 If veterinary care is available do not attempt home care. Wrap your pet in a blanket, (with a hot water bottle if possible) or whatever other insulator is handy, to retain any remaining body warmth and rush to your veterinarian. If a veternarian is not available this is what you must do. If frostbite is unaccompainied by signs of hypothermia, treatment is directed at the injured areas only. Do not run the area but apply moist heat by immersing the part in warm water (102-104 degrees) or by applying warm moist towels. Rapid return of sensation, pink color, and warmth to the skin indicate successful treatment. ****** If the dogs' temperature is above 86 degrees, simple home treatment for hypothermia is often successful. Bring the pet into a warm room and cover him or her. Warm water bottles placed inside a blanket wrapped around the dog help speed up rewarming. Be sure to rewarm the fluids as soon as their temperature drops below 100 degrees. This can be done in a microwave. Electric heating pads may also be used if they are well insulated with a towel to keep from burning your dog. An electric blanket can be used as long as you are supervising the animal and therefore do not let him get burned. Immersion into warm water (102-104 degrees) can also be done, but only if there is a hair drier or heater available to prevent rechilling upon removal from the water. The body temperature should be maintained just above 100 degrees until the body can maintain it's temperature and the animals temperature turns to normal.  Back to Main Page
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