What is a low temperature for a dog? A Step-by-Step Guide

TypesHypothermia may be classified by cause:

Primary hypothermia: The body exhibits normal heat production. Low body temperature results from exposure to low environmental temperatures.

Secondary hypothermia: The body exhibits abnormal heat production as a result of injury, illness, or drugs.

Hypothermia severity may be classified by body temperature:

Mild: Body temperature of 90 – 99°F (32 – 35°C)

Moderate: Body temperature of 82 – 90°F (28 – 32°C)

Severe: Body temperature less than 82°F (28°C)

Signs and Symptoms of Dog Hypothermia

Shivering: The first signs you will notice if your dog is getting hypothermic will be shivering. This is more obvious on a short coated dog, but long haired dogs will shiver, too.

Whining: Some dogs, especially puppies, will whine or fuss when they get cold. Those dogs have mild hypothermia.

Curling up: As your dog’s internal temperature drops a bit more, signs become less obvious. Many dogs stop shivering as they develop moderate hypothermia. They become quiet and may curl up to try and stay warm.

Pale gums: Gums may turn pale, bluish, or gray.

Cold feet, tails, and ears: As your dog’s body shunts blood to the essential internal organs, appendages will get less blood flow.

As the body temperature drops to around 95 degrees, it becomes clear that your dog is having significant signs of illness. He may stumble if you can get him to move. He will be fairly unresponsive to your calls. His pupils may dilate and his heart rate will slow. This is a dog in severe hypothermia. He may collapse and progress into a coma, or even die, so it is crucial to wrap your dog in blankets and get him to a veterinarian right away.

What is considered a low dog temperature?

A dog’s normal temperature ranges between 38.3 and 39.2 degrees Celsius, whereas a human’s recommended body temperature is between 36.5 and 37.5 degrees Celsius. It’s important to bear in mind that this means your dog needs to keep their body temperature higher than humans do.

There are three types of hypothermia in dogs: mild, moderate and sever. Mild hypothermia is when their temperature falls between 32 and 35 degrees Celsius and moderate is a temperature between 28 and 32 degrees. Anything below 28 degrees is categorised as severe. If your dog has a severe case, veterinary attention should be sought straight away as the complications could be fatal.

Pet Low Body Temperature (hypothermia) || Signs, Causes & Treatment || Vet Furqan Younas