Why Winter Hurts – And How to Keep Your Dog Comfortable

Why Winter Hurts – And How to Keep Your Dog Comfortable

Have you noticed your dog getting stiffer on cold mornings? Or maybe they’re slower to get up and not as keen for walks as they are in the summer?

If your dog has arthritis, winter can make their symptoms worse.

Why cold weather increases arthritic pain:

• Muscles tighten up in the cold - Just like in humans, your dog’s muscles contract and become less flexible when exposed to lower temperatures. This increased muscle tension makes it harder for joints to move freely and can make your dog feel stiff or sore.

• Reduced blood flow means less warmth and oxygen - In cold weather, blood vessels near the skin and limbs constrict to preserve core body temperature. That means less blood, and less oxygen and nutrients, are reaching the joints and muscles. This can contribute to discomfort and fatigue.

• Pain sensitivity increases - Cold can heighten how sensitive the body is to pain. For dogs with arthritis, this means joints that are already sore may feel even worse in cooler weather.

• Less movement leads to more stiffness - Dogs (and humans!) tend to move less in winter. And when arthritic joints aren’t used regularly, they become stiffer, weaker, and more painful over time.

So while arthritis isn’t “worse” in terms of joint structure during winter, the way the body reacts to cold can increase stiffness and pain levels significantly.

How to keep your dog warm and moving comfortably

Here are simple, effective ways to support your arthritic dog in colder weather:

1. Keep their body warm 
A well-fitting coat that covers the chest, back, and hips can help your dog retain body heat. This keeps muscles more flexible and supports easier movement. You could also use booties to keep their paws warm when you're out and about. 

2. Provide warm bedding
Use soft, insulated bedding in a warm, draft-free area. Even better if the bed is slightly elevated off the floor.

3. Use safe, gentle heat at home
A microwavable wheat bag (wrapped in a towel and tested for warmth) can be applied to sore joints or back muscles while your dog is resting. Just 10–15 minutes can help ease tension and improve comfort.

4. Keep the home warm
Although it's nice to keep windows open for some fresh air, consider how cold your home is and if there are warmer parts of the house that can be more comfortable for them to rest in.

5. Stay active indoors
Inactivity makes arthritis worse so keep them moving. Use massage to warm up muscles, range of motion exercises to keep the joint moving well and strengthening exercises to keep muscles strong. 

Want some exercises to do indoors when it's too cold or wet outside?

The Dog Rehab App is perfect to give you safe, easy, affordable and effective exercises you can do to keep the joints moving well and the muscles strong!

The Dog Rehab App - Apps on Google Play

The Dog Rehab App on the App Store