【CityU VMC Vet Tips: Does My Dog Need a Winter Coat?】

The weather in Hong Kong is erratic, with high and low temperatures. We as human can put on extra clothings to keep warm in response to weather change. Many owners who regard pets as precious as pearls might choose to put on clothes for their pets to keep them warm and cosy. There are split opinions on the concept of pets wearing clothes, and some people even say that pets may get skin diseases when they wear clothes.

Animals are capable of thermoregulate and is dependent on heat inputs from the environment and heat output. Dogs are able to lose heat from sweating from the feet and the nose, but this effect is not significant and will not lose more heat if the ambient temperature is beyond 31°C. The most effective means of heat loss is panting where water is evaporated within the airway, losing heat at the same time.

Dogs can auto-regulate their body temperature without utilising energy when the ambient temperature is between 20°C and 30°C, depending on the breed. For example, a healthy Siberian husky can withstand temperatures as low as 0°C without expending energy to maintain its body temperature. While a short-haired dog can only withstand a low temperature to 15°C before fueling energy to keep itself warm. Other factors that will affect body temperature of a dog includes head confirmation (like the brachycephalic breeds), health status, age etc. Dog’s coat has the ability to both trap warmth and to promote heat loss depending on the body temperature. Placing clothes on your dog might therefore interfere with this natural mechanism. And so not all dogs need clothing to help them keep warm, it might be more helpful in small breed dogs like Chihuahua and Yorkshire Terriers or those with shorter coats like the Whippets. The type of clothing also has an effect in keeping your dog warm, for example service dogs wearing tactical vests or body armor did not have higher body temperature than those not wearing them.

Sometimes placing clothing on your dog can do more harm than good, clothing traps moisture and might predispose your dogs to dermatitis. This is particularly problematic when the clothes and fur are wet. Similarly, clothes that are improperly fitted or not well designed might lead to irritation and erosion of the skin.

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