While it's easy to know when us humans are cold in winter, it's not always clear whether our pets are feeling the same.
Fortunately, vet Dr Katrina Warren has a simple trick for figuring out whether your dog or cat is too cold.
She revealed the tip during an appearance on Today Extra with her beloved border collie Chilli.
Watch the video above.
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“If the tips of their ears are cold that's an indication that your dog is cold – it's a really good tip, actually,” she said.
Other signs your furry friends are cold is shivering or hunching up with their tail underneath them and a reluctance to go outside for their walk.
But if you have an older pet it's important to be more vigilant about looking for signs they're cold because their circulatory systems are more sluggish, so its hard for them to regulate temperatures.
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The best ways to warm them up according to Dr Katrina are, “a nice warm bed that's somewhere without draughts – really important. If you have a short-coated dog they can benefit from a jacket outdoors and that is really quite important for some dogs and some of the older dogs.”
She also recommended towel-drying dogs after a walk if it's been raining and while raincoats can be helpful, not all dogs need them.
For example, Dr Katrina's dog Chilli has a double coat so his coat mostly repels water.
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The most important thing to do inside the home is provide a nice, warm supportive bed elevated off the floor if the floor is cold.
But there was a warning for people who love to turn the heating up high.
“A dog like Chilli, I like to crank my heat up full bore downstairs – he actually gets too hot. These double coat dog breeds they do overheat so you want to make sure they can go somewhere to keep themselves nice [and not too hot],” she said.
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And make sure your pet is kept away from your heater as burns are common.
“Vets often treat burn injuries from pets injuring themselves on heaters or fireplaces. Always supervise and monitor pets around heaters. They should be at a safe distance, as some heaters become very hot to touch,” Dr Katrina wrote in an article for 9honey Pets.
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She also shared more detail on what temperatures are too cold for pets.
“Trust your instincts. If you sense that your pet is feeling cold regardless of the thermometer reading, it's best to keep them indoors. Exposure to extremely low temperatures can be harmful to any animal,” she wrote.
“Many dogs and cats will be okay at temperatures around 12 to 14°C, but temperatures below that can be dangerous for some, depending on their age, general health, and breed. When temperatures are below 7°C, pets should not be left outdoors for extended periods, day or night.”
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