As a rule of thumb, if you are comfortable with the temperature in your home, your pet likely is, too. As a benchmark, most dogs (and cats!) do very well with the home between 75 and 78 degrees during the summer months. However, several variables could influence the right temperature for your pet.
The optimum temperature for the well-being of pets is between 21 and 26 degrees Celsius, both in winter and summer.
While broad generalizations are difficult, cold should not become a problem for most dogs until the temperature falls below 45 F, at which point some cold-averse dogs might begin to feel uncomfortable.
Small pets cannot retain heat in their body due to a higher surface area to volume ratio. Large animals, on the other hand, can easily retain heat. Keeping this factor in view, if your dog is from the smaller breed sizes, you know it can quickly get cold as compared to larger breeds!
Common Signs Your Dog / Pet Is Feeling the Cold
Your pet may be shivering, trembling or cuddling into warm spaces. Dogs and cats may curl up on your bed, lounge or near the heater as they seek warmth. Pets will also start to avoid lying on cold tiles and will choose to rest in places with warm flooring or carpet.
Use caution when the temperature drops below 45 degrees Fahrenheit (around 7 degrees Celsius). It's potentially unsafe for little-or-medium-sized dogs with thin coats to be outside, but big dogs with heavier coats are probably OK.
As a general rule of thumb: at 45°F (7°C) and below, most dogs will dogs will start to become uncomfortable. at 32°F (0°C) and below, small, thin-coated, young, old and sick dogs should not be left outside for long. at 20°F (-7°C) and below, dogs become vulnerable to hypothermia and frostbite.
5 degrees Celsius: at this temperature, “cold averse” dogs may start to struggle. So, if your dog is particularly small, has a thin coat or spends most of their life snuggled up in a blanket, it may be time to give dog coats a go, reduce the length of your works, or even give the walks a miss.
At 10 degrees, you need to keep an eye on them as it can be potentially unsafe depending on their age, general health, and breed. Seven degrees indicates that there is certainly potential danger, and at four degrees the temperature is potentially life-threatening.
Small and medium breeds with thinner coats will struggle in -4°C conditions. Bigger dog breeds with thicker coats can withstand temperatures of -6°C. At -7°C dogs are at a risk of developing hypothermia and frostbite and going in these conditions is not recommended for most breeds.
It can be potentially unsafe for dogs to sleep in conditions where the temperature is 10 degrees or less, with determining factors such as their age, size, breed and general wellbeing. Temperatures of between 12-15 degrees are generally fine for most dogs to sleep in comfortably.
If the tips of your pet's ears are warm, they're probably warm enough all over – the extremities tend to get cold first. Animals which are smaller, leaner, or animals with shorter coats will feel the cold much more acutely.
Most healthy medium or large dogs can walk for 30-minutes if the temperature is above 20 degrees F. Smaller dogs should limit the walk to 15 or 20 minutes if temps are between 20 to 32 degrees F. If it's below 0 degrees, no dog should be out for a walk.
"Under 30 degrees, factoring in the wind chill, it's not going to be safe for any dog to be outside for an extended period of time," Smyth says." You can buy yourself a little bit of time with warm weather clothing," such as dog sweaters and booties to cover their paws.
When the temperature dips between 0 and -10 Celsius (32-14 degrees Fahrenheit), then your dog is more than likely going to need a little extra protection, but with the right gear, these temperatures shouldn't affect your dog's regular outdoor activities. The real risks come when the temp drops below 10 below C.
At 10 degrees or colder, the guidelines are cut in half. In 10-degree weather a large dog can be outside for five minutes, medium dogs for two to three minutes and any smaller than that “carry them outside, let them go to the bathroom, and bring them right back in,” said Malinich.
In Vets Now's assessment of temperatures for walking your dog, they state that between 20 and 23 degrees has a six out of 10 risk rating and that rigorous exercise in this heat could lead to heatstroke. An eight out of ten rating is given for 24-27 degrees celsius and they advise that extreme caution must be taken.
Yes, they do need blankets. Some dogs' skins are not thick enough to withstand the cold for a long time, and for some, their fur is not enough to provide the much-needed warmth. Besides warmth, blankets give your dog a sense of security and more comfort.
Even if your dog has a thick, heavy coat, they might still feel chilly in the winter. Pets are just as likely to get frostbite (frozen skin and tissue) and hypothermia (low body temperature) as their owners. But it's easy to protect your pooch from the cold.
During winter, dogs paws are especially vulnerable.
Just like us, dogs are sensitive to cold.
Conclusion. Dogs love warmth and heat, and in the winter months, they are often much colder than we are. They will want to get as close to your supplemental heating as they can despite the dangers they are unwittingly courting.
But there's no need to leave every single light in your home on just for your dog. In fact, darkness at the right time can be good for dogs. According to the Sleep Foundation, dogs, like humans, have circadian rhythms that are influenced by light. It's easier for them to sleep if it's dark, or at least dim.
50-60 degrees and higher are safe temperatures for your dog. 85+ degree temperatures are a different beast in itself, but we're just talking about cool to cold temperatures here. 45 degrees or so are generally acceptable, but you'll still want to keep an eye on how your dog is handling itself in these temperatures.
As a general rule, walking your dog at any temperature below 20C is ideal. Anything above 20C can cause your dog to become dehydrated and very hot very quickly. The hotter the temperature, the higher the risk to your dog.
While the normal body temperature in cats and dogs is 38.3 to 39.2°C (101.0 to 102.5°F).