As temperatures drop, many of us have already taken coats and accessories like gloves and scarves out of our closets. If we have a dog, we might wonder if we should do the same to him. A question often asked among people concerned about their animals’ ability to withstand cold, wind and humidity. Since the health and comfort of our dogs is at stake, we explored this issue in depth with the help of Samuel Alonso Herrero, a veterinarian with the Mascota y Salud Support Network.
For the expert, there are many routine contexts in which “we tend to draw quick parallels between our pets and their supposedly wild nature.” We talk above all about aspects of diet, physical activity, hygiene or basic care. So is the case now that the weather is cold, protection from low temperatures.
“When it comes to this time of year, people need to dress warmly,” says Alonso. “However, when we think of dogs, we tend to assume that their fur is enough to protect them. But it is increasingly common to see them wearing some form of warm clothing.”
Can’t get enough fur?
Before giving the answer, Alonso highlights that it is an observation that “responds to a physiological and evolutionary reality that must be understood.” This means that years and years of dogs coexisting with humans means that they have evolved to adapt to the “living conditions we provide them.” What does this mean? For Alonso, this development meant that it “affected not only their behaviour, but also their physiological functions and the way they deal with extreme temperatures.”
Alonso acknowledges all this without forgetting that human intervention has meant that over generations, animals have been selected and bred with “physical characteristics that, in the wild past, would have underperformed or even threatened their survival.” Dogs are becoming increasingly popular as companions and family members, which means that some can now live in environments very different from their original habitat.
This has led us to what we currently have: dogs that do not have the same ability to resist the cold as their ancestors did. “Their natural protection, namely fur, is not always sufficient to prevent significant heat loss, which is why in some cases it is necessary to reinforce them with warm clothing, especially when temperatures drop significantly or during very humid or windy days, two factors that increase the thermal sensation of cold,” Alonso admits.
How do we know if our dog needs a shelter?
Although we usually talk about breeds, what matters to Alonso are “the individual physical characteristics and the degree of adaptation of the dog to its usual environment.” This would explain why in the case of some breeds such as Scandinavian dogs, which have a coat twice as dense, not all dogs in this category are always prepared for the cold, or not always. “A small or short-haired mixed breed dog may need protection regardless of its origin,” says the expert.
But there are certain aspects that we must take into account to know if our dog needs a coat. As Alonso explains, these factors, in addition to factors such as humidity, wind or the time we are driving, are the following:
- Dogs have very short and thin fur, which does not have enough insulation, “which makes it easier to lose body heat.”
- Dogs with a slim build: In this case, they are dogs “with less body fat and a greater ratio of surface area to their weight, which increases heat dissipation.”
- Small dogs: Although these dogs have a faster metabolism, “their ability to distribute that heat throughout their body may be limited, especially in puppies and older dogs, because in the latter case, thermoregulation decreases with age. This makes them more susceptible to feeling cold, even in moderate temperatures,” Alonso says.
How do we know that a dog is cold?
One of the best ways to know if a dog needs a shelter is to observe it. Although they usually shake like us, it is a less reliable sign, because they also do it when they feel anxious. Instead of focusing on this alone, it is important to recognize other signs. This is according to Alonso:
- Boring or withdrawn behavior, with less desire to walk, run, or play.
- Paws are cold to the touch on very cold days. In the extremities there is not a great deal of central blood supply and, therefore, they are the parts that are most difficult to regulate. Hence, if your dog is cold and has difficulty regulating his body temperature, these parts may feel colder than usual.
- Constant search for shelter or intention to return home quickly. If your dog is cold, he will likely not want to go outside and will spend more time in a corner of the house, resting or sleeping, to regulate his body temperature.
“If your dog exhibits many of these behaviors during the winter, it is likely that he is suffering from a cold and warm clothing can improve his health outside,” Alonso explains.
How to choose warm clothes for our dog
If we are dog owners, we have surely seen that we have all kinds of winter clothes at our disposal. Because what was once considered a more fashionable accessory now serves several purposes and, as we have seen, can be essential for certain breeds of dogs or for those with health problems. What should we look for when purchasing one of these accessories?
As Alonso explains to us, “The clothing must, above all, be practical, comfortable and adaptable to the dog’s activity. The materials must provide insulation without adding excess weight and allow freedom of movement in the neck, limbs and torso.”
On the other hand, there are certain aspects that we should avoid, such as “bulky accessories, hoods, extra pockets or decorative elements that could disturb the animal, get stuck while walking or make interaction with other dogs difficult,” warns the specialist, who also points out that it is very important “not to cover the ears or the tail because they are two essential areas of the dogs’ body language. If we cover them we can interfere with their ability to communicate properly with other dogs or even cause stress.”
Alonso explains that in the event of a rainy day, you must make sure that the garment “does not accumulate moisture, because this may increase the thermal sensation of cold.”