When it's too cold outside,
the snowflake icon darkens to alert you.

PROTECT YOUR PET

Like humans, dogs are susceptible to the dangers of the ice, snow, wind and cold temps. Even brief exposure to sub-zero weather can lead to frostbite of the paws, nose or ears of a dog and hypothermia. That means letting your dog out for even a brief period of time can be dangerous if your pet is not wearing the proper protection.

QUICK FACTS

• Even if there's no snow or ice on the ground, that doesn't mean it's safe for your pet; other than extremely frigid temperatures, the worst thing for a dog is to be in a wet, windy and cold climate, or live in an area where the temperature fluctuates throughout the year.
• Even the toughest dogs are susceptible to a dip in temperature. While pet owners may think a large dog with a lot of fur can withstand colder temps, the fur does not protect their sensitive paws, and, even these dogs - if not used to the cold - may not be able to handle the frosty weather.
• Coats, sweaters and paw protectors help keep your pet warm and provide protection against the elements.
• LuvGear™ ColdAlert™ Technology alerts you when it's too cold outside so you know when to bring your dog indoors.

DOGS AT RISK

• Smaller breeds, dogs with low body fat, young puppies and older animals are more prone to rapid surface loss of body heat.
• Animals under anesthesia or who've recently undergone anesthesia and surgery.
• Other factors that may increase risk are disease of the hypothalamus, the part of the brain that regulates appetite and body temperature, and hypothyroidism, a condition characterized by low levels of thyroid hormone in the body.

Things that can happen to your dog in extreme cold temperature include:

• Frostbite
• Hypothermia
• Worsening of arthritis
• Damage to paw pads

Ice, snow and cold temps can cause major damage to your dog's paws. Snow and ice can get stuck in between the pads on your dog's paws, causing cuts and uncomfortably cold toes. Even a small amount of build-up under your dog's paws can pull the sensitive hairs underneath and cause a noticeable loss of traction.

PREVENTION

Hypothermia can be prevented by avoiding prolonged exposure to cold temperatures. This is especially important for dogs considered to be at-risk.

Long-term care may be necessary, such as incubation to keep the body temperature stable. Prevention of hypothermia in anesthetized animals requires keeping the animal warm with blankets and monitoring its body temperature after surgery.

SIGNS OF HYPOTHERMIA

• Excessive whining and shivering
• Anxious attitude and looking for shelter or protection
• Blood vessels are dilating
• Low body temperature (groin area is cold to touch)
• Mental sluggishness, slow movements and dullness
• Drop in pulse rate
• Drop in blood pressure
• Shallow and slow breathing
• Dog is unresponsive
• Unconscious state develops

Hypothermia symptoms vary with the level of severity. Mild hypothermia is evident through weakness, shivering, and lack of mental alertness. Moderate hypothermia reveals characteristics such as muscle stiffness, low blood pressure, a stupor-like state, and shallow, slow breathing. Characteristics of severe hypothermia are fixed and dilated pupils, inaudible heartbeat, difficulty breathing and coma.

The very first thing a dog does when developing the low body temperature of hypothermia is to begin shivering. Small dogs are at a greater risk than large dogs because they have less surface area and lower body weight. This uncontrollable shivering develops because the normal flow of blood begins to be routed away from the dog's extremities to their internal organs.

Once the shivering begins to stop, it is because the dog's mechanism for maintaining their body temperature is failing. This slowing down or stopping of shivering in the dogs is not a good sign. When the shivering stops, their blood vessels are beginning to dilate and their body temperature is rapidly dropping, combined with many other signs.