While some pets may enjoy being outside in winter, owners have the responsibility for frostbite prevention on extremely cold days. Frostbite in pets can be a serious condition that can result in extensive damage to the pet’s extremities, such as the tips of the ears, tail, feet and toes. Those areas are highly exposed to the elements and lack insulating muscle and fat. The worst cases of frostbite can cause pets considerable pain and put them at risk for infection. Frostbite most commonly occurs as a result of prolonged exposure to subzero temperatures.
If an exposed area of the body becomes very cold because of freezing temperatures, the blood vessels in that area constrict. This reflex helps conserve core body heat, but with less blood pumping to the area, the tissue can become dangerously cold. Water within the cells of the tissue begins to crystallize, damaging cell membranes and proteins. Cellular dysfunction and eventually cell death follow.
There are four degrees of frostbite, much like there are several degrees of burns to the skin. The first, called frostnip, affects only the skin’s top layer, and does not cause permanent damage. The skin appears pale or grey in color and will be hard and cold to the touch. Second-degree frostbite causes the skin to freeze and harden, but the deep tissues remain unaffected. Fluid-filled blisters form, and after several days they become hard and blackened, but usually heal within one month.
With prolonged exposure to freezing temperatures, third and fourth-degree frostbite can occur. Muscles, tendons, blood vessels, and nerves freeze, and the affected area feels hard and waxy to the touch. Nerve damage and permanent loss of feeling can develop. Affected areas of skin may need to be removed to prevent infection and allow healing. These types of frostbite can become excruciatingly painful and often necessitates treatment with strong pain medications.
If you suspect your dog or cat has frostbite, keep your pet as warm as possible and seek veterinary attention immediately. The affected areas should be warmed with warm, not hot, compresses. Do not use electric appliances, like hair dryers and heating pads, and do not rub the area. Medical treatment usually involves cleaning and bandaging the wounds and providing antibiotics and pain medication. The extent of damage may not be immediately apparent, so close monitoring of the affected areas over several days is important. In extreme cases, surgery may be necessary. To prevent frostbite, limit your pet’s outdoor exposure. Dog houses should be insulated and outdoor cats should have access to an indoor space. Remember, even on a 20F degree day the wind chill factor or “real feel” temperature can be below zero.
Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University “Your Dog Magazine”
