Age is an important factor when it comes to the dog’s tolerance to weather extremes. Do Golden Retriever puppies tolerate cold weather and how cold is too cold for them?
Although Golden Retrievers as a breed are hardy dogs, puppies are more vulnerable to hypothermia and frostbite. Your Golden Retriever puppy could feel cold at 45°F/ 7°C. When temperatures drop below 32°F/ 0°C, very young dogs can become hypothermic and get frostbite quickly, so it is important to limit walks to 10-15 minutes.
Golden Retrievers’ Adaptations to Cold Weather
- Thick Double Coat
- Golden Retrievers have double-layer coats, so they are well insulated against cold air.
- Piloerection
- When the dog is cold, its hairs stand up and create 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.
- Padding of the paws
- Cold-tolerant breeds, such as Goldens, have paws with a thick layer of subcutaneous fat and connective tissue, supported by an extensive network of blood vessels. Good blood circulation to the paws is a way for the body to keep them as warm as possible.
- Shivering
- Like any mammal, dogs shiver to generate heat.
- Slowing of the metabolism
- Dogs slow the chemical processes in their bodies to reduce energy expenditure to give off less energy to the environment around them.
CHARACTERISTICS THAT MAKE PUPPIES LESS HARDY IN COLD CLIMATES
Lower Muscle Mass, Less Subcutaneous Tissue
Puppies may look chubby but they have little muscle and fat tissue in comparison to mature dogs.
Body fat, or subcutaneous tissue, insulates the animal from cold air. Muscle mass allows for generating energy to keep the animal warm.
Golden puppies remain at a higher risk for hypothermia until they mature become more muscular, and accumulate the appropriate amount of fat tissue.
Less Efficient Perfusion To The Paws
Most animal babies have imperfect perfusion to their extremities in the first few months of their lives. Their bodies prioritize essential organs, which increases the chances of survival in the wild. That is why youngsters often have cool paws.
Paws, tails, and ears are at a high risk of frostbite. Frostbite is dangerous to any animal, especially a very young one, whose immune system is not mature yet.
Thinner Fur
Normally Golden Retrievers have excellent coats to protect them against the cold but a puppy’s fur may not have sufficiently developed layers. A puppy’s coat is soft and thin, and any amount of rain or snow on it could compromise its limited water-repellant properties.
Lack Of Conditioning
If your pet lives in a cool climate, it acclimates over time and becomes more stoic in cold weather. Moving to a colder climate could be a little shocking, even to a mature dog.
Puppies are not used to cold air and cold surfaces, nor do they have the fitness that helps an animal withstand harsh conditions. Your puppy will become conditioned, gradually and only to some extent, to the weather conditions that are typical in the area where you live.
How Cold Is Too Cold For A Golden Puppy?
Temperatures below 45°F / 7°C but above the freezing point are generally safe for puppies for a limited period. It is individual what your particular pup can tolerate comfortably, so do your best to read your pet’s cues, especially if your Golden is entirely new to cold weather.
Your pet is vulnerable to frostbite when the ambient air is colder than 32°F/ 0°C, despite being a cold-tolerant breed. Ears, tails, and paws are especially vulnerable, but other parts of the body can be affected.
Your Golden Retriever puppy is also at risk for hypothermia in temperatures below 45 °F / 7 °C and at risk in below-freezing-point temperatures.
Precipitation creates conditions under which the dog’s fur loses some of its insulating capacity. So, rain, snow, and hail put your puppy at an even higher risk.
How To Tell If Your Golden Retriever Puppy Is Cold
Dogs of large breeds have a normal body temperature in the range of 101.5-102.5 °F / 38.5-39.2 °C. Puppies have lower body temperature but it normalizes a few weeks after being born.
If a dog cools down to 90 – 95°F / 32-35 °C, it is mildly hypothermic. Temperatures below 84°F / 28°C indicate severe hypothermia, which can kill a young animal very quickly.
These are some common signs of mild and moderate hypothermia:
- Behavioral changes, for example, nervousness
- Picking up and holding up a paw
- Whining, vocalizing
- Pale skin, noticeable around the mouth, pale mucous membranes
- Shivering
The signs of severe hypothermia:
- Weakness and lethargy
- Stiffness of paws and eventually the torso
- Slow breathing
- Labored breathing
- Slow pulse
- Dilated pupils
The progression of hypothermia is very quick in puppies. If your pet is stiff and confused, or lethargic, take him or her to a veterinarian without delay. If your puppy is shivering and appears cold but without any confusion or lethargy, take him or her home as soon as possible to warm up gradually under close supervision.
HOW TO KEEP YOUR PUPPY WARM IN COLD WEATHER
There are recommendations for dogs in cold weather in general:
- Any dog requires a period of acclimation if it is not used to cold weather. A puppy should always spend very limited periods if the temperature is below freezing, for example. A puppy who is very young in particular should only spend a few minutes outdoors when it is chilly, especially in sub-zero temperatures.
- Make sure your puppy has eaten well before heading outside on a cold day.
- It is important to regularly feed your puppy good quality food to promote general health and better tolerance to extreme conditions but the cold season is the time for more nutritious and higher-calorie meals.
- Dry your puppy’s wet fur as soon as you can.
- Clean the paws to remove ice and rocks.
- Consider purchasing a waterproof warm vest if your puppy goes for walks in cold weather frequently. It is important to measure your pet 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.
Your Golden puppy might not need any clothing for the season because puppies should not spend long periods outside in the cold. Spending just a few minutes outside is generally fine, as long as your pup is moving the entire time.
If your dog is shivering and looks uncomfortable but generally acts 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
Puppies are particularly at risk, which is why they should spend very limited time outdoors in sub-zero temperatures.
These are some signs of frostbite:
- pale or gray skin
- coldness of the area
- pain, the puppy could guard the affected paw and vocalize
- 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
Many animals do not survive frostbite, so professional treatment could be essential to save your dog’s life.
PROTECT THE DOG’S PAWS
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. If your pup still hates the idea after a few tries, paw balm, or another petroleum-based product is the next best thing.
Paw Wax
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.
