Just because dogs and cats have fur doesn’t mean pets can withstand cold winter temperatures and nasty weather. Leaving your dog or cat out in the cold could have some serious health risks.
Exposure to extreme freezing temperatures for long periods of time can result in frostbite. Frostbite is damage or death to tissues in the extremities — tips of the ears, the tail, around the face, on the genitalia, and on the foot pads.
Frostbite comes on in stages:
- When a pet is exposed to cold temperatures, the airs stand on end to trap air near the body. The air is warmed by body heat and provides extra insulation against the cold. This is a similar reaction to a human getting goose bumps when he or she is cold.
- As the body’s core temperature starts to decrease, skeletal muscles shiver to generate heat and help warm you up. Both animals and humans shiver.
- As the body gets colder, the body starts to restrict blood flow to certain parts of the body. Blood flow to the extremities will be constricted to keep blood circulating around the organs in the body’s core — heart, liver, kidneys, and lungs.
- Frostbite can set in at this point. Tissues at the extremities will start to freeze.
Watch for the signs of frostbite in a pet that has been outdoors for too long. You may see ice on the limbs and body. The animal will probably be shivering. The skin may be bright red shading into grey where the blood flow is constricted. If the skin is black, the tissue may already have died.
If you suspect your pet has frostbite, you need to warm him up. Soak towels in warm water and apply to the affected area. A limb or paw can be soaked in a bowl of warm water. Gently dry the affected area after it as warmed up.
- Do NOT rub or massage frozen tissue.
- Do NOT apply snow or ice.
- Do NOT immerse your pet completely in a bath.
Your pet may be in discomfort or pain as the tissues are warmed. Wrap your pet in a blanket to help keep him warm and to prevent him from struggling and hurting you or himself.
Be sure to call your veterinarian. Frostbitten tissue can develop severe secondary infections.
More pet first aid information.
General pet care tips from Families.com!