If dogs have cold ears, it may be due to an innate protective mechanism or their old age. In individual cases, circulatory disorders, anxiety, blood pressure or an underactive thyroid are also behind it.
In the short term, a reduced body temperature in the ears is usually harmless. There is usually only cause for concern if:
- The problem exists in the long term
- Only one ear is cold and not both
- Further pathological symptoms occur
- It's warm outside
For people, a warm hat is often enough. But dogs rarely like that. For this reason, it is important to understand the cause in order to prevent the problem.
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#1 Hypothyroidism
The thyroid gland is located in the dog's neck and, despite its small size, has an enormous impact on the entire organism.
Their primary task is to produce so-called “thyroid hormones”. These ensure that all organs can work smoothly.
If the dog has an underactive thyroid, it produces too few of these hormones, so that the entire metabolism slows down. Typical symptoms here are:
- Constant tiredness
- Dry and crusty skin
- Low pulse
- Dog sleeps a lot
- Cold paws and ears
- Occasional hair loss
- Depressive behavior [1]
The cold ears are due to the fact that the ability to warm up is increasingly decreasing. Just like cooling down takes significantly longer.
Hypothyroidism is said to be most common in large breeds and older dogs. Especially with Labradors, Dobermans, Golden Retrievers and all Great Dane species.
Treatment depends on the underlying cause. If it is genetically determined, medication is usually used to regulate it. [2]
Dogs with an underactive thyroid have a significantly slower metabolism. This makes it much harder for them to warm and cool their bodies. In colder temperatures, cold ears and cold extremities often occur.
#2 Protection mechanism
Have you ever noticed that your fingers, ears, feet and nose sometimes get really cold in winter compared to the rest of your body?
This is a natural protective mechanism that is also present in dogs. The body consciously reduces blood regulation here.
Instead of supplying blood to the entire body and losing a lot of heat in the process, it limits itself to supplying the organs that are essential for survival. [3]
This also explains why there are significantly fewer blood vessels in the ear compared to the brain or the abdominal cavity. The cartilage tissue is therefore supplied with significantly less blood.
Short-haired dogs with protruding ears get cold ears most quickly. Because the hair around the ear has an insulating effect.
The same applies to body fat. The lower a dog's natural body fat content, the faster their body temperature tends to drop in cold weather.
There are also differences depending on the breed:
- Small breeds get cold more easily than large dogs
- The longer the ears, the faster they get cold
- Arctic breeds are particularly cold-resistant [4]
To prevent this, it is important to equip your dog with appropriate clothing depending on the season. There are also winter coats for dogs with a hood.
At low temperatures, dogs' bodies are limited to blood flow to the organs that are essential for survival. The ears are the first to be neglected and are therefore often unusually cold. This is a natural protective mechanism.
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#3 Circulatory disorders
If you will, the pinna is just cartilage, fat, a few blood vessels, and some skin. The blood vessels are also relatively thin.
The latter in turn means that circulatory problems in the ears become apparent much more quickly. Cold ears are a kind of early warning system.
The causes here can be very diverse. The most common triggers include:
- heart failure
- Liver diseases
- Internal bleeding
- Tumor disease
- Inflammation of the heart
- Anemia [5]
Vascular diseases are the fourth most common cause of death in dogs. So this is not something to be trifled with. If you suspect anything, you should consult the vet immediately.
In addition to cold ears, such illnesses are almost always accompanied by other pathological symptoms. This includes:
- Lack of motivation
- Cold paws
- Dog falls over
- Redness between the paws
- Tremble [6]
The earlier such problems can be diagnosed, the better the chances of recovery and treatment.
Dogs with circulatory problems often have difficulty getting enough blood to their extremities. Affected dogs usually behave listlessly, tire quickly, begin to tremble, collapse and have cold ears.
#4 Cold
A cold is a broad term for flu-like infections and viral diseases in the upper respiratory tract. It is usually transmitted through other sick dogs.
The symptoms of this can vary greatly depending on the virus. The most common signs include:
- Cough
- Hot or cold ears
- Lack of motivation
- Runny nose
- Gagging without vomiting
- Fever
- Feeling of weakness [7]
A clinical thermometer can help here. If the temperature is above the normal body temperature of 38-39 °C, then the body is fighting against something.
Fortunately, such colds cannot be transmitted to humans. You can therefore look after your four-legged friend without worrying.
It is important that your dog drinks enough during recovery. A little meat broth in the water or a drinking fountain like this are ideal for this.
This is also a good time to clean all dog toys and the basket thoroughly so that the immune system is not busy with additional germs. [8]
Colds in dogs can be noticeable, among other things, through cold ears. In most cases, however, it is accompanied by other symptoms such as a runny nose, fever, a feeling of weakness or severe listlessness.
#5 Old age
You have probably already noticed that older people hear worse, see worse, walk more slowly and their ability to think continues to decline.
Unfortunately, the same thing happens with dogs, just much earlier. In addition, blood circulation becomes worse with age, so the ears are often permanently cold.
By the way, the myth that a human year is equivalent to 7 dog years has long since been refuted. Because the perceived age of dogs primarily depends on their size.
In addition, the age also varies depending on the age range. For example, up to the age of 5 there are no differences. But from then on the difference gets bigger and bigger.
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In addition to poorer blood circulation, other factors also play a role:
- As we age, the fur becomes thinner, making it less insulating.
- The insulating fat content under the skin decreases with age.
- Older dogs move less, so less heat is generated. [10]
Depending on the size of the dog, these changes become noticeable from the age of 8 to 10. For small dogs, around 2 years later than for large dogs.
In old dogs, the entire metabolism runs much slower than in young four-legged friends. This means that the blood flow to the ears steadily decreases, meaning that even small temperature fluctuations can lead to cold ears.
#6 Anxiety & Stress
You’ve probably heard the expression that someone has “cold feet.” Because this is, among other things, a symptom of severe anxiety or stress.
This phenomenon also occurs in dogs. However, the effect is not only related to the paws, but also to other parts of the body with thin blood vessels.
The reason? Fear releases stress hormones that put the body on alert. All muscles are therefore slightly tense. [11]
And because the blood vessels in the body are surrounded by muscles almost everywhere, this also narrows the channels. The body therefore has poorer blood circulation. Other symptoms are here:
- Dog has ears backwards
- Slight trembling
- Cold ears and paws
- Dog tucks tail
- Stooped posture
- Dog avoids eye contact
- Quiet whining and whining [12]
Typical triggers include loneliness, prolonged storms, constant noise or a lack of socialization. The first thing to do here is to find out the trigger.
If you know the trigger, then you either have to remove this trigger or get your dog used to it in a targeted and gradual manner.
Chronic anxiety causes a constant release of stress hormones, which causes the blood vessels in the body to become increasingly narrow. Since the blood vessels in the dog's ear are quite thin, they are poorly supplied with blood. So cold ears are just a symptom here.
#7 Low blood pressure
When dogs' blood pressure is well below normal, veterinarians speak of “hypotension”. Typical triggers here are:
- Poisonings
- Kidney problems
- Allergies
- Loss of large amounts of blood
- Dehydration
- Anemia
- Liver diseases [13]
The lower blood pressure ensures that the organs are not supplied with sufficient oxygen and nutrients. Typical symptoms are therefore:
- Feeling of weakness
- Pale gums
- Cold ears
- fainting
- Cold paws
- Strong thirst
- Confusion [14]
If you suspect this, you should visit the vet here. Blood pressure can also be measured without having to take a blood sample. Treatment then depends on the cause.
In the short term, medications can regulate blood pressure so that all organs are adequately supplied. In the long term, however, the problem needs to be solved at its root.
In dogs, low blood pressure causes the entire body to receive insufficient oxygen. Affected four-legged friends therefore usually appear weakened, tire quickly, have cold ears and comparatively pale gums.
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