With the cost of living rising we are all doing what we can to save money. A big part of this is energy bills. They are constantly on the rise, meaning we are likely reluctant to turn on our heating on those cold nights. So how do we make sure that our dogs are kept warm on these cold nights? After all, they can’t tell us when they’re cold. Dogs do have higher body temperatures than us humans, too, being between 38’C to 39.2’C.
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How can you tell that your dog is cold?
Dogs can’t tell us that they are cold directly… but we can keep an eye on them and look out for signs. So what do we look out for:
Shivering or shaking
This 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
This is a sign that our dogs are unhappy and something is wrong.
Tucking paws
When lying down and trying to tuck paws underneath them this is an indicator that they are cold.
Restlessness
Being restless when trying to sleep, circling trying to alter bedding, even lying under bedding is also an indication.
Whining
A dog whining can indicate all sorts but it can also indicate that our dogs are cold.
So how can we keep our dogs warm?
Some dogs may not feel the cold, whilst others may feel it more. With different dogs having different coat thicknesses, a dog with a thicker coat, say a husky is less likely to feel the cold unlike a greyhound who has a much thinner coat. So if the house is cold, what practical measures can we take to make sure our dogs are kept warm?
Flooring
Cold floors should be avoided, letting a dog sleep on a cold floor will not help their temperature – or their stiffness if they are, for example, arthritic.
Bedding
Most dogs will use some bedding, some do prefer to sleep on the floor, but providing a nice soft comfy bed Is a great way of ensuring they are toasty. Providing extra bedding is also a great way to keep them warm. Some dogs may like to bury themselves under a blanket so this is ideal.
Cold rooms
Try and shut off cold rooms. Keep them in a room that is warm in the house.
Coats
Most dogs will wear a coat or jumper, putting a jumper on will help keep them warm, although if they won’t tolerate this, it is probably best not to make them wear one as we don’t want to cause any stress.
Heat pads
Heat pads like “snugglesafe” pads are pads that you can warm up in the microwave. These are great for placing under bedding to provide some heat and they provide heat for around 10 hours. They actually advertise themselves now as energy saving, they take 10 minutes in the microwave to warm up. Just make sure they are well covered in a thick blanket, and try not to use them on very old dogs who have poor mobility and sensation, as they may cause burns.
Fur
Some dogs are groomed regularly, some have their coats trimmed. When doing this we are potentially going to make our dogs cold. Avoiding any hair cutting and letting their coats grow will help them keep their body temperature up. The only exception might be dogs who swim or get very, very muddy, where a light trim might help keep them drier!
Keeping them dry
It’s winter, there are going to be lots of soggy walks. Drying them off properly is ideal on these cold nights, dogs with thick coats will take longer to dry meaning they will stay cold. If you regularly bathe your dog, giving fewer baths during the colder months and ensuring you are using hot water is ideal.
Playing
Keeping dogs moving helps regulate their temperature as it does with us too. Just playing tug of war or fetch if you can in the house is a great way to keep them entertained and warm!
Draughts
Place bedding out the way of draughts, if this is impossible then using draught excluders should be considered.
Some dogs are fine with lower temperatures so you don’t have to take any extra measures. It is always just ideal to keep an eye on their behaviour and do what you need to at the time.
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