them with flea, tick and worm medication in the winter months. Pet parents commonly experience outbreaks of fleas in winter, especially in homes with carpeted floors, as the indoor heating creates an ideal opportunity for the residual flea eggs and larvae in the environment to hatch and thrive.

See our article Controlling and protecting against fleas to learn more about this topic.