Since we are under a Winter Weather Advisory, we thought you should know how to protect your pets during the cold weather. Read more here >

Dressing City Dogs for the Cold

By Lynn Pacifico

Editor’s Note: Lynn Pacifico submitted the information below in response to an article we published in our January edition.

I want to add a note of caution on whether or not dogs should wear coats in cold weather. Recently, when I was cold, despite wearing a jacket with two layers of wool underneath, I noticed a few dogs who were also shivering. People think that because dogs have fur, they will automatically be warm while outside. and while that is true for dogs who live outside, our pampered indoor pets are acclimated to warm NYC apartment living, spending most of their time indoors. If it is chilly out for humans, unless a dog has thick fur and is used to spending time outdoors in the cold, it is chilly outside for dogs too.

Dog activist and innovator, Robin Kovary, who the run for small dogs in Washington Square Park is named after and who won the Washington Square Park run for all sized dogs and who innovated hospital dog therapy programs, once told me that when we put on a jacket, we should also put a jacket on our dog. While this is true for dogs with short thin coats like pit bulls, this is especially true for small, young, elderly and frail dogs.

Fur, fat and muscle help keep a dog’s vital organs from freezing as hypothermia can be fatal. Dogs that are not well insulated, especially small, young, elderly or frail dogs, have very little flesh protecting their vital organs and have more difficulty retaining body heat. They get thoroughly cold quickly and need to be dressed warmly in cold weather.

For my dogs, I like a wool sweater with a belly covering warm waterproof windbreaker over it. I keep two sets as the coats get wet and having a second set of clothing allows the wet pieces to dry in between uses and I do not need to put wet clothing on my dog in the cold New York winter. In very cold and/or windy weather, if you cannot keep your vulnerable dogs inside (pad trained), dress them warmly and only keep them outdoors for very short times.

For a normal healthy dog, frostbite can occur in as little as 15 minutes. If while out your dog begins acting sluggish, confused, or begins hard shivering, get to warmth right away and call your vet. Also call your vet if there is blistering, red, or swollen skin, or if your dog doesn’t warm up after being indoors.

When there is a lot of salt on the ground, I rinse my dogs’ feet in slightly warm water after coming in and then dry their feet with a towel. My dogs don’t like this at first but they get used to it or they must wear booties.

Depending on how cold it is and the windchill factor, particularly along the river and especially on the Gansevoort Peninsula, which extends out into the water and has an especially cold damp wind, exposure can be dangerous. If you are dressing warmly, think about your pooch and dress them warmly too.

Lynn Pacifico, a fourth generation Villager, is a parks activist who loves dogs, nature and New York City.e

Nicole Cerniello Tresnan, DVM, Medical Director at Greenwich Village Animal Hospital also weighs in…

It is always important to consider our pets’ well-being, especially in times of extreme heat or cold. Generally speaking, if your dog is young and healthy with an appropriate body condition score, they will be safe outside for a short walk and to eliminate before coming back inside in the cold.
With very young puppies or older dogs with less body fat, it can be necessary to have a jacket on them when outside. This is also generally true for smaller dogs since they have a larger body surface area and lose body heater more quickly. Coats can also be beneficial to our hairless breeds like Chinese crested dogs for example or very lean breeds like Greyhounds.
It is also important to keep in mind that some dogs may become stressed by a jacket and we must take their wellbeing into consideration. If the jacket is going to stress them to the point of being unable to go for a walk, it can outweigh the benefits unless we are in extreme conditions. We should also keep in mind that we do not want our pets to overheat if they are in too many layers, especially brachycephalic breeds such as French bulldogs who are at increased risk of overheating.
The length of time in which frostbite will occur is quite variable and dependent on a variety of factors. Naturally occuring frostbite bite in dogs is quite uncommon, the vasculature in their extremities allows them to maintain heat very well. Dogs that are most at risk for frostbite are dogs that are outside for prolonged periods of time such as sled dogs and dogs housed outside. It is worth noting booties that are too tight can predispose sled dogs to frostbite.
As always, if you have any question on how to care for your pet, it is best to reach out to your veterinarian to understand their unique needs.