Inc. Frostbite is a term used to describe the damage to tissues due to an exposure to severely cold temperatures. Healthy animals can withstand sub-zero temperatures if they are dry and out of the wind.
Frostbite is more likely to occur if an animal has no shelter, or is injured.
Frostbite can occur in both dogs and cats, in fact, we generally see it more often in cats. The parts of the body most likely to be frozen are the ears, and sometimes the tail and feet. Initially, areas damaged by frostbite appear normal. Within 48 hours, though, the damaged tissue will swell and become painful. Within 7 days, due to interruption of the blood flow and nerve supply, the affected tissue dries up and turns black, eventually falling off twenty to thirty days later.