Ozzie keeps shaking from the cold

Sportsdude · Feb 04 07 09:05

He's not out a lot, he only goes out for 5 minutes to relieve himself and then he comes in and is completely frozen and shakes for a couple hours. He's never been this weak to cold. Is he sick? Because Tigger is out in the cold for hours and is now sleeping curled up in the garage. Nothing seems to bother him. Whats going on?

Edit: its -11 C out.

kitten · Feb 04 07 09:23

-11 degrees out. There's your answer. He's an old dog, and old creatures feel the cold more than young ones. This is the same whether it is animals or people. Watch him carefully, and as soon as he's done what he needs to, bring him into the warmth as quickly as possible. It is necessary to maintain his health, believe me. Never leave him out longer than absolutely necessary in the cold weather.

Sportsdude · Feb 04 07 09:34

thanks thats what I thought as well. Plus when there was snow out all he would do is eat it. Then we were like well duh Ozzie your cold because you ate all that snow! lol but Tigger is just strange he sleeps out there next to this steam thing that blows steam out of the house. But I really think its a coat issue. Ozzie doesn't have a thick coat. A couple minutes out and he's freezing while Tigger spends hours out and then when he comes in you can still tell he's warm. Bizarre.

Yeah I've got a bunch of blankets over him.

kitten · Feb 04 07 09:44

Take good care of him, SD. He's old, but he can live a lot longer if you pay attention to his needs. Have you tried wrapping a towel around him when he has to go out to keep the worst of the chill off him while he takes care of business? When he comes in it would be a good idea to rub him down thoroughly to be sure he doesn't catch a chill. Old dogs need more attention and love, so take good care of him.

Sportsdude · Feb 04 07 09:57

I did that when he came in I put this giant blanket on him and tried to get his neck really warm because if thats warm the rest of the body will follow. Its hard to keep a blanket on him he always shakes it off.

kitten · Feb 04 07 10:04

Hold the blanket around him and pat and scratch him for a while until he stops shaking. In other words, comfort him so he sees he is safe with you. Give him treats from time to time so he will know you care about him. You can keep him a long time if you show him you care about him.

Sportsdude · Feb 04 07 10:08

oh he knows we care about him before I go to bed I'll walk down there and put the blanket over him if my sister hasn't already. When he's sleeping he's fine. He used to run around and around and around and then rub his paws really fast on this nylon thing to get warm. For some reason he didn't feel like running around in circles tonight when he usually does.

kitten · Feb 04 07 10:14

Remember, he is getting old. If he forgets to rub his feet on the nylon to get warm, then do it for him Keep in mind that he needs help now, since he's not a puppy. He may have the doggie version of Alzheimers, where he forgets what he should do to take care of himself.

P.C. · Feb 04 07 10:15

A good brisk rub will get his blood flowing too, which will warm him up. Just putting a blanket on him may not help. Because he's an older 'puppy' his circulation probably isn't as good as it once was. This will make it harder for him to get warm.

Sportsdude · Feb 04 07 10:18

nah I don't think he has very many health problems. The only problem he has is his weight and his back (he slipped a few discs 5 years back we had two options put him down or have the surgery, we took the surgery best move ever). Oh and he suffers from being dumb disease lol. When it iced a tree fell down in the backyard and then it snowed so he goes over to the tree (he never looks up always has his nose to the ground) and somehow got stuck in the tree lol!

P.C. · Feb 04 07 10:22

nah I don't think he has very many health problems. The only problem he has is his weight and his back (he slipped a few discs 5 years back we had two options put him down or have the surgery, we took the surgery best move ever).

You don't think he has health problems ? But he's overweight and was on the brink of being put down 5 years ago because his back was so bad? And he's old. SD....he HAS health problems.

Give him a nice rub.

Sportsdude · Feb 04 07 10:26

Well, yeah he has problems but the vet says he's perfectly healthy now. He was hurt because he's a stubborn mule. He used to lock his front legs up when he didn't want to come in and it pulled on his neck. He's been on a harness ever since. He's a mutt. He likes to sleep and eat and has burst of energy every once in a while.

Checked on him a second a go he's fine he was sleeping on the floor. Brought the cat in and lol he was purring away in his little insulated cotton box. lol that cat is something else.

kitten · Feb 04 07 10:40

If he doesn't want to come in, pick him up and carry him into the house. He doesn't know what is best for him, but you have to. Tigger is cute, young and adventurous. Ozzie is old, and needs you to take care of him. So it isn't what he wants as much as what he needs to keep him healthy.

Sportsdude · Feb 04 07 10:42

lol when he's in the front yard when its warm out laying out front (electric fence so no chain) people walk down and say "cute puppy" lol I go he's an old puppy lol. He hasn't really aged at all. Problem with him is that he still thinks he's a puppy.

Sportsdude · Feb 05 07 07:49

Its -14C out with a -22C wind chill and the dog and cat so want to go outside but I'm not letting them its way too cold.