Shelties are hardy dogs but how cold is too cold for a Sheltie?
Shetland sheepdogs tolerate cold winter weather well. Even a day as cold as 0°F/ -18°C is alright for a brief walk, as long as the dog is healthy, active, and used to harsh weather conditions. However, any animal is at risk for frostbite in freezing temperatures. Old and very young age, health problems, and lack of acclimation make dogs more vulnerable to hypothermia.
Dogs’ Adaptations To Cold Weather
The following adaptations are characteristic of most animals who adjust well to cold climates.
- Thick double-layer coat: the dog’s fur provides excellent insulation against cold air, as long as it stays relatively dry.
- Piloerection: the dog’s hairs stand up and create a pocket of air between hair shafts. Such “goosebumps” prevent warm air from escaping and cold air from getting close to the skin.
- Padded paws: Sheltie’s paws have thick padding with plenty of subcutaneous fat and connective tissue. The paws also have generous blood circulation, which is a way for the body to keep the paws warm. Blood vessels constrict significantly when the dog becomes hypothermic, which increases the risk of frostbite.
- Shivering: dogs shiver to generate heat to warm themselves up. Shivering may stop if the dog is severely cold.
- Slowing of the metabolism: animals slow the chemical processes in their bodies to minimize wasting energy. That way they give off less energy to the environment around them.
How Cold Is Too Cold?
Shelties tolerate spending some time outside when it is as cold as – 0°F / -18°C, provided that the dog is moving the entire time. The dog should not be alone when it is that cold and should not stay outside overnight in such low temperatures.
Most healthy grown-up Shetland sheepdogs do not need clothes or boots if they just go outside for brief periods in extreme weather or if the temperature is above the freezing point.
If you live in a cold climate and your pet is likely to spend a good amount of time outdoors in cold weather, a waterproof windproof vest could be worthwhile. Dog booties or paw wax are good items to have if your Sheltie goes outside in freezing temperatures.
Even robust dogs, such as Shelties, are vulnerable to frostbite when the ambient temperature is below 32°F / 0°C. Ears and paws are especially vulnerable but any part of the body can be affected.
Rain, snow, and hail create conditions under which the double coat loses some of its insulating power, and dogs are more likely to get cold.
Individual Risk Factors
Some individual characteristics make animals more vulnerable to developing hypothermia and frostbite:
- Deconditioning: dogs who are not in good shape are less resistant
- Lack of acclimatization: being used to the cold allows a dog to adjust over time
- Many chronic or acute health problems, especially cardiovascular issues, put a dog at risk
- Geriatric dogs are at risk for hypothermia due to their impaired physiologic responses to the cold
- Puppies are at a very high risk
- Wet fur puts even young and healthy dogs in the risk category
- A dog who is not active while outside in cold weather cools down quicker
How To Tell If Your Dog Is Cold
Most medium to large dogs, including Shelties, 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, it is considered mildly hypothermic. Temperatures below 84 °F / 28°C are ominous and equate to severe hypothermia.
Some of the common signs of mild and moderate hypothermia are the following:
- Nervousness, pacing, refusing to walk
- Hunched posture, tail curled under the abdomen
- Picking up and holding up a paw
- Vocalizing in a way that communicates distress
- Pale mucous membranes, easy to notice if you check the dog’s mouth
- Shivering
The signs of severe hypothermia include the following:
- Weakness and lethargy
- Stiffness of paws and, at a later stage, the torso
- Slow breathing
- Labored breathing
- Slow pulse
- Dilated pupils
What To Do If Your Dog Is Cold
If your dog looks cold but does not appear stiff and confused, he or she might be mildly hypothermic. Take your pet home, bundle him or her with blankets, and offer a warm meal and water.
Rewarming should be gradual. Sudden temperature changes are hard on blood vessels, the heart, and lungs and are dangerous for animals in general.
Avoid using any hot items, such as heating pads or hot water bottles directly on his skin, because they will feel too hot, even though the fur, and could cause damage.
If your Sheltie shows the clinical signs of severe hypothermia, or you recognize that your dog is unwell, consider taking your pet to a veterinarian as soon as possible for gradual rewarming. Your pet might need respiratory support at that point, too, and they can provide it at most veterinarian clinics.
How To Keep Your Dog Warm In Cold Weather
Several interventions could help your dog’s tolerance to cold weather and keep it safe on a cold day:
- Allow your Sheltie to acclimate if the is not used to cold weather. Spend shorter periods in the cold at first, gradually increasing the time as tolerated.
- Make sure your pet eats well on the day you are taking her outside. A warm meal and water are ideal options on a cold day, if available.
- It is important to regularly feed your dog high-quality food to promote general health and better tolerance to cold weather.
- Let your dog exercise regularly and support graded conditioning.
- Dry your pup’s wet fur upon returning home.
- Clean the paws of ice, snow, and rocks right away.
- Consider a waterproof warm coat if your dog routinely goes outside in cold weather. It is important to measure your dog to ensure you are getting the right size, otherwise, your pup may refuse to weather the item.
- Waterproof boots can be helpful in icy conditions. Most dogs need to practice wearing them and some hate the idea. Paw balm is a great alternative with a similar protective function.
Frostbite
If a dog stays in the cold for some time, peripheral blood vessels become constricted to keep the torso warm. The paws and the tail stay colder. While it increases the chances of survival, it leaves the paws, tail, and ears at an increased risk for frostbite.
These are the common signs of frostbite:
- pale or gray skin
- coldness of the area
- pain, the dog may appear to be guarding the affected paw
- swelling and inflammation in the affected site develop over a few days
- ulcers and blisters are common at later stages
- if the injury is severe, the area could become discolored, often purple and black, and develop necrosis
- Infections of necrotic tissues are common
If damage is advanced, the animal could lose the limb to necrosis. A veterinarian may recommend an amputation and some treatment to prevent an infection.
Many animals do not survive frostbite, usually due to secondary infections. So professional treatment is essential to save your dog’s life in most cases.
HOW TO PREVENT FROSTBITE IN DOGS
The interventions to keep your dog’s paws safer from frostbite also help prevent injury from chemicals used to de-ice roads and driveways 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 become accustomed to wearing boots. Your Sheltie should practice wearing them ahead of time for higher chances of success. If your dog seems to detest wearing booties even with some practice, paw balm or another oil or petroleum-based product is the next best thing.
Paw Balm
Paw balm is a great way to protect the paws from both cold and hot surfaces.
Beeswax and paraffin are the core ingredients of manufactured paw butter products. These products seal off the paw and protect it from cold and chemicals.
Petroleum Jelly Products
Purified petroleum-based products are safe to use on the skin and are a cheaper alternative to paw balm products, with comparable protective value.
The most well-known 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 make a balm for your dog’s paws.
For best results, you can melt some beeswax and mix it with olive or coconut oil, or a mixture of 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.
To Conclude
It is important to pay attention to your Sheltie’s behavior, because animals’ tolerance to cold weather and the signs of hypothermia and frostbite may vary to a great extent.
Your Shetland sheepdog is likely to tolerate cold weather very well, due to the breed’s traits, but young or old age, as well as health problems, could reduce the expected hardiness. If you take your pup outside in freezing temperatures, being mindful of frostbite is crucial because it can affect even cold-tolerant dogs.
