Keeping your beagle’s best interests at heart, there are some preventative measures to avoid a temperature-related issue for your beagle outside. If your beagle does, in fact, become too warm or too cold, we’ll discuss some methods to help their temperature normalize again.

Can beagles live outside? A beagle can live outside in the hotter or colder months, as long as the necessary precautions are present. These precautions will ensure proper maintenance of their optimal health.

Dangers For Your Beagle Outside In A Hot Environment

Fortunately, all of the potential dangers are completely avoidable if caution is exercised, and they are provided with constant supervision. These dangers consist of:

Sunburn

Believe it or not — beagles can get sunburned. Their nose and ears tend to be the most susceptible. Signs of being sunburnt is itching and brittle, dry fur.

How To Prevent Sunburn

Fortunately, the prevention of sunburns for your beagle outside is really not that different from humans.
Epi-Pet Sun Protector Spray (on Amazon) is made specifically for pets. If you’re looking for a quick remedy without getting one made specifically for dogs: purchase a sunscreen that is intended for babies or those with sensitive skin.
And one additional note: It cannot — I repeat, it cannot have any zinc oxide in it. That is extremely toxic to your 4-legged one. I’d suggest a sunscreen spray since the application is much easier to control.

You won’t need to apply sunscreen to them every day — but you should.
However, you will want to apply it to them if you plan on being outside with them for an extended period of time or the majority of the day. Examples include hiking, camping, etc.

Another option is putting a lightweight t-shirt on them. This will not only protect their skin from
the UV rays, but they’ll also get adorable points from passersby.

How To Treat Sunburn

If your dog already is sunburnt, you can still mitigate their discomfort effectively by applying aloe vera to the affected area. The aloe vera should be rated “pet safe”. In addition: applying a cool, wet towel to their sunburn can also relieve pain.

Heat Exhaustion/Stroke

Heat exhaustion, also known as heat stress is when your dog’s body temperature rises to 103 F. You’ll need to provide intervention to help your beagle cool down before it advances to heatstroke.

Heatstroke, also known as sunstroke; is when your beagle is no longer able to effectively regulate their body temperature. Your beagle’s core body temperature has reached 106 F or higher. This is now considered life-threatening.

Symptoms can vary widely on an individual basis. If you observe any abnormal activity in your beagle, it is hot inside or out, they may be suffering from heatstroke.

The most common signs and symptoms are:

• Decreased urination
• Heavy or thick drooling
• Dry red gums
• Excessive constant panting
• Fatigue
• Loss of consciousness
• Muscle tremors
• Quick breathing
• Salivation
• Signs of discomfort
• Unwillingness to move or walk around
• Vomiting

How To Prevent Heat Stroke

The prevention of this potentially lethal issue is simple. Keeping fresh water readily available at all times and keeping them out of oppressive heat is very minimal, yet vital means of preventing heatstroke; in addition to preventing dehydration or heat exhaustion. Without treatment, this can lead to confusion, lethargy, trouble walking, coma, and eventual death.

How To Treat Heat Stroke

Get them out of the heat immediately.

If you are near a bathtub or shower, run the shower with cool water and put your beagle in it, and proceed to rinse them with the cool water for at least 5 minutes. If you aren’t able to put him or her into a cool shower; applying cool wet towels to their body will allow their body to cool off.

Staying on top of everything minimizes the chance of an issue occurring or at least mitigating it.
Also, if your beagle does suffer from heat exhaustion heatstroke, you will want to bring your beagle to their veterinarian. Even if you stabilize your dog successfully, bear in mind the immense amount of stress it has placed on their body and act accordingly.

11 Tips For Keeping Your Beagle Outside Cool

Access To Water

The majority of water from your beagle’s body is expelled when they pant, leading potentially to dehydration.

Make sure that while at home, their water bowl is constantly replenished with clean water and perhaps a few ice cubes. They’ll likely grab the cubes out and chew them, which is totally fine.
Dump any water that seems dirty or has gotten too warm.

Are you and the pup out and about? I bring along a water bottle of at least 1 liter for myself and my dog. Speaking of cool things: collapsible water bowls or a filtering travel water dispenser with a built-in bowl are great options.

I’d highly recommend that you not give your beagle any unfiltered water. To keep your beagle healthy, a filtering pitcher or a filter that attaches to your kitchen tap will suffice.

Use A/C, A Fan, Or Both!

It sounds obvious to you and I. Right? Well, many people don’t think about it for their fur babies.
Direct a normal household fan over your dog’s bed or area, where they like to relax. You can leave it to oscillate. Just keep the air moving around them. Another viable option is to use of a crate fan that attaches to their mobile dwelling.

Bringing your beagle inside the house to stay out of the heat is a viable solution, only if the inside of the house isn’t just as hot as the outside. That’s simply counterproductive.

Remember, your dog is a living, breathing being as much as you are. In-kind, they deserve to be comfortable at all times. So even if you step out of the house for 5 minutes or 5 hours, ensure that they’ll be comfortable.
An easy rule of thumb: If it’s uncomfortable to you while you’re in your house, you can assume it’s uncomfortable for them too.

Cooling Mats & Cooling Collars

Never heard of them? Neither did I until about a year ago. A cooling mat, like The Green Pet Shop’s Cooling Gel Mat (on Amazon), can keep your beagle comfortably cool while lounging. Whereas, a cooling collar will keep them comfortable during moments of downtime and during activity. It can be surprising at how much of a difference they can truly make.

One caveat: if your beagle has a teething behavior or otherwise overactive mouth, you’ll want to be very mindful of such. Get something that’s tear-resistant, that’s all I’m saying. I learned that the hard way, until my Skyler got over his mouthiness.
Dealing with a similar scenario? We talk about it here: Beagle Teething: A Comprehensive Guide

Frozen Treats

“I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream”.

Ice cream isn’t something you should be giving your dog with any marked frequency. However, if you’re going to do it: vanilla flavor is always the safest bet. Just plain ol’ vanilla ice cream.

But remember, some beagles are lactose intolerant, so you must keep that in mind to.

Ice cubes are an even better solution. I like to give freeze low-sodium beef or chicken stock into cubes. My dog goes NUTS for them.

Paw Protection

Reducing the risk of beagle sustaining injury from scorching hot pavement with booties to protect their precious paws. They are particularly beneficial if you live in a town or city and you’re walking mainly on concrete or pavement.

Interestingly enough: booties can actually keep your beagle cooler. I know, at first, you’d think by having a boot on their paws it would keep them warmer. But quite the contrary. It minimizes the conduction of heat by insulating between the ground and their bodies.

If your beagle’s in need of a pair;  Qumy Anti-Slip Reflective Velcro Dog Boots (on Amazon) is an exceptional choice.

Sprinkler Session Or Kiddie Pool

I know I’ve done it — and more than likely so have you. Running and playing around a water sprinkler can be a means of cooling off and an activity. Let them get soaked if they want.

Remember — beagles cannot sweat. They aren’t as efficient as cooling off as we humans. Fortunately though: If they get wet, the water when it evaporates will take a lot of the heat with it, helping keep them cooler.

Seek That Shade

Having shaded areas for your beagle outside to retreat to is important while at home, or while out and about. You don’t want a hot dog, right? Keep those and the hamburgers to the BBQs.

But back to my point — a simple, well-constructed doghouse such as the Aspen Pet PetBarn 3 (on Amazon) will do the trick while they are outside at home.

The area should have plenty of grass, as the grass is not heat-reflective and stays cooler to the touch, unlike concrete. While walking them around town; try to utilize the shading from trees or buildings as much as possible.

Watch That Weight

Not that obvious to many and hopefully not applicable to your beagle. An obese beagle cannot cool itself down as efficiently as one in a healthy weight range.

Exercise Time Of Day

Ideally, exercise should be focused more during early morning or evening hours, when the sun’s intensity is muted. Or if you live in a more rural area, you may be able to get away with night-time, as well.

My only hesitation against allowing my beagle outside late night for an extended period of time is: If you live in the ‘burbs, and he or she gets a whiff of something or something catches their attention, they’ll likely let out that famous howl. Which will make you unpopular with the neighbors quite quickly.

Never Leave Them In A Car Unattended

I think this goes without saying but just in case it bears repeating: Never leave your loved one in a car unattended. It’s completely avoidable and potentially lethal.

Did you know that the temperature inside of a car can range from 20 to 70 degrees hotter than the temperature outside?
I heard and seen dogs left in the car with the A/C going. I wouldn’t do it though. Still too risky as far as I’m concerned.
Just bring them along with you. It’s just not worth potentially hurting them or losing them over something so trivial. Period.

Talk To Your Vet

Your veterinarian is one of the people to know your beagle best. If you question anything about your beagle’s health, you shouldn’t hesitate to reach out to them, as they can give you more specific advice for your beagle’s and area’s individual needs.

Dangers For Your Beagle Outside In A Cold Environment

Baby, it’s cold outside.

Sure, many outdoor activities in the colder environment can be very fun — especially if snow is involved. But it does come with its intrinsic risks.

Frostbite

Even though beagles are very rugged little powerhouses, everything has its limits. They aren’t the best suited for cold weather for a longer duration of time. Granted, if a beagle (or any dog for that matter) is beginning to show signs of frostbite, they’ve clearly been outside too long, and they need to be into a more temperature environment ASAP.

Primary Causes Of Frostbite

Frostbite is brought on by extended exposure to cold temperatures. Their bodies respond by constricting their blood vessels to their extremities, rerouting more blood to their vital organs to keep them functioning. Consequentially, it allows their extremities to be more susceptible to frostbite.

Symptoms Of Frostbite

Symptoms of frostbite include very pale or bluish-white hued skin due to inadequate blood flow. Ice may encompass the affected area. This may be very painful for your beagle.

Once the body part is warmed and blood flow resumes, the skin in the affected area becomes red and swelling is followed by peeling. This is very painful and may to skin ulcerations or blisters.

How To Treat Frostbite

Warm a towel or washcloth using a handheld hairdryer. If you don’t have a hairdryer, run some warm water into it, but don’t leave it too damp. I cannot reiterate enough: use tepid water of no greater than 108 degrees Fahrenheit, otherwise, it can cause damage. Also, do not use the hairdryer directly on your dog. Not only is the heat too hot to be applied directly, but the sound from the hairdryer may also startle your beagle. The last thing you want to do is put your dog under anymore undo stress when their bodies are already under stress.

Apply the warmed towel to any affected areas. That being said, you must maintain warmth to an affected area, until the area thaws. Refrain from rubbing or squeezing the area, as this may cause damage. As the area treated progressively warm up, they will redden in color. However, if they become dark instead, seek immediate veterinary attention as this indicates necrotizing local tissue.

You’ll want to seek veterinary attention regardless, as you want to ensure that they are stabilized, no more damage has occurred, and that they require no additional treatment.

Once your beagle has been seen by the veterinarian, he or she will likely provide dog pain medication, that will not affect their blood pressure or blood flow.

In addition to their pain meds, they may need fluids, antibiotics, or a controlled warming environment.

The prognosis for dog frostbite is hinged on how much of the body is affected. Mild cases (which are most common), typically resolve with only cosmetic damage. Severe cases on the opposite of the spectrum, partial or full amputation of the affected extremity may be necessary. It’s horrible to even think about it. But which leads me into this:

How To Prevent Frostbite

Easiest remedy: Avoid their exposure to cold temperatures for prolonged periods of time. How can you tell if it’s too long or too cold?

My general rule of thumb is: How comfortable would I feel if I had to go into the cold environment in a t-shirt, pants, and bare feet. If I wouldn’t be comfortable for any marked time, I sure wouldn’t subject my beloved beagle to that either. Period.

Realistically, a few minutes for them to go outside and use the bathroom should be fine. But no more than 5 minutes. If you’re worried about them getting exercise, let them play indoors.

If they must be outside for longer periods of time, you may consider investing in apparel for dogs. It’s quite common now; especially if you live in a colder climate. It’s funny though, some of their clothing is markedly more stylish than humans.

Also, beagles with health issues that could impair blood flow, have a greater risk of acquiring frostbite. Some medical reasons could be diabetes, heart disease; to name a couple. I’d be even more hesitant about approaching that 5-minute limit unless they were properly covered. Particularly their paws.

Hypothermia

Hypothermia is a progression of the aforementioned frostbite, where the extremely low temperatures can cause a beagle’s temperature to fall.

To provide parameters: A beagle’s normal body temperature is between 101 degrees Fahrenheit and 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. A beagle is considered hypothermic if its core temperature is below 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Immediate veterinary is imperative, as sustained hypothermia can become fatal.

Primary Causes Of Hypothermia

Frostbite is brought on by extended exposure to frigid temperatures, extended exposure to submersion in frigid water; subsequent fur and skin; or possibly even shock.

Interestingly enough, out of all places, it’s rather common for anesthetized animals going in for surgery. I guess if it’s going to, unfortunately, happen anywhere, at the veterinarian’s clinic is at least mildly comforting. Fortunately, veterinarians are clearly aware that these sorts of scenarios can occur while undergoing anesthesia, so they will monitor your beagle’s temperature actively. As a matter of fact, depending on the type of procedure, they may utilize heating pads and warming air blankets.

Their cause of hypothermia can even be disease or hormone-related. In terms of those scenarios specifically, it’s unlikely to be critical enough to actually cause a problem for your beagle. In addition, these scenarios are treated differently from the ones brought on by cold exposure. However, your veterinarian may use their lower body temperature as an indicator to diagnose and monitor a condition.

Symptoms Of Hypothermia

The primary signs of hypothermia are forceful shivering and dull, blanched skin. That may be observed prior to signs of lethargy.

Beagles that have higher risk factors are ones with low body fat, hypothyroidism, renal disease, or that are very young or very old age.

How To Treat Hypothermia

The primary goal is of treating hypothermia is to slowly bring up their core temperature.

This is achieved by warming a few blankets with your hairdryer or in the clothes dryer. Wrap your pupster in the warmed blankets. Wrapped in a towel, use a heating pad on the lowest setting, against your dog’s abdomen. They should be on it for no longer for 10-minute intervals. If you do not have a heating pad, a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel can do the trick.

Monitor your beagle’s temperature every 10 minutes. If it falls below 98 degrees Fahrenheit, seek immediate veterinary intervention.

Once their temperature is back above 100 degrees to 100.5 Fahrenheit, remove the heating pad or water bottle to avoid overheating. Keep your beagle in a climate-controlled room.

Until they are attentive and behaving normally, continue checking his or her temperature every 15 to 30 minutes.

7 Tips To Keeping Your Beagle Outside Warm

Dress For The Elements

Smaller dogs like beagles may need a little help to stay warm. A dog sweater or Kuoser Reversible Cold-Weather Jacket (on Amazon) is a good start. And remember, if you are cold, your dog probably is too.

Keep Paws Clean

Every time you come in from the cold: check your beagle’s paws and wipe them from free of any ice, salt and deicer can build up on your beagle’s paws. Also, be sure to keep your dog’s nails trimmed with something like a Casfuy Dog Nail Grinder (on Amazon).

Don’t Leave Dogs Outside Alone For Long Periods

When it’s frigid outside, limit bathroom breaks and exercise. Never leave your beagle unattended in a vehicle.

Create Warming Stations Inside

Ensure that your beagle has an immediate place to warm up when they get back in. I will usually throw a towel into the dryer for the few minutes they’re outside. I put it onto the couch since I know that’s where my beagle, usually goes immediately after coming in. If I don’t want to use the dryer, I’ll use the heating pad for a few minutes on the low setting.

Blankets and dog beds are perfectly sufficient, as well.

One caveat: do not even think about using space heaters, as they can easily be knocked over.

Keep Dogs On Leash

Keeping your beagle on their Illumiseen LED Dog Leash  & Illumiseen LED Dog Collar (both on Amazon) will ensure that you have absolute control and visibility, resulting in their ultimate safety.

Keep Dogs Fed And Hydrated

All beagles should have clean, unfrozen water. K&H Pet Products Heated Bowl (on Amazon) is designed for the outdoors. It will help to ensure that your beagle’s core temperatures stay in check with the warmed water, as opposed to chilly/chilled water.

Bathe Your Dog Inside

As one could imagine — if you’re going to bathe your beagle, do it inside. Make sure that they have at least 30 minutes to completely dry off before you allow them back outside.

Final Thoughts

While it seems like dogs may react differently to the weather than humans they can actually be more susceptible to weather extremes in some cases.

Hot temperatures, combined with humidity; can cause dehydration, sunburn and heatstroke. Frigid temperatures can cause hypothermia or frostbite.

In extreme conditions, your beagle should be able to seek refuge in your home to balance out the outside temperature.

Finally: If it’s too hot or cold outside to you — more than likely, the same applies to your beagle outside too. Even if it isn’t, just err on the side of caution and take preventative measures to ensure your beagle’s optimal health.

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