Boxers are fabulous family pets and great dogs for active individuals. However, despite being an athletic breed, they are not hardy when it comes to weather extremes.
Boxers do not tolerate cold winter weather. These dogs’ short fur and brachycephalic airways contribute to their poor tolerance to temperature extremes. Limit the time outdoors if the temperature is below 7°C/ 44°F or keep your pet moving the entire time. If it is colder than 0°C/ 32°F, keep the walks short and protect your dog’s paws from frostbite.
It is important to be mindful of the risks specific to the boxers as the breed and individual risk factors.
BOXERS IN COLD WEATHER
Thin Short Coat
The coat of the boxer is not just single-layer, it is also rather short and thin. It does not insulate very effectively from either cold or hot air. The coat does repel moisture but only for some time. As short as it is, it could become soaked quickly which further diminishes its insulative capacity.
Brachycephalic Airway
The flat nose, the narrow palate, and other features of the airway of brachycephalic dogs often cause ineffective breathing. The resulting complications are numerous and the risk for both hypothermia and hyperthermia is one of them.
Brachycephalic features are more pronounced in some dogs of the same breed than others. The impact of having flatter faces varies greatly, depending on the severity of brachycephaly.
A Dog’s Adaptations To Cold Weather
- Paw Cushions: Dog’s paw pads are supported by an elaborate network of blood vessels. The generous blood supply protects the paws from the cold but the protection diminishes, as the blood vessels constrict in cold weather.
- Piloerection: Dogs get goosebumps too. The hairs stand up and create pockets of air between hair shafts to prevent warm air from escaping and the cold from getting close to the skin.
- Slowing Of The Metabolism: The dog’s metabolism slows down in cold weather, so the animal gives off less energy to the cold environment.
- Shivering: Dogs shiver to generate heat. Shivering is common when the animal is mildly hypothermic but it stops as hypothermia progresses.
Signs Of Hypothermia In Dogs
The normal body temperature of most dogs is a little higher than that of people. It ranges from 101.5°F (38.5°C) to 102.5°F (39.2 °C).
If the temperature decreases to 90–95 °F / 32-35 °C, the dog is considered to be mildly hypothermic. Temperatures below 84 °F / 28 °C indicate severe hypothermia.
These are the common signs of mild to moderate hypothermia in most dogs:
- Behavioral changes, including nervousness, pacing, refusing to walk, or moving abnormally
- Picking up and holding up a paw
- Vocalizing in a way that communicates distress
- Pale mucous membranes, easiest to note in the mouth
- Shivering
The signs of progressing hypothermia include the following:
- Stiffness of paws and possibly the torso
- Weakness and lethargy
- Slow or labored breathing
- Slow pulse
If your Boxer seems very cold, or you recognize in some other ways that your dog is unwell, consider taking your pet to a veterinarian as soon as possible. Once the animal is hypothermic beyond a certain threshold, medical interventions are necessary to save the dog’s life.
How Cold Is Too Cold For A Boxer?
45 °F/ 7 °C is often the ambient temperature threshold below which dogs of cold-sensitive breeds could become uncomfortable spending long periods outdoors. If it is a few degrees colder than that, keep your dog’s time outside limited and observe your pet’s behavior for any signs of discomfort.
As for harsh conditions when the air temperature is at or below the freezing point, a healthy Boxer should do fine but for short periods. Your pet can still go outside as needed and enjoy a short walk. A vest and booties could be a good option if cold weather is typical for the area you live in.
When the air is colder than 32 °F / 0 °C, being outside for even a brief period could result in frostbite. Paws and ears are particularly vulnerable to frostbite but other parts of the body could be affected too. It is important to protect the paws with either a layer of paw balm or dog booties.
Snow, rain, and wind further reduce the insulating capacity of the Boxer’s fur, so the animal could get cold even faster.
Risk Factors For All Dogs
Several individual characteristics make any dog more vulnerable to developing hypothermia, even if the breed implies being hardy in cold weather:
- Lack of acclimatization, or regular exposure, to cold weather
- Deconditioning, or lack of regular exercise
- Chronic or acute health problems
- Old age
- Very young age
- Wet fur
- Not moving around enough
Frostbite
When your dog is getting cold, the body shunts the supply of blood to the torso away from the paws to conserve warmth for the essential organs. This physiologic response increases the odds of survival in the wild but it leaves the paws and other less essential parts of the body more vulnerable to frostbite.
Some immediate signs of frostbite include the following:
- pale or gray skin
- coldness of the area
- pain
At a later stage, sometimes several days after the injury:
- swelling and inflammation in affected areas
- ulcers, blisters
- affected areas that might become more discolored – purple or black
When the affected limb darkens, it could be turning necrotic. It is a dire situation because the dog is likely to lose the frostbitten limb and could develop a secondary infection. Uncontrolled infections are especially precarious and many animals do not survive.
If you observe that your dog has frostbite, do not wait to take him to a veterinarian. Your pet may need respiratory support, antibiotics, or other therapies to support recovery and save the dog’s life.
How To Keep Your Boxer Safe In Cold Weather
There are several interventions to improve your family dog’s tolerance to cold weather and to keep your pet safe on a cold day.
- If you are just moving to an area with a cold climate or planning to welcome a new pet, it will be important to allow your dog to acclimate. At first, spend short periods outside, gradually increasing the time over a few weeks if your dog tolerates it well.
- Make sure your dog eats well on the day he is getting exposed to the cold. A warm meal is best on a cold day, if possible.
- It is important to regularly feed your dog high-quality food to promote overall health and tolerance to cold weather.
- Provide opportunities for your dog to exercise daily to maintain general health.
- Dry your dog’s wet fur as soon as possible.
- Clean the paws of ice and rocks. Sometimes it could be helpful to rinse your boxer’s paws with water just a little warmer than lukewarm to remove ice and debris. Doing so helps prevent damage from mechanical injury due to ice and rocks.
- Consider getting a waterproof warm coat if your boxer goes outside in cold weather regularly. It is crucial to measure your dog as suggested by the manufacturer, to ensure you are getting the right size.
- Waterproof boots are important, especially in icy conditions. It is best to have your pet try wearing new boots at home, to make sure they fit and the dog does fine wearing them.
- Paw wax is another option. It is not as cumbersome for the dog and it protects well from both cold and hot surfaces almost just as well.
If your dog seems cold after a walk, take him home as soon as possible and treat him to a warm meal and water. Avoid using any hot items, such as heating pads or hot water bottles directly on the dog, because doing so could cause damage.
Other Issues To Consider In Cold Weather
If you live in an area where the climate is cold, you might already be familiar with the rules for pets around antifreeze and salt on the roads.
Antifreeze is a huge safety issue for animals. Many dogs and cats in particular love the taste of it. As a result, they will lick any surface antifreeze with antifreeze on it. Even a small amount can kill an animal or severely impact the animal’s quality of life.
Salt and other substances that are sprayed on ice and snow in winter can also be extremely harsh on the paws. If you use any of those substances in your driveway or take your pet on walks to public places that could have salt sprinkled for deicing, it is important to protect your pet’s paws with either balm or boots.
