05/01/2025
Thank you Melissa Miller for reminding us of this super important information.
Brrrrr….
*Real Feel Temperature* of 4 degrees!
Our amazing Animal Care Technicians just helped one of our foster dogs with a hypothermia emergency that could honestly happen to any new dog guardian.
When temps are below 25, the wind chill can easily drop into the single digits. Foster Dog had a couple of “potty walks” throughout the morning, and then I got a call saying Foster Dog was lethargic and difficult to rouse.
Foster Dog’s thirty minute adventures outside throughout the day progressively lowered her temperature to hypothermic levels. Once at the shelter, ACTs got Foster Dog toasty warm (slowly) and have been monitoring her at the shelter, so far recovering well.
This is a gentle reminder that in these temps:
🐶 A “potty walk” is 5 minutes.
❄️ Pay attention to nose, toes, ears
🌬️ Wind chill is a big deal
🌾 Dog houses MUST have ample straw bedding
🥰 Make sure pooch is warmed up between trips outside, use sweaters and coats for smooth coat dogs
——————
“But I have a Great Pyr, Husky, Giant MuppetDoodle of Chaos! They are made for these temperatures!”
Sorry, everyone. In single digits, any dog breed can get frostbite on nose, toes, and ears pretty quickly. The difference with how these breeds are acclimated to cold weather 100 years ago is very different, and we don’t have enough snow right now in our area of Michigan for them to “pack in” and insulate themselves from the wind or share body heat.
They may look ok, but just like the little kid with blue lips shivering and saying they don’t want to get out of the pool, we have to be the grown ups and bring their fluffy butts inside and out of the elements.
Stay Safe and Warm!
Director Melissa A. Miller, CBCC-KA
(Our Animal Care Technicians are not veterinary professionals, but are highly trained in animal first aid!)
