Winter Is Tough on Dogs? Here Are the Most Common Health Risks

Hypothermia‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ is a condition where a dog's body temperature is significantly lowered as a result of being in the cold for a long time. For instance, little dogs, puppies, and senior dogs are the most susceptible. If the situation is not attended to, it can lead to the dog's body trembling, it becoming weak, or even the development of some other scary conditions that may threaten its life. Also, dog hypothermia can be avoided if you do not let your dog stay outside too long when it is very cold; make sure your dog has comfortable and warm bedding even if it is inside the house; and, during walks in the cold, put your dog in a nice warm jacket or ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌sweater.

Frostbite‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ is a condition that happens to the skin of the paws, ears, and tail when the blood flow is reduced in very cold temperatures. The affected skin can get a whitish color, may become hard, and after that, it can be swollen or painful. In order to save your dog from frostbite, you should not take him on a long walk when it is snowing or icy, do not let him dry by himself if he is wet, and give him a thorough checkup to see if there are any signs of frostbite in the ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌paw.

Winter‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ cold can make an old dog with stiff joints or arthritis in the legs and even the tail suffer more; they may move slower, and it takes them longer to go up the stairs, or they do it with great caution, or even they don’t go up at all. To stop discomfort caused by the joints, give your dog a warm place to sleep, keep them on low-impact exercises indoors to maintain the muscle tone, and visit your vet for advice about which supplements can help the joints to be ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌healthy.


Salt,‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ ice, and harsh winter surfaces can break, scratch, or generally harm paw pads. Paw licks to remove chemicals that have stuck to paws are the cause of stomach upset in dogs, according to the substances used in de-icers. Cleaning and rinsing paws after every walk, applying paw balms to keep pads hydrated, and, if necessary, using dog booties for protection are some of the ways to prevent paw ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌injuries.


Low‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ temperatures can lower the immune system and thus increase the possibility of coughs and other infections of the respiratory system, which may become highly dangerous if your pets are mostly indoors and in close contact with other animals. To save your canine friend from respiratory disease, ensure that he is warm and dry, and then do not allow him to be near sick dogs and keep his vaccinations ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌current.


With even a little bit of care, winter still can be a fun season for dogs. Try to make the dogs comfortable, lively, and out of danger by noticing their early symptoms of uneasiness. Easy measures such as putting on a coat, shielding their feet, and shortening the period of staying in a very cold place will allow your dog to relish the cold season in a cozy ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌way.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What are two risks to our pets during the winter?frostbite or hypothermia
2. Which temperature is cold for dogs?below freezing (0°C)
3. Can a dog get sick from cold weather?Pets can also be affected by frostbite and hypothermia from extended exposure to cold conditions.