How much heat is too much for your poodle? It might seem like a silly question, but it’s important to know when you’re out walking in the winter. If it’s just above freezing outside, then frostbite can occur on your dog’s paws and ears after 30 minutes of exposure.
And if temperatures are below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, their skin will freeze for 20 minutes before they start showing any signs of discomfort. But how do you know what temperature your pup feels comfortable in? This post will tell you how to gauge that.
1. What is the ideal temperature for your poodle to be comfortable?
According to the American Kennel Club, your poodle’s normal body temperature should be between 101 and 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit when they’re resting comfortably in an air-conditioned room. So when it’s hotter than that outside, you need to take precautions before letting them go out.
2. How can you tell if your poodle is too warm?
You can tell if your poodle is too hot by how they act. If they’re panting heavily, they probably are suffering from heatstroke. Other signs might include very bright red skin, excessive thirst, lethargy, vomiting, and diarrhea.
However, just because they’re not suffering from heatstroke doesn’t mean they’re not too hot. They could need more exercise, so keep that in mind when you go out with them in the summer.
3. What are some ways to cool down your poodle?
There are two methods for cooling down your dog when they’re too warm: wetting them down with cold water or placing an ice pack under their armpits.
If your poodle is not suffering from heatstroke, you should wet them down with cool water and take them inside right away.
You can soak a towel or shirt and wrap it around them until they stop panting. If they continue to pant after the cold compress has been removed, then you should call your vet.
If your poodle is suffering from heatstroke, however, you can wet them with cold water and then immediately pack their armpits and groin region with ice.
This will slow down their heart rate and lessen the flow of blood to their skin so they don’t overheat as much. Then you need to take them straight to the vet.
4. What are some ways to keep your poodle from getting too cold?
If temperatures usually stay above freezing year-round where you live, then there shouldn’t be a problem as long as you’re out with them for less than 20 minutes at a time before going inside and warming up.
But during the winter, there’s always a chance that the temperature could drop below freezing, which is when you need to take precautions.
You can keep your poodle warm by putting a sweater on them, taking them out in short intervals, or dressing them up in doggy winter gear like an insulated coat and booties.
If it’s too cold for you outside, then it’s probably too cold for them, so keep that in mind when walking your dog.
In case of emergency, call your vet immediately if any of the following symptoms occur:
- Fast breathing or panting.
- Drooling.
- Vomiting more than once.
- Diarrhea more than once.
- Coma or seizures caused by heatstroke.
- Any changes to gums or color of the tongue, ear flaps, or lips.
- Stiffness in legs or collapses during their walk.
- Weak pulse that fails to return after being pressed down for 10 seconds.
5. Tips and tricks on how to keep them cool in summer and warm in winter:
The following are some tips and tricks on how to keep them cool during the summer and warm during the winter:
- Put a sweater or coat on your poodle.
- Put an ice pack under their armpits.
- Take short walks with them in intervals so they can rest before continuing on.
- Don’t take them out unless necessary because over-exposure to the heat or cold can lead to fatal conditions.
- Keep them indoors as much as possible if temperatures drop below freezing and they don’t have a coat on.
- Don’t take your poodle out unless necessary<span style=”font-family: Arial, serif;”> because over-exposure to extreme temperatures first leads to discomfort then leads to death.
- Keep them indoors as much as possible during winter and summer if temperatures drop or go above the safety zone.
- Taking your poodle out in extreme weather conditions only forces them to adjust to a condition that’s not fit for their body structure. In doing so, you put them at risk of discomfort and death.
6. The dangers of heatstroke, hypothermia, frostbite, and dehydration:
Heatstroke is the most dangerous condition that can affect your poodle. When their body temperature rises and they stop sweating, it causes their cells to overheat and die.
If not treated immediately, this can cause brain damage and even death.
There are some ways to avoid heatstroke: keep them indoors during hot weather or when temperatures reach unsafe levels; always walk them on the coolest path (usually grass or dirt); never leave them in a closed car, even for just 5 minutes; keep their fur trimmed short to allow sweat out of the coat.
Hypothermia is another condition that affects poodles with thick coats. When there’s too much heat loss through their skin and they stop having enough body heat, it can cause their temperature to drop below 98 degrees.
Frostbite is where the skin and tissues freeze in extreme cold conditions and thaws when they warm up. This is one of the most common conditions for poodles with long coats during the winter because they don’t have adequate protection from the cold.
Dehydration is another common problem that affects poodles. It happens when they don’t drink enough water and their cells dry out, which can cause kidney problems and more.
If your poodle has any of the following symptoms: trouble breathing, seizures, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, or changes in behavior, you should take them to your vet immediately because it could be a sign of heat stroke, hypothermia, frostbite, or dehydration.
Conclusion:
Your poodle may be too hot, cold, or in danger of a heatstroke. Above mentioned are some tips and tricks you can use to keep your pup from getting too warm or too cold this winter and summer!
Comment below if you have any questions about how to keep your poodle comfortable during the cooler months.
