How to Tell if Your Dog Is Cold (and What to Do About It)

How to tell if your dog is cold: watch the whole dog, not one body part. Shivering, a hunched back, a tucked tail, lifting paws off the ground, curling into a tight ball and refusing to keep walking are the classic signs. If your dog becomes drowsy, clumsy or confused, has pale gums, or stops shivering while still cold, that points to hypothermia, which is an emergency for your vet.

What is a normal temperature for a dog?

Dogs run warmer than we do. The MSD Veterinary Manual gives a normal rectal temperature range for dogs of 37.5–39.2°C (99.5–102.6°F) (99.5–102.5°F).¹ VCA Animal Hospitals uses a very similar range and advises calling your vet if your dog's temperature drops below 37.2°C (99°F) or climbs above 40°C (104°F), treating both as emergencies.²

A dog can feel cool to your hand and be perfectly fine inside. Touch is a rough guide; a thermometer is the real answer.

How to take your dog's temperature safely

VCA's advice for a rectal reading is straightforward:²

• Use a digital thermometer. Skip old glass ones, which can break. An ordinary digital thermometer for people works.
• Lubricate the tip with petroleum jelly.
• Lie your dog on their side if you can. A standing dog may sit straight down on the thermometer.
• Insert gently until the metal tip is just inside, and hold it steady.
• Never force it. If your dog clamps down, stop.
• Wait for the beep, then wipe and read.

Digital ear thermometers are an option too, but VCA notes they are less precise, and readings from an infected ear are slightly off.² If your dog won't allow a reading, don't wrestle them. Ring your vet.

Signs your dog is cold, from mild to severe

Most dogs tell you they're chilly long before it becomes dangerous. PetMD's vet-written winter guide lists shivering or trembling, holding feet up, whining, a hunched posture with the belly tucked up, a tucked tail, refusing to walk, and changes such as being less active or seeming dazed.³ The RSPCA adds that some dogs eat or sleep more in winter to conserve energy, while others get a burst of energy to warm up.⁴ Blue Cross says a dog that keeps lifting their paws, whining or stopping on a walk may have cold feet.⁵

Curling up is a big one. The American Kennel Club describes shivering and curling up for warmth as some of the first signs of mild hypothermia,⁶ and RSPCA Australia says a greyhound curled in a tight ball is telling you it's feeling the cold.⁷

Here is how those signs stack up as a dog gets colder.

Stage	What you might see	What to do
Feeling the chill	Shivering or trembling, hunched back, tucked tail, curling into a ball, seeking warm spots or your lap3,6	Head inside or move somewhere warmer. Add a blanket or a layer.
Too cold on a walk	Lifting paws, whining, stopping, refusing to keep walking, slowing right down3,5	Cut the walk short, get home, dry them off, check paws.
Possible hypothermia (urgent)	Lethargy or sluggishness, muscle stiffness, clumsiness, drowsiness or confusion, pale gums4,8,10	Warm gradually (see first aid below) and call your vet now.
Severe hypothermia (emergency)	Shivering stops while still cold, slow pulse, shallow breathing, collapse or unconsciousness8,9,10	Wrap in blankets and go straight to the nearest vet.

One point surprises a lot of owners: a dog that stops shivering is not necessarily warming up. PDSA and the RSPCA both warn that a severely cold pet may stop shivering altogether,^4,8 and the MSD Veterinary Manual says plainly that shivering is not a reliable sign of hypothermia.⁹

The AKC classes mild hypothermia as a core temperature of about 32–37°C (90–99°F) and severe as below about 28°C (82°F).⁶ For owners, the simple rule is that any reading under 37.2°C (99°F) means calling the vet.²

Are cold ears or cold paws a sign your dog is cold?

Honest answer: sometimes, but not on their own.

Dogs' paws are built for cold ground. A study of canine footpad blood vessels found veins wrapped around the arteries that supply the pad, an arrangement the researchers describe as a counter-current heat exchanger that limits heat loss in cold conditions.¹¹ So a cool paw after a winter walk can be completely normal. Ears are thin and far from the body's core, so they cool quickly too.

That said, cool ears, legs and paws do appear among the early signs of hypothermia when they come with other signs such as shivering, stiffness and lethargy.¹⁰ And the extremities are exactly where frostbite strikes. VCA lists the paws, ears and tail as most affected, with skin that looks pale, grey or bluish, feels cold and stiff, or hurts to touch.¹²

So treat ears and paws as one clue. In a bright, comfortable dog, cool ears are rarely a worry. Skin that changes colour, swells, blisters or hurts needs a vet.

Dog shivering? It isn't always the cold

Shivering is a signal, not a diagnosis. The AKC lists plenty of other causes:¹³

• Fear, stress or anxiety, such as after a vet visit or around strangers
• Excitement, which usually stops once the exciting thing arrives
• Pain or nausea
• Poisoning, for example chocolate, xylitol or cigarette butts
• Low blood sugar, especially in toy breeds and young puppies
• Older age, with weaker temperature control and leg tremors as muscle is lost
• Illness, including distemper, generalised tremor syndrome and seizures

A useful test: does the shaking stop once your dog is warm, dry and settled? If it does, the cold was probably the cause. If your dog is shaking indoors in a comfortable room, or the trembling comes with vomiting, weakness, wobbliness or anything unusual, book a vet visit. If you suspect they ate something toxic or might be having a seizure, call your vet straight away.¹³

Is my dog cold at night?

Dogs are still at night and the house cools down, so this is when many feel the chill. Signs to look for:

• Curling into a tight ball, nose tucked under tail⁷
• Shivering in bed, or getting up and resettling over and over
• Seeking out warm spots, such as your bed, the couch or a heater
• Sleeping more than usual during the day to conserve energy⁴

How to keep your dog warm at night

Get the bed off the floor and out of draughts. VCA recommends a cosy bed with a blanket, off the floor and away from drafts.¹⁴ PDSA also stresses a warm, draught-free spot indoors.⁸

Add bedding. Blue Cross suggests moving the bed to a warmer area and giving extra bedding, especially at night.⁵

Keep the room comfortable. The RSPCA advises keeping indoor temperatures above 10°C (50°F), with dogs that are more sensitive to cold struggling below that.⁴

Dry them before bed. A damp coat at bedtime makes for a cold dog. The RSPCA recommends drying a wet dog fully before they sleep.⁴

Bring outdoor dogs in. RSPCA Australia recommends letting dogs sleep inside where possible. Any kennel should be warm, dry, draught-free and off the ground.¹⁵ (More whole-home ideas in our guide to keeping your pet comfortable in winter.)

Consider a light layer for thin-coated dogs. Blue Cross notes some dogs benefit from wearing a jumper indoors in colder weather.⁵ For short-coated breeds like Frenchies, Staffies, Whippets and Pugs, a pair of soft dog pyjamas can take the edge off a cool night. We go into the pros and cons in do dogs need pyjamas?

A quick reality check: cotton pyjamas are a light layer. They won't keep a dog warm outdoors in freezing weather, and they're no substitute for a proper insulated coat or a warm house. If your dog needs real warmth on walks, our guide to at what temperature a dog needs a coat walks through the numbers.

What to do if your dog is too cold: first aid

A mildly chilly dog usually just needs to be inside, dry and wrapped up. If you see any urgent signs from the table, follow these steps and ring your vet on the way.

1. Get them somewhere warm and dry. Inside, or into a heated car.^10,12
2. Dry a wet dog with towels first.^8,9
3. Wrap them in blankets, underneath as well as on top.⁸ PetMD suggests warming the blankets first, for example in a clothes dryer.¹⁰
4. Use warm (not hot) water bottles wrapped in a towel or a couple of layers of fabric, placed beside the body rather than against bare skin.^4,9,10
5. Raise the room temperature gradually. Think warm, not hot.^8,10
6. Offer lukewarm water only if your dog is awake and able to drink.⁸
7. Keep handling and movement to a minimum while they warm up.⁶
8. Go to the vet. PDSA advises a vet check even if your pet seems to recover, in case of longer-term damage.⁸

What not to do

• Don't use a heating pad or hair dryer directly on your dog. VCA warns against direct dry heat such as heating pads and hair dryers,¹² and PetMD says heating pads give off enough heat to cause burns.¹⁰
• Don't warm them too fast or put anything hot against their skin.^4,8
• Don't rub frostbitten areas, and don't apply snow or very hot water.^9,12
• Don't give human pain relief. Many human medicines are toxic to dogs.¹²

Frostbite: an emergency of its own

Frostbite usually shows on the paws, ear tips and tail as pale, grey or bluish skin, swelling, blisters or licking at a spot, and signs can take days to appear. Treat hypothermia first, don't rub, and get to a vet promptly.¹²

Which dogs feel the cold the most?

The RSPCA says that once temperatures reach freezing, all dogs are at risk of hypothermia and frostbite, especially small, slim, young and old dogs and those with little or no fur.⁴ Higher-risk dogs include:

• Small and toy breeds, which lose heat fast⁶
• Puppies, whose temperature control isn't fully developed, and seniors, who often have less muscle^3,4
• Short or thin coats, such as Greyhounds, Whippets, Chihuahuas and Staffies^3,5,8
• Lean dogs. RSPCA Australia notes greyhounds have very little body fat and are prone to cold stress⁷
• Dogs with arthritis, heart conditions, kidney disease or diabetes, or any dog that is unwell^4,10
• Flat-faced (brachycephalic) dogs, which the RSPCA lists among higher-risk groups⁴
• Wet dogs. A damp coat loses its insulation fast^8,14

Own a Frenchie? Their short coat and flat face put them on two of those lists, so we wrote a whole guide: can French Bulldogs handle cold weather?

FAQs

How can I tell if my dog is cold without a thermometer?

Watch their body language: shivering, hunching, a tucked tail, lifted paws, curling up and reluctance to walk all suggest they're chilly.³ If they also seem drowsy, wobbly or confused, or their gums look pale, call your vet.⁸

Is it normal for my dog's ears to feel cold?

Often, yes. Ears are thin and lose heat quickly, so cool ears in a cool room are common in a dog that is otherwise bright and comfortable. Worry if the skin looks pale, grey or blue, feels hard, or is painful, as these can be signs of frostbite.¹²

Why is my dog shivering when it isn't cold?

Fear, excitement, pain, nausea, low blood sugar, ageing, poisoning and some illnesses can all cause shaking.¹³ If the shivering doesn't settle once your dog is warm and calm, or comes with other symptoms, book a vet visit.

What room temperature is too cold for a dog at night?

The RSPCA suggests keeping indoor temperatures above 10°C (50°F), as more vulnerable dogs may start to struggle below that.⁴ Many thin-coated, small or older dogs will want extra bedding well above that figure, so watch your own dog's signals.

Should I put a blanket on my dog at night?

Yes, Blue Cross recommends extra bedding at night for dogs that seem cold.⁵ Leave it loose so your dog can burrow in or move away if they get too warm.

When is a cold dog an emergency?

Go to a vet if your dog is drowsy, confused, clumsy or collapsing, has pale gums, a slow pulse or shallow breathing, or stops shivering while still cold.^8,9 A rectal temperature under 37.2°C (99°F) also warrants an urgent call.² Suspected frostbite needs a vet too.¹²

References

1. MSD Veterinary Manual. Normal Rectal Temperature Ranges
2. VCA Animal Hospitals. Taking Your Pet's Temperature
3. PetMD (Mitchell SC, DVM). How To Keep a Dog Warm in the Winter
4. RSPCA (UK). How to help dogs in cold weather
5. Blue Cross. Advice for Dogs and Puppies in Winter
6. American Kennel Club. Hypothermia in Dogs: How Cold Is Too Cold?
7. RSPCA Australia Knowledgebase. What should I know about owning a greyhound?
8. PDSA. Hypothermia in Pets
9. MSD Veterinary Manual. What to Do in a Dog or Cat Emergency
10. PetMD (Coates J, DVM). Hypothermia in Dogs: Signs and Treatment
11. Ninomiya H, et al. (2011). Functional anatomy of the footpad vasculature of dogs: scanning electron microscopy of vascular corrosion casts. Veterinary Dermatology 22(6): 475–481.
12. VCA Animal Hospitals. Frostbite in Dogs
13. American Kennel Club. Why Is My Dog Shaking? Causes & Solutions
14. VCA Animal Hospitals. Dog Winter Safety Tips
15. RSPCA Australia Knowledgebase. Can you give me some advice on caring for my dog?