Pet Care Club

For those who love their pets...

Hypothermia and Frostbite in Pets –
What you NEED to know

Hypothermia and Frostbite are common concerns for us Canadians (and Northern Americans). But since we spend so much time making sure we avoid frostbite and hypothermia, do we forget about our pets? Pets are just as susceptible to hypothermia and frostbite, in some cases more so. It is a common misconception that their coat keeps them warm enough to be outside for extended periods of time. Below are some warning signs as well as quick fix treatments for your dog or cat in the event of hypothermia or Frostbite.

Frostbite

When a human is outside long enough and their body reaches a lower enough temperature, their nervous system focuses on sending blood only to the “important” parts of the body (your core, where your organs are). When this occurs, your temperature is not regulated in your arms, legs, and even your head. Less blood is sent to these areas, in hopes to keep the blood warmer longer. The same happens with pets. When the pet’s body stops sending blood to their extremities, frostbite can occur. Generally if this occurs your pet will get frostbite on their tails, nose, the pads on their feet, the tip of their ears, and their legs. If the frostbite is fairly extreme, this can result in the loss of toes, ears, and even their legs.

Signs and Symptoms of Frostbite

If you pet has been outdoors or has been in uncomfortable conditions, you can tell he/she is dealing with frostbite if:

  1. They are shivering profusely
  2. The skin has changed from a pale pink to a bright red or black
  3. The animal has ice on his/her body

What to Do

In the event that your pet is dealing with frostbite, you should:

  1. Warm the area using towels soaked in warm water
  2. Dry Gently
  3. Wrap your pet in a blanket to keep in the body heat and to prevent self-trauma
  4. Call your veterinarian. If any of the pets tissues have died this may lead to infection or greater health problems in the future.

When helping an animal with frostbite, do NOT:

  1. Cover the pet with water. This will cause their body temperature to change too rapidly.
  2. Massage the frozen tissue. This causes irritation.
  3. Put anything cold on the pet’s skin.

Hypothermia

Hypothermia occurs when your body temperature is abnormally low. If you or your pet are outdoors or in uncomfortably cold conditions, they may have hypothermia.

Signs and Symptoms of Hypothermia

You can tell if your pet is dealing with hypothermia if:

  1. They are shivering profusely
  2. They are much weaker than normal
  3. Their body temperature is below 37.50°C.

What to Do

If you find that your pet is hypothermic, you should:

Warm your pet. You can do this in several ways:

  1. Fill water bottles with warm water and wrap them in towels.
  2. Put the wrapped bottles around your pet and wrap the pet in a blanket (with the bottles inside the blanket).
  3. Dry your pet with a hairdryer (on medium setting).

Make sure to never apply heat directly to the pet. Most pets with hypothermia are extremely weak and may not be able to move if they are being burned by the heating product.

After your pet has reached his normal body temperature, do not continue warming him. Having your pet overheat can also be problematic for him.

Also remember to call your veterinarian, even if your pet seems normal after they’ve been warmed. Infections (commonly kidney and bladder) are common in those animals that have been exposed to cold temperatures.




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