How Dogs Keep Their Feet from Freezing

Dogs Don’t Need Help Keeping Their Feet Warm in winter

If you are an obsessed or overprotective dog owner then you have likely browsed the dog apparel aisle in your local pet store and paused briefly to contemplate “winter booties.” A recent discovery by researchers in Japan however, finds that your dog may not need “winter booties” after all thanks to a specialized circulation system in their paws.

Dogs have Specialized Circulation Systems in their Paws

As humans we often tend to give our dogs human characteristics and that means that if our feet get cold in the winter time then so do our dogs. Some of us even invest in footwear to ensure that our dog’s feet don’t “freeze to the ground” in winter, but a recent research study finds that footwear isn’t necessary at all. According to this study that was published in the journal Veterinary Dermatology, the internal structure of dog’s paws is constructed to ensure that dogs feet do not freeze during the winter. Japanese researchers utilized electron microscopes to take a look inside the internal workings of the paws of domestic dogs and found a circulatory adaptation that was not uncommon in other animals. The findings show that even domesticated dogs have a way to transfer heat from the artery to a network of veins in the area so that colder blood was unable to return to the body.

The Discovery Itself

Dr. Hiroyoshi Ninomiya of the Yamazaki Gakuen University of Tokyo, Japan and his team decided to test the theory of whether or not dog’s feet could resist freezing after reading of previous studies on the topic. In the past researchers have claimed that dogs feet are able to resist freezing in temperatures as cold as -35 degrees Centigrade and Ninomiya and his team of researchers wanted to see whether this finding was something that applied to the common domesticated dog.

Dr. Ninomiya and his team utilized electron microscopes to observe the feet of domesticated dogs and what they found was that within the footpad each dog had veins that were extremely close to arteries. The closeness of the veins and arteries ensures that heat is able to be conducted from the circulatory system to the area that is experiencing cooling. In more simple terms, as a dog steps outside and its feet begin to cool down rapidly the heart is able to pump warm blood to the feet quickly by utilizing the artery that is in close proximity to the neighboring veins in the footpads. This unique circulatory adaptation ensures that dogs do not freeze as the blood is warmed up before returning to the body and cooling the entire body down.

What Does This Discovery Mean?

Many people may take this discovery to mean that they can leave their dogs out in the yard during wintertime, this is not the case. Despite the fact that dogs feet will not freeze due to their circulatory adaptations there are many reasons why dogs should not be left outside during winter. This discovery does mean that you do not have to worry about your dogs paws freezing when you take him or her out to the bathroom or out on a walk on those cold winter days.

Why Is This Finding Unique?

The finding of this circulatory adaptation is considered somewhat unique even though it is an adaptation that has been seen many times before in other species. The reason that this finding is so important in this case is because it is a system that has not been seen in domesticated animals previously.

What Implications Does this Finding Have?

The most important implication that can be inferred from this incredible finding by Dr. Ninomiya is that at some point during the evolutionary process dogs naturally lived in cold climates. How can this inference be made? Well, for an animal to develop such a specialized feature it must, at some point, have been a necessary adaptation to help the creature survive. In order for the ancestors of our domesticated dogs of today to survive their freezing climates they had no choice but to develop the specialized circulatory system within their footpads to prevent them from freezing.

Other Amazing Animal Adaptations

This incredible circulatory system adaptation that was confirmed to be present in domesticated dogs has been seen before in a number of other animals – most particularly those living in cooler territory. A good example of another animal that utilizes this same circulatory adaptation is the dolphin. The dolphin makes use of this circulation system in its fins to ensure that cold blood does not return in to the body. Likewise this system is also found in the beaks of penguins. Finding this adaptation in domestic dogs, however, is slightly more surprising although it really shouldn’t be since despite domestication our dogs maintain the same general structure as wild dogs.

But What about the “Winter Booties”?

So what about all of those people who dress their dogs up in “winter booties”? Well there really is no need for such apparel for the domesticated dog; however, this doesn’t mean that you can’t play dress up with your dog if you so wish.

A Note from the Author

It is important to understand that while all dogs have an evolutionary adaptation that allows them to prevent their feet from freezing and their body temperatures from dropping rapidly when out in the cold, that they should still be treated humanely. No domesticated dog should ever be left in freezing temperatures. Consideration should also be given to the individual needs of a pet, simply because a dog has this adaptation there are many individual characteristics and concerns that can cause additional circulatory difficulty. If you are concerned about your dog’s ability to handle cold weather you should consult your vet for professional advice tailored to your specific dog’s needs. Finally, always remember that smaller dogs and dogs with thin or non-existent coats are likely to lose body heat at a much faster rate than other dogs and should always be provided with proper insulation when spending time in freezing temperatures.