How can I tell if my dog is cold?
Otis Kunze
2025-06-21 13:06:42
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If you’re feeling too cold, then your dog is often feeling the same. Shivering is a key indicator, just like people, dogs will shiver when they’re cold. You can feel their body vibrating, especially when they’re wet, so if they’ve been out in the rain or have just had a bath, you’ll know when to turn up the heating. Dogs will become sluggish when they’re cold, their legs and tail may have less blood flow than normal, so it takes them more effort to move around, and their ears will often be cold to the touch too. Limping can also be a sign that the floor is too cold and their feet are now painful to walk on. Curling up is the only defence that a dog naturally has in the face of the cold, and they may try to hide under objects to shelter themselves from the weather. Additionally, unusual sleepiness, lethargy, or clumsiness can be a sign of hypothermia, and whining can indicate that they’re upset or anxious due to the cold.
Hope Hermann
2025-06-19 11:24:04
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Your pet may be shivering, trembling or cuddling into warm spaces. Dogs and cats may curl up on your bed, lounge or near the heater as they seek warmth. Pets will also start to avoid lying on cold tiles and will choose to rest in places with warm flooring or carpet. Generally, if you’re indoors and you’re feeling cold, then your pet will be cold too. Look out for: Shaking or shivering, Tucked tail, Whining, Seeking out heaters and other sources of warmth, Any change in behaviour, like seeming anxious or uncomfortable, Seeking places for shelter or wants to turn around when on a walk. You might notice your pet is having difficulty rising after a nap or is a little slower in the winter months. If your pet has been exposed to cold conditions, they could experience frostbite in their paws or ears or even hypothermia. The symptoms of hypothermia include weakness and shivering that can worsen to total stiffness and shutdown of your pet’s body.
Carolina Mohr
2025-06-05 16:49:35
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Dogs can’t tell us that they are cold directly… but we can keep an eye on them and look out for signs.
Shivering or shaking is a typical indication that your dog is cold, it can also mean other things but dogs do also shiver and shake to try to increase their body temperature, just as we do when we are cold.
Hunched posture and tucked in tail is a sign that our dogs are unhappy and something is wrong.
When lying down and trying to tuck paws underneath them this is an indicator that they are cold.
Being restless when trying to sleep, circling trying to alter bedding, even lying under bedding is also an indication.
A dog whining can indicate all sorts but it can also indicate that our dogs are cold.
Otha Walker
2025-06-05 15:53:35
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: 10
Signs that can indicate your dog is too cold: Shaking or shivering. Hunched posture with a tucked tail. Whining or barking. Change in behaviour, like seeming anxious or uncomfortable. Reluctance to keep walking or tries to turn around. Seeks places for shelter. Holds paws up off the ground.
If you think your furry friend is developing frostbite or hypothermia, wrap them in a blanket or coat, seek a warm shelter and immediate veterinary support.
Prolonged exposure to the cold can result in frostbite and hypothermia.
Though it’s important to pay attention to these things, you shouldn’t wait to see the first signs of discomfort to call your walk or playtime quits.
While maintaining your dog’s exercise requirements during the winter is important, when conditions are especially cold it’s a good idea to cut your walk short and supplement your animal’s exercise with some indoor activities and enrichment.
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