HUMANIMAL

Do Dogs Need Coats and Shoes in Cold Weather?

By Joy Pape, FNP-C, CDCES and Nicole Cerniello, DVM

During my walk in this cold weather, someone stopped me and asked, “Do you think dogs need to wear coats in the winter? And, what about shoes?” So, I reached out to Dr. Cerniello and asked her. But before we get to our furry friends, it made me ask, “What do we humans need?”

HUMANS

We often want to put on the warmest coat possible as soon as we feel the chill. Yet, as we will learn, the way to dress in cold weather is to wear layers.

On November, 17, 2023, PBS North Carolina published an article written by Frank Graff, entitled “The Science of Staying Warm in Winter.” He interviewed Emiel DenHartog, Ph.D., professor of clothing biophysics, personal protection and textile testing at the Wilson College of Textiles at NC State. Dr. DenHartog said, “The key is understanding how to balance the heat exchange between our bodies and the cold air outside.”

In the PBS article, DenHartog spoke of “acclimatization,” which means the period of time it takes to get used to the temperature change. The recommendation for winter is to wear layers. A warm coat may keep you warm but when you start moving around, the layers of warm air move and there are uneven places of warmth and cold happening even inside your coat. Layering is important for more even heat.

Here are tips from Graff’s interview.

• The layer closest to your skin should trap warm air against your body. It should be a wicking type of fabric, especially if you are going to be doing any kind of physical activity; otherwise sweat will be trapped against your skin.
• A mid-layer is all about warmth. A fleece or soft-shell jacket is a good choice because the goal is to build layers of warm air. Each person needs to adjust what they are wearing depending on their level of activity and comfort.
• The outer layer’s job is to protect you from the elements, so wear a coat that is windproof and rainproof.
• Top it all off by wearing a hat. It is NOT true that we lose more heat through our heads than our bodies, but there is still heat loss.
• Wear gloves. It’s not that you lose a lot of heat through your fingers but due to limited circulation, your fingers will get cold and uncomfortable.

PETS

Now, what about those pets? Dr. Cerniello explained, “Generally speaking, the short answer to ‘do dogs need jackets?’ is ‘not really.’ But this is dependent on several factors including breed, age and climate. NYC winters while cold are not extreme enough for a healthy, active dog to need a winter jacket. Average body fat will help keep them insulated and warm. Some breeds, like sighthounds (greyhounds, whippets, etc.) that have minimal body fat may benefit from an extra layer on the colder days. Older dogs with loss of muscle mass and body fat may also benefit from additional insulation. This can also go for small and young dogs who seem to lose body heat more quickly than larger breeds.”

As for booties, while not completely necessary, most dogs in NYC can benefit by wearing them because they provide protection from the salt and sand spread across our streets and sidewalks. Just be sure that booties are not left on for a prolonged period of time or are so tight they might cut off circulation to the paws.

We want to make sure we are not layering up our pets so much that they are overheating. Remember, dogs cannot sweat like humans to cool themselves!

Learn more at: aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/cold-weather-safety-tips