It's foxing season, and though its about 50 degrees out at the moment, that will change very soon and fox will then be found to ground. After an hour or more underground in very cold weather, a dog ending its work will come out of the ground very adrenalized and warm from the work and the natural insulation of the earth.
That will soon change, however, as the adrenaline in the dog's system falls and its body temperature drops. The dog will be breathing heavily, drawing large volumes of cold air into its lungs. At the same time, it's energy and sugar levels may be falling. If the dog is a little wet from the ground or the snow outside -- and especially if a wind is blowing -- it may begin to suffer from hypothermia.
Take care of your dogs and keep them warm. A space blanket weighs very little and costs very little, and can boost a dog's temperature and cut off the wind if it is rugged up inside it. Another good item to have with you is some sort of chemical hand warmer. "Heat Factory" warmers are disposable and cost only 75 cents to a dollar for 12 to 24 hours of continuous heat. These are excellent things for you to have for yourself, and may be critical for the dog. "ReHeater Reusable Heat Packs" are another variation. These can be reused, but cost $7 dollars a unit and provide only 45 minutes of heat. See Cheaper than Dirt for other options.
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