Saint Bernard as a breed descends from the Western Alps, so historically these sweet giants are familiar with harsh winters. Of course, dogs adjust to some extent to the climate they live in, so not every dog of a cold-tolerant breed does well in the cold.
Generally, adult Saint Bernards do well being outdoors in temperatures below the freezing point. Regular walks when it is as cold as 0°F/ -18°C are alright but avoid staying outside longer than an hour. Consider individual risk factors, such as age and health issues, and the fitness level of your dog. Being used to cold air is helpful but even a hardy dog is at risk for frostbite in freezing weather.
Thanks to the breed features, Saints do have advantages over many other breeds when it comes to being stoic in the cold.
Saint Bernard’s Adaptations To Cold Weather
- Thick Double Coat: Saints have double coats, which provide an excellent barrier to insulate these dogs from the cold. The bottom layer consists of short thick wooly hairs and defends against temperature extremes. The upper layer is made of long rough hairs that repel moisture and shield from UV light in summer.
- Piloerection, or Goosebumps: When the dog feels cold, the hair stands up and createss a pocket of air between hair shafts, similar to goosebumps. That prevents warm air from escaping and cold air from getting close to the skin.
- Paws: Cold-tolerant dogs have paws with a thick layer of subcutaneous fat and connective tissue. Their paws are also supported by an elaborate net of blood vessels. Efficient blood circulation to the paws is one of the ways the body keeps them as warm as possible and protects them from frostbite.
- Shivering: Similar to people, dogs shiver to generate heat. While shivering is common with mild hypothermia, it may stop if the dog is severely cold.
- Slowing of Metabolism: Like most other animals, dogs slow the chemical processes in their bodies to reduce energy expenditure to give off less energy to the environment around them.
How Cold Is Too Cold For A Saint Bernard?
Saint Bernards are hardy dogs, given the history of the breed and their excellent adaptations to cold weather. Exceptional tolerance for cold winters is certainly one of the reasons a Saint Bernard could be the perfect breed for you if you live in a cold climate.
These dogs can spend some time outdoors in low temperatures. – 4°F / -20°C is still appropriate for walking your Saint but your pet should not be alone when it is that cold. Sleeping outdoors overnight in freezing weather is not safe for any dog.
If you walk your dog on a very cold day for a limited period and your dog is active the entire time, there is usually no need for clothes for your pet. Protecting your dog’s paws and torso with clothing is best if you plan to be outside for more than an hour or if you live in a cold climate and walks in freezing weather are regular.
Your Saint is vulnerable to frostbite when the ambient air is colder than 32°F / 0°C, despite being a cold-tolerant breed. Ears and paws are especially vulnerable, but other parts of the body can be affected.
Precipitation creates conditions under which the double coat loses some of its insulating capacity. So, rain, snow, and hail put your dog at risk.
Individual Risk Factors For Hypothermia
Some individual characteristics make even hardy dogs more vulnerable to developing hypothermia.
- Lack of general conditioning: dogs who are not in good shape are less resistant
- Lack of acclimatization: being used to the cold allows an animal to adjust over time
- Physical health problems, either chronic or acute, put a dog at risk
- Old dogs are at high risk for hypothermia, because of impaired physiologic responses to the cold
- Very young dogs are more fragile
- Wet fur is a risk factor even for young and healthy dogs
- A dog who is not active while outside in cold weather
How To Tell If Your Dog Is Too Cold
Saints and other large dogs have a normal body temperature in the range of 101.5-102.5 °F /38.5-39.2 °C.
If the dog cools down to 90 – 95 °F / 32-35 °C, the animal is considered to be mildly hypothermic. Temperatures below 84 °F / 28 °C suggest severe hypothermia.
These are some common signs of mild and moderate hypothermia:
- Behavioral changes, for example, nervousness, pacing, refusing to walk
- Picking up and holding up a paw
- Vocalizing in a way that communicates distress
- Pale skin
- Shivering
The signs of severe hypothermia:
- Weakness and lethargy
- Stiffness of paws and eventually the torso
- Slow breathing
- Labored breathing
- Slow pulse
- Dilated pupils
If your dog exhibits signs of severe hypothermia, take your pet to a veterinarian without delay. Professionals are skilled at gradually increasing an animal’s temperature in safe ways. A severely cold dog could need respiratory support at that point, which can be provided at a vet’s clinic.
How To Keep Your Dog Warm
There are general recommendations that could help keep your pet warmer on a cold day and improve tolerance to cold weather in general:
- Allow your dog to acclimate if your pet is not used to cold weather. Spend short periods in the cold, gradually increasing the time as tolerated.
- Make sure your dog has eaten well before heading outside on a cold day. A warm meal and water are ideal options, if available.
- It is important to regularly feed your dog good quality food to promote general health and better tolerance of extreme conditions.
- Let your dog exercise regularly.
- Dry your Saint’s wet fur as soon as you can.
- Clean the paws to remove ice and rocks.
- Consider purchasing a waterproof warm coat if your dog goes for walks in cold weather frequently. It is important to measure your dog to make sure you are getting the right size. Any brand you choose should provide a size chart.
- Waterproof boots are important and protect the paws from contact with both cold and hot surfaces.
If your dog is shivering and looks uncomfortable but is generally acting appropriately, your pet could be mildly hypothermic. Take the dog home and treat her to a warm meal. Avoid using any hot items, such as heating pads or hot water bottles directly on your pet’s fur, because they will feel too hot to the dog, and could cause more damage.
Frostbite
If an animal stays in the cold for some time, the body constricts peripheral blood vessels to keep the torso warm. While it increases the chances of survival, it leaves the paws, tail, and ears, particularly at risk for frostbite. Other parts of the body could become affected, too.
These are some signs of frostbite:
- pale or gray skin
- coldness of the area
- pain, the dog could guard the affected paw
- swelling and inflammation develop over a few days
- ulcers and blisters are common at later stages
- the area could become discolored, often purple and black if frostbite is severe enough to cause necrosis
- Infections of necrotic tissues are common
If you suspect that your dog has frostbite, do not wait to take your pet to a veterinarian. If damage is advanced, the animal could lose a limb to necrosis or infection. A veterinarian may recommend an amputation and some treatment to prevent bacterial infections in the affected area.
Many animals do not survive frostbite, so professional treatment could be essential to save your dog’s life.
HOW TO PREVENT FROSTBITE IN DOGS
The interventions to keep your pet’s paws safer from frostbite are also helpful in preventing damage from chemicals used to de-ice roads in winter.
Socks Or Boots
The most reliable way to protect the paws is a physical barrier, such as dog boots or socks.
Most dogs take time to get used to the idea of wearing boots. Have your Saint wear them ahead of time at home, for practice. If your dog is resistant after a few tries, paw balm, or another petroleum-based product is the next best thing.
Paw Balm
Paw balm, or wax, is a great way to protect the paws from both cold and hot surfaces.
Beeswax and paraffin are the main ingredients of manufactured paw wax products. These products seal off the paw and protect it from ice, cold, and chemicals.
Petroleum Jelly Products
Purified petroleum-based products are safe to use on pet paws and could be a cheaper alternative to paw balm products, with similar protective value.
The most commonly used products are Vaseline and Aquaphor. Aquaphor may be a better option because it creates a barrier and moisturizes the paws at the same time.
DIY Moisturizing Barrier Products
You can use products you have at home, such as coconut oil or olive oil, to create a barrier for your dog’s paws.
For best results, you can melt some beeswax and mix it with olive and coconut oils (1 half beeswax to 1 half mixture of other oils:
- Use a small boiler to melt the beeswax and oils on low heat for a minute.
- Mix them well while the beeswax is melting.
- You could use containers of your choice to pour the mixture into to be able to use the product more comfortably.
- When it cools down and hardens, it is ready to use.
The process of making paw butter is simple and quick, which is why many dog owners choose to make it rather than purchase it.