Many Pitbull owners prefer taking their dogs on walks at night because they believe that due to their dogs’ thick, muscular builds, they won’t be affected by the weather.
Pitbulls do experience nighttime cold because their bodies cannot withstand the low temperatures. They have short coats that are inadequate for protection, short legs that expose their undersides to cold surfaces, and short muzzles that make it challenging for them to warm the air they breathe.
Continue reading to learn (simply) why Pitbulls get cold easily, what determines how much of a chill they can handle, what happens if they get too cold, and how to keep them warm.
Can Pit Bulls Play In The Snow?
Try to prevent a Pit Bull from enjoying a snowball fight in the winter. Each and every Pit Bull I’ve ever met, especially my own, adores the snow. They are having a snowball fight, rolling around in it, and sticking their faces in huge piles of snow.
Your Pit Bull can enjoy playing in the snow as long as it is wearing a coat or sweater and the weather is not too cold. Watch for signs of cold paws, and shivering however. It’s time to go warm up when your Pit Bull starts to lift their feet off the ground or displays signs of fatigue.
When letting your Pit Bull play in the snow, use caution. Snow can have rough textures and ice chunks if you live in a city like mine where it melts, then freezes, then melts, then freezes again. In this, tripping or moving too quickly could result in injuries. Avoid areas with ponds and water that has thin ice and stay on the fluffy snow instead.
What Temperature Is Too Cold For A Pit Bull?
Your Pit Bull is starting to feel uncomfortable when it’s below 45° F/7°C. I would suggest that you need a coat at this time. Without a coat, a Pit Bull will be way too cold when it’s 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius) or lower.
My Pit Bull and I have an unspoken rule that when it’s too cold for me to be outside without a coat, it’s also too cold for her. I live in a cold winter climate, so once the temperature drops to 32° F/0°C, she wears a coat whether she’s going outside for a quick pee or a quick walk.
We only go outside to use the restroom during the bitterly cold days when temperatures can drop to -0° F/-17°C for several weeks here. These temperatures are too cold for a Pit Bull. Whether or not your Pit Bull is wearing a coat, this is where the risk of hypothermia and frostbite becomes a serious danger.
Keep your dog inside as much as you can. If you reside somewhere with such extreme winter temperatures, About the only thing you can do with your Pit Bull safely in this kind of weather are bathroom breaks.
What Are the Potential Health Risks of Cold Temperatures for Pitbulls?
Your Pitbull is at risk of developing some serious health issues if they are exposed to cold temperatures for an extended period of time.
So let’s examine these potential health risks in more detail:
The dog may experience a great deal of discomfort and pain as a result of their paws drying out and cracking due to exposure to cold temperatures.
Consequently, you must frequently check your dog’s paws for damage.
To calm the dog’s paws and lessen the severity of the damage, it’s also advised to use paw wax, Vaseline, or coconut oil on each of the dog’s paws.
When the temperature drops, dogs frequently contract the cold or flu, just like humans do.
Even though it’s not always a serious health issue, the dog may still find it difficult to deal with it.
Mild shivering, trembling, sniffling, sneezing, runny nose, warm ears, watery eyes, as well as a lack of energy and appetite are the first symptoms to appear.
If the dog is not treated, the symptoms will worsen, resulting in more breathing problems, a scratchy cough, and a fever.
Your dog must be given plenty of warm fluids and allowed to rest in order to treat the symptoms.
You must take your dog to a veterinarian if the symptoms worsen or continue to be present.
The blood vessels in certain areas of the dog’s body will constrict when exposed to freezing temperatures in order to maintain the body’s core temperature.
Frostbite is a condition that can result in painful blisters, swelling, and discoloration in the affected areas.
Applying heated pads to the affected area will help warm it up as much as possible if you notice that your dog has frostbite. After that, you must take your dog to a veterinarian to receive the required care.
When the dog’s body loses heat more quickly than it can produce, it experiences hypothermia.
The main cause of hypothermia is prolonged exposure to very cold temperatures after becoming wet.
The signs include extreme trembling, shivering, breathing issues, dilated pupils, cold skin, pale blue gums, low blood pressure, stiffened muscles, and an extreme lack of energy that results in a coma-like state.
One of the most hazardous medical conditions, it can be fatal if not treated in a timely manner. So, if your dog exhibits any hypothermia symptoms, you must warm it up as much as you can and get it to the veterinarian right away.
FAQ
Do pit bulls get cold easily?
Pitbulls of this breed are more susceptible to the cold because of their short coats. Due to their short coat, this breed finds it challenging to maintain a constant body temperature during the winter. Pitbulls can endure colder than 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
Is 52 degrees too cold for a pitbull?
50-60 degrees and higher are safe temperatures for your dog. Temperatures of 85 degrees or higher are a different animal altogether, but we’re only discussing cool to cold temperatures here. Generally speaking, temperatures around 45 degrees are acceptable, but you should still monitor your dog’s behavior in these conditions.
How do I keep my pitbull warm in the winter?
- Winter health check. …
- Move their bed and supply more bedding. …
- Don’t overfeed your Pitbull in winter. …
- Make sure their drinking water isn’t too cold. …
- Don’t go for walks when it’s too cold. …
- Use potty training pads indoors. …
- Always use a collar and chip.