How cold is too cold to walk a golden retriever?

Question

It is -15 where I live, if I bundle up will it be ok for my dog.

Answer 1

Normally, if you go out so can your dogs. However you should consider this: You more than likely, have on 2-3 socks and all weather boots, you dog has nothing. Please be aware of frostbit and hypothermia.
The parts of the body most likely to freeze are the ears, and sometimes the tail and feet.Initially, areas damaged by frostbite appear normal. Within 48 hours, though, the damaged tissue will swell and become painful. Within 7 days, due to interruption of the blood flow and nerve supply, the affected tissue dries up and turns black, eventually falling off twenty to thirty days later.If frostbite is suspected, it is best to rapidly thaw the frozen tissues with warm (103-105° F) water. Do NOT rub the area. In the meantime, contact your veterinarian. The amount of tissue damage will need to be assessed over a several day period. Dead tissue must be removed. Pain relief medication and antibiotics are usually prescribed.
Hypothermia is a condition in which the body temperature becomes too low for normal functioning. It is more common in animals who are short-haired, small, wet, or have no shelter during periods of cold temperatures.Animals with hypothermia often have violent shivering, and slow and shallow respiration. If they are not warmed, they will become listless and eventually will be unresponsive and may die.If the body temperature becomes too low, dogs and cats will not be able to return their body to normal temperature without treatment. Injuries to tissues because of a decrease in the flow of oxygenated blood can occur. The extent of the injuries varies with the body temperature and duration of hypothermia. Hypothermia can be fatal.Hypothermic animals should be warmed slowly. There are several ways to do this:
(a)The animal can be placed in a warm room and wrapped in warm blankets (run dry blankets or towels through the clothes dryer for a few minutes to warm them)
(b) Bottles filled with warm water can be wrapped in a towel and placed next to the animal (plastic soda bottles work well) in the armpit and groin areas where there is less hair. Do NOT pl
ace hot water bottles directly in contact with the animal's body since burns could occur even if the bottles do not seem that hot to you.
(c) Hair dryers can be helpful, especially if the animal is wet as well as hypothermic.
(d) Warm water baths can be used for animals mildly hypothermic who will not have to be transported - taking a wet animal back out into the cold to go to the veterinarian will only make matters worse.
As they recover and move about, young animals, especially, may benefit from some honey or sugar dissolved in water (2 tablespoons to a cup of warm water).
While warming the animal, contact your veterinarian who can assess what other treatments may be necessary. Animals who are severely hypothermic may need additional care including intravenous fluids, oxygen, or warm fluids administered into the stomach, colon, or abdominal cavity as a way to warm the body core. Animals may experience pain as the tissues warm, and bite at the painful areas. Use care, since animals in pain may inadvertently bite people as well.

Answer 2

I wouldn't be out for too long, but you should be okay as long as your dog has a healthy winter coat (dog fur that is). I have a chow chow who absolutely hates to come in the house this time of year and would freeze before she made the decision to come in first. Instead, we have to put time limits on how long she is out when the temperature drops below freezing. If your dog is used to long walks, maybe you could break the walk into two different times to give him/her a chance to warm up in between.

Have fun out in the cold!

Answer 3

you bundle up and get boots for your dog, buy them at petsmart this will protect his feet form the cold, don't walk him to long maybe 20 mintues

Answer 4

If you think it is too cold to go out for a walk yourself then it is too cold for your dog

Answer 5

it's more if you can handle it. the dog will enjoy a walk no matter the weather. as long as your dog is healthy enough to handle it. if your dog is ill in any way maybe not. but other than that no, go walk your dog.

Answer 6

You should be all right, but make sure to go somewhere warm as soon as doggie's business is done!

Answer 7

If you can tolerate it, the dog can too.