Animals that are exposed to winter conditions can quickly experience a significant loss of body heat. When their body can no longer maintain a functioning temperature, a deadly medical condition called hypothermia occurs.

Veterinarians who alert their clients to recognize the symptoms of hypothermia and clients who are knowledgeable of the steps to begin the warming treatment may save an animal’s life.

• Older animals
• Animals with poor body condition
• Smaller animals such as a toy breed
• Animals with short coats
• Newborn or sick animals with low blood sugar may experience hypothermia even in warm temperatures

The three phases of hypothermia are determined by body temperature. In dogs:

• Mild hypothermia is a body temperature of 101.3 to 97.7 degrees Fahrenheit
• Moderate hypothermia is body temperature of 97.7 to 93.2 degrees Fahrenheit
• Severe hypothermia is body temperature under 93.2 degrees Fahrenheit

Dogs with temperatures below 95 degrees Fahrenheit need to be taken for emergency care as soon as possible.

• Low body temperature
• Weakness
• Violent shivering
• Lack of mental alertness
• Gums may appear pale or blue
• Slow and shallow respiration
• Muscle stiffness
• Lethargy
• Irregular heartbeat
• Difficulty breathing
• Weak pulse
• Fixed and dilated pupils
• Inaudible heartbeat
• Impaired consciousness
• Coma

• Contact your veterinarian immediately
• Bring animal into a warm building
• Take rectal body temperature
• Wrap in warm blankets, possibly warmed by a clothes dryer
• Apply warm water bottles that have been wrapped in towels, place in the groin or armpit area where there is less hair
• Apply heating pads, but be careful never to put a heating pad directly on a weak animal, wrap heating pad in towels first
• If the animal is wet, gently rub with towels to dry
• Warm with a hair dryer placed on low heat
• Heat Ziploc bags of uncooked rice in a microwave for 1 to 2 minutes, wrap bag in towel and place on animal
• Monitor body temperature every ten to fifteen minutes, and once temperature is normal, discontinue warming efforts

• Remember that the warming process must be done slowly.
• As the tissues begin to warm, the animal may experience discomfort and bite at the painful area, be careful not to be bitten.
• An animal that has experienced hypothermia should be checked out by a veterinarian as soon as it is possible.