I live in Montana, and the outside temperature has dropped considerably over the past few days due to the Arctic Blast we are currently experiencing. Tomorrow night’s ‘high’ is expected to be 0 degrees F.
I have a Jack Russell Terrier that loves to run around outside no matter how cold it is. We normally play fetch with a tennis ball 4-5 times a day… he has that much energy.
But when it gets below 10 degrees F, or is particularly windy, I keep him inside most of the time. Unlike the Siberian Husky or Malamute, the JRT wasn’t bred for extremely cold weather, although they are a fairly hearty bred from what I have read.
Is there a rule a thumb about how cold it can be outside before it becomes injurious to his health?
He likes the snow and I have never seen any problem with his pads. This breed is double coated, but since he’s only 17 lbs I’m worried about him losing his heat too quickly. I will be calling the vet later today to get their opinion, but usually vets say that the dog will let you know you when it’s too cold for them. I don’t trust my dog to tell me until he is in trouble. Any thoughts?
If he’s playing fetch or otherwise running around, I wouldn’t worry about it. Being active allows one to withstand cold temps pretty well. Also, I presume you and the dog aren’t outside for hours on end when it’s that cold. I’m not a vet, but I would bet you will get cold and want to go back inside before your dog does.
Now, if this were a question about keeping an outside dog outside, the very quick temperature drop you (and me, soon) are experiencing might be a problem for outside dogs, as they haven’t been able to acclimate to cold weather yet this year.
Beyond that the dog should be ok for a little bit of fun outside. Especially if he is being very active (he’ll be generating a lot of body heat). Usually dogs will let you know when they are cold or otherwise uncomfortable. You may also notice things like shivering.
Best to err on the side of safety but I’d think running around for 5-10 minutes would be fine if he’s bundled up properly and being active.
Like others, I wouldn’t worry about it given that he’s active and running around. As long as you’re moving, you tend to stay warm. Heck, half the time when I cross country ski, I’m too hot. Dogs are the same.
He will tell you when he’s cold. Dogs shiver the same as humans; they also suffer from cold feet, and balls of snow/ice can get between their pads. If he starts sitting down and not wanting to run, take him in. Otherwise, I think you’ll be getting cold long before he does.
The size of the canine in question could affect his rate of heat loss-a chihuahua will lose heat much more quickly than a St. Bernard will, for example.