How to Treat and Prevent Frost Bite on Dog Paws

Extreme cold is not just unpleasant; it can be dangerous too. Dog frostbite is easily preventable with the right gear and safety practices.

Learn how to protect your dog from frostbite on dog paws, ears, and other vulnerable extremities in freezing temperatures.

Are you wondering,  "Can dogs get frostbite on their paws?" Read on to find out more! 

Canadian winters can be pretty harsh with cold temperatures that can easily prove life-threatening, depending on which province you live in. This could mean you and your dog are dealing with some pretty frigid body temperature, not to mention the snow and ice that often come with it. 

Can dog's paws get frostbite? YES!  

Before we get into the tips and gear for preventing frostbite we'll learn what frostbite is and why it's so important that you take the proper precautions to prevent it. 

Frostbite on Dogs 

Frostbite can occur at any temperature below freezing, but the colder it is, the faster frostbite can set in and the more severe the damage will be.

When exposed to frigid temps, your dog's blood flow will slow as your dog's body tries to keep vital organs warm and maintain the core body temperature.. When the situation goes on for long periods, tissue damage occurs

Affected areas on your dog's body parts that are exposed to the wind and extreme temperatures, like ears, are going to be the first spots to succumb to frostbite in dogs. 

Every dog is different; some dogs have more natural protection from the cold than others, so the length of time and circumstances that cause frostbite can vary.

For exposed skin, frostbite can set in as quickly as 30 minutes, and the colder and windier it is, the sooner frostbite can take effect. 

How to Prevent Dog Frostbite

Frostbite is always better to prevent than treat, so ensure you take the proper precautions every time you take your dog out into extreme weather. 

Gear is important, and if you've never bought a dog coat before, dog boots and a snood might seem very silly, but they can save you a lot of trouble and keep your pet safe. Keep that in mind when prepping for your next winter walk.

Here are a few things you should consider having on hand to help keep your pet safe in extreme winter conditions:

• Check the weather to be prepared for cold, wind, and ice. Sometimes, walks can be rescheduled to accommodate storms. 

• Make sure you have the right gear. Dog coats, boots, scarves, or hats might be necessary for extreme weather conditions.

• Limit time outside to keep your dog warm. Keep your excursions to under 30 minutes. This might mean breaking up routines and exercise into multiple short bouts a day instead of one long one, like your dog may be used to. 

• Avoid water. In exposed to cold weather, lakes and ponds freeze over, but the ice isn't always solid. Being wet and cold increases your dog's body's chances of frostbite or hypothermia. 

• Don't stray too far from the shelter. At first signs of frostbite, you must be near enough to a warm, dry place, like your house or car. 

Dog Frostbite Signs

Whether or not your dog loves the cold, it's important to be able to recognize the signs of frostbite. No matter how routine or epic your dog's winter adventures are, it's up to you to make sure he's not in danger of frostbite.

How to prevent frostbite in dogs?

Look for some of the common signs of frostbite in dogs, and check your dog routinely throughout your winter walks and activities for any common signs of frostbite in dogs. The sooner you recognize the problem, the easier it will be to fix it. 

Dogs frostbite symptoms include:

• • Redness or extremely pale skin ulcers on affected areas
  • Swelling or blistering
  • Dog's pain medication or tenderness when touched
  • Lifting paws when walking
  • Reduced blood flow
  • Seeking heat or shelter from the cold
  • Weakness or mobility problems
  • Black or dying tissue
  • Reduced core body temperature
  • Curled or cracker nose or ear tips
  • Focused fur loss
  • Whining or barking

Stages of Frostbite

Frostbite in dogs has three stages: frostnip, superficial frostbite, and deep frostbite. Recognizing these stages helps you decide when to bring your dog indoors and how to treat the condition.

• • Frostnip: The mildest stage, frostnip, causes redness and discomfort in the skin. It's common after short outings in extreme weather conditions when the blood vessels start to constrict. These are considered mild cases.
  • Superficial Frostbite: More severe, superficial frostbite results in pale skin and ulcers. The skin may feel warm as damaged tissue attempts to heal. Swelling, blisters, and dead skin can appear within 12-36 hours after exposure to cold temperatures.
  • Deep Frostbite: Rare but dangerous, deep frostbite occurs from prolonged exposure to extreme cold or wetness. Skin turns grey or blueish, followed by large blisters and eventually blackened or dead skin indicating tissue death in severe cases.

Common Areas of Frostbite on Dogs

Below are the most commonly affected areas impacted by frostbite.

Frost Bite on Dog's Paws

• • Dog paw pads are susceptible to frostbite due to contact with snow and ice.
  • Dogs playing in snow might experience mild frostnip without clear signs.
  • Ice and snowballs on dogs paws could indicate mild frostbite on the affected skin.

Frostbite on Dog's Ears

• • Ears are vulnerable to severe cases of frostbite due to their thinness and restricted blood flow.
  • Dogs might not realize their ears are getting cold as they develop low body temperature in frostbitten areas.
  • Thin ears can develop extreme cases quickly, leading to dryness and curling.

Frostbite on Dog's Nose

• • The nose is less likely to get frostbite but can occur in extreme temperatures.
  • Hot breath can prevent frostbite in normal winter weather.
  • Extremely cold temperatures, like 40 below with windchill, can lead to icy noses and tissue necrosis if you don't keep your dog warm. Severe frostbite is extremely dangerous.

How to Treat Frostbite on Dogs

The first step when to treating frostbite at any stage is to call your vet. Your vet will examine the pup and may prescribe pain medication. You should never give your dog human pain relievers without consulting with your veterinarian.

Step 1: Bring Them Inside During Extreme Cold

You should immediately bring your dog to a warm place at the first signs of frostbite. Your house or car is ideal to help get the pet dry and slowly warm up affected tissues. You'll then want to embark on a treatment plan.

Step 2: Grab a Blanket

The next step is to start warming them up. This process needs to be done slowly, so start by grabbing a blanket or some dry towels and gently wrap your dog.

As they warm up, their body parts will start to dilate the small blood vessels in their extremities to warm the affected area naturally. 

Your body heat can also be helpful, so for smaller pets, you can hold them in your lap or cuddle up next to a bigger pooch to share warmth. 

Step 3: Warm Around Your Dog

Increase the ambient temperature of the room you are in. Hot water bottles or small space heaters set on low can be used to raise the temperature of the room very gradually. 

Use direct heat from a heating pad when treating frostbite.

Don't put the heaters or water bottles on your dog, though. This can warm the area quickly or even burn the already sensitive and damaged skin. 

You can even use a hair dryer set to low temperature to warm up your pup's paws and other affected body parts.

Step 4: Defrost the Affected Area

Once your dog has been stabilized and is safely warming, you can focus on the frostbitten areas of your dog.

You can use tepid or lukewarm water to stop further tissue damage to extremities that were most affected by the cold.

This means that it should be barely warm. Think about body temperature and how frost bite can reduce blood flow to the extremities.

Water compresses about 100 F will feel slightly warmer than your skin, so when you stick your finger in it, it should almost feel like nothing. This is ideal for mild cases.

This is especially helpful if you are dealing with a frostbitten paw that is covered in ice or snow and has reduced blood flow in the affected body area. This can loosen the debris quickly so that you can better see the extent of the frostbite damage.

You'll probably need to change the water after you've removed all the ice. 

Step 5: Protect the Affected Area

Once you've treated the area, it's common for your dog to want to lick or scratch it to try to soothe discomfort.

Although it's a normal dog instinct, their fussing with the wound can make it worse and lead to infection. 

Whenever possible, protect the area. This could mean putting a cone on your dog to remove access to the area.

If you have to, wrapping the wound is an option, but healing wounds need to breathe to heal, so it's not the ideal solution.

How you treat dog frostbite depends on the severity of the damage and the time since the frostbite started.

Immediate treatments involve warming your dog up to promote appropriate blood vessels to extremities, but if you are only catching the after-effects hours or days later, then your treatment methods will vary greatly. 

The first step when treating frostbite at any stage is to call your vet. Even mild cases can worsen over time if you don’t treat them appropriately. 

Much like a burn, frostbite can continue to damage tissue for days after, so an appropriate treatment plan from the beginning is your best chance to mitigate damage and help your dog heal fast. 

At-Home Dog Frostbite First Aid

To help you act quickly and limit long-term damage, we put together a quick 5-step list for treating frostbite at home. Remember to call your vet as soon as you get your pet dry to safety for directions and the next steps. 

Step 1: Bring Them Inside

You should immediately bring your dog to a warm, dry place at the first signs of frostbite. Your house or car is ideal, but you may need to improvise a shelter if you are hiking or doing some winter camping. 

Even if you have no other tools at your disposal, getting them out of the cold and wind and keeping them dry is key. 

Step 2: Grab a Blanket

The next step is to start warming them up. This process must be done slowly, so grab a blanket or some dry towels and gently wrap your dog. As they warm up, their body parts will start to dilate the small blood vessels in their extremities to warm the affected area naturally. 

Your body heat can also be helpful, so for smaller pets, you can hold them in your lap or cuddle up next to a bigger pooch to share warmth. 

Step 3: Warm Around Your Dog

Increase the ambient temperature of the room you are in. Hot water bottles or small space heaters set on low can be used to raise the temperature of the room very gradually. 

Don’t put the heaters or water bottles on your dog, though. This can warm the too quickly or even burn the already sensitive and damaged skin. 

Step 4: Defrost the Affected Area

Once your dog has been stabilized and is safely warming, you can focus on the frostbitten areas of your dog. You can use tepid or lukewarm water to stop further tissue damage to extremities that were most affected by the cold.

This means that it should be barely warm. Think body temperature. Water that is about 100 F will feel slightly warmer than your skin, so sticking your finger in it should almost feel like nothing. 

This is especially helpful if you are dealing with a frostbitten paw that is covered in ice or snow. This can loosen the debris quickly so that you can better see the extent of the frostbite damage. You’ll probably need to change the water after you’ve removed all the ice. 

Step 5: Protect the Affected Area

Once you’ve treated the area, it’s common for your dog to want to lick or scratch it to try to soothe discomfort. Although it’s a normal dog instinct, their fussing with the wound can make it worse and lead to infection. 

Whenever possible, protect the area. This could mean putting a cone on your dog to remove access to the area. If you have to, wrapping the wound is an option, but healing wounds need to breathe to heal, so it’s not the ideal solution. Talk to your vet about the best methods for treating a healing frostbite wound. 

Be Prepared for Extreme Cold

Frequently Asked Questions 

How quickly can a dog develop frostbite? 

Frostbite can develop after as little as 20-30 minutes of exposure to extreme cold. Indications of frostbite must be addressed immediately.

What is frostbite in dogs?

Frostbite happens when a dog's skin and tissues freeze due to exposure to extremely cold temperatures, particularly in areas with low blood flow, like ears, paws, and tail.

How can I tell if my dog has frostbite?

Signs of frostbite include pale or discoloured skin, cold or brittle areas on the body, swelling, and pain in severe cases. Your dog might also lick, chew, or show discomfort in the affected areas.

What should I do if I suspect my dog has frostbite?

If pet parents suspect frostbite, immediately move your dog to a warm environment and gently warm the areas with lukewarm water. Avoid rubbing or using hot water; seek immediate veterinary care before permanent damage occurs.

Are certain dog breeds more susceptible to frostbite? 

Breeds with shorter coats, smaller body sizes, and less insulation, like toy breeds and short-haired dogs, are at greater risk of frostbite. Senior dogs and those suffering from diabetes mellitus are also at increased risk of developing extreme cases of frostbite in their deeper tissues.

How can I prevent frostbite in my dog? 

Protect your dog from cold weather with appropriate clothing like coats and boots. Limit time spent outdoors in very cold conditions, and ensure your dog has a warm, sheltered area to seek refuge from the cold.