Inside Jenison Animal Hospital, Paco was getting warmed up after just a couple minutes outside. Wrapped in a sweater and held close, the dog was visibly shaking — a reminder of how quickly extreme cold can affect pets.
“It is cold outside. We just let him out a couple minutes ago for just about two minutes,” said Dr. Michael Hilferty, owner and veterinarian at Jenison Animal Hospital.
Dr. Hilferty says in temperatures well below freezing, most dogs should only be outside for a few minutes at a time — just long enough to go to the bathroom. He says hypothermia can begin in as little as five to 10 minutes in extreme cold, regardless of breed…