Elderly dog feeling the cold

elsien

But it's not that cold yet, well I don't think it is anyway.
My reasoning is that I'm happy to try jumpers and everything else when it really is cold. But it isn't yet. I want to save the heavy artillery for when it gets a bit subzero, otherwise I'll have nothing else to give her.
Or is that faulty logic?

elsien

tizerbelle wrote: »

elsien, we could do a swap - my 14 year old, too intelligent for her own good Big Dog who hates heat and central heating so would keep your bills low for your 14 year old, too intelligent for her own good Mutt who loves heat and wouldn't mind me having the central heating on!!

She would love you for ever. How are your coping skills with extreme attention seeking?

tizerbelle

No not faulty logic at all.

You did mention on another thread if I recall that she isn't eating enough to maintain her weight properly - could this be affecting how she feels the cold?

tizerbelle

elsien wrote: »

She would love you for ever. How are your coping skills with extreme attention seeking?

LOL! Two total opposite characters - Big Dog is oft referred to as the ignorant mare.

elsien

I took her for another weigh in yesterday and although to look at she looks like she's lost a lot of weight (the nurse commented on the difference in her) she hasn't actually changed that much, to both our surprise. We've agreed to weigh her more regularly and if she drops any more to have another load of blood tests done to see what's happening.
That could certainly be a factor though, I should have thought of that.
Perhaps I'll start being nicer her after all.

lostinrates

what about a infa red heat lamp (chicken or pig lamp?) My animals have all learnt red means heat (you cab get bulbs that have no light, just heat too). Getting the place right to be warm without cooking might take some time but my creatures would say its worth it.

edit: ah.,...read on and see you want her to tough it out a bit. My grey is already in her coat, the old horses wearing rugs obcenely early and I'm well wrapped up and miserably cold all the time. Its not a warm autumn. Maybe go for a jumper now and a bigger gun later.

murphydog999

Electric blanket perhaps? The you are just heating her bed not the whole house/room.

donnap83

Aw! Poor mutt!

Mine is the opposite. She's warm all the time. Only in he dead of winter does she hint towards being cold!

bagginslover

If her ears are very warm as you say, could she have a temperature? This would make sense with her trying to nest in a cooler room-trying to keep herself cooler, but still wants to be comfy. You can get cheap, rectal-safe thermometers in sainsburys or tesco for a few pounds, I bought one to monitor my dog recently when his temp was fluctuating wildy, and they are just as accurate as the vets ones. Normal for my dog is 37.4, but apparently thats low for most dogs, normal is more like in the 38's.

Raksha

has the vet suggested checking her Thyroid function?

PS - I use an infra red light for my two at night in the winter. I've also been known to put their beds on a piece of packing polystyrene from a washing machine as insulation.