Body Temperature (Dog)

Fever Signals: How do I know if my dog has a fever?

The clearest symptom of fever in dogs is an elevated internal body temperature. In addition, there are also external signs that suggest a fever. These include:

• Shivering/chills
• strongly warmed ears
• Thirst
• Refusal to eat
• Tiredness/lethargy
• Panting
• Increased pulse
• Diarrhea or very dry and hard feces

Due to their fur, fever in dogs is often not immediately noticed. However, the symptoms mentioned indicate that something is wrong. If you notice these or other unusual signs or behaviors in your dog, you should check their body temperature to be sure.

Whether the dog's body feels unusually warm can best be determined in less hairy areas, such as the ears. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when measuring itself.

Precise Temperature Measurement – Rectal Method

To reliably determine if a dog has a fever, its body temperature should be measured with a thermometer. However, it is important not to simply use a conventional human thermometer. It can be very difficult for a dog to remain still for as long as is necessary with a normal fever thermometer. The probable consequence is inaccurate readings.

Digital thermometers are better suited for measuring body temperature in dogs. Specifically for dogs, those with an angled tip are developed, which makes it easier to read the temperature display. However, even with these, it is important that the dog remains completely still for at least a short time. It is best to bring in a second person who can hold the dog and distract it – for example, with pats or soothing words.

If the dog has not had its temperature taken before, it may react with fear or aggression to the procedure. It is then particularly important to proceed carefully when measuring. If the dog cannot be controlled, it is better to stop and instead visit a veterinarian. For fever measurement in adult dogs to work well, they should already be accustomed to it as puppies.

For the most accurate measurement results, a rectal measurement should be performed on the dog. For this purpose, the thermometer is inserted a few centimeters into the anus, with the tip of the thermometer carefully positioned against the inner wall of the rectum. Skin contact is important, because if there is no contact, only the temperature of the warm air in that area will be measured.

This procedure can be quite uncomfortable for the dog, so it is advisable to lubricate the thermometer beforehand with some medical lubricant or petroleum jelly. In addition, it is important to thoroughly clean and disinfect the thermometer before and after measurement to prevent bacteria from remaining on it.

Avoiding measurement errors – unsuitable measuring points

While in humans, one can certainly measure in other places, such as the mouth or under the armpits, these methods are not recommended for dogs as they can lead to measurement errors. Measuring in the mouth is particularly problematic. The dog could bite the thermometer or swallow it. There is also a risk of injury for the dog owner(s).

If, however, fever is measured in the ears, the hair located there can falsify the measurement result. This means: only the rectal method is suitable for dogs to detect elevated temperature or fever.

Intuition and Observation: Detecting Fever in Dogs Even Without a Thermometer

Fever in dogs can have many causes, as it is in most cases an accompanying symptom of other illnesses. At the same time, the elevated body temperature activates defense mechanisms. The dog's immune system works much more intensively, while inflammation and pathogens are fought. Poisoning can also be a reason for fever.

To ensure that the dog has a fever, a thermometer should always be used. Therefore, it is important to acquire a suitable product before the dog shows symptoms of illness. If no thermometer is at hand, typical signs of fever can also be recognized because the dog's body temperature can be felt. This works best on areas with less hair, such as the paws, ears, and loin area, as well as under the armpits or on the muzzle.

Another indicator of fever in dogs is warm and dry gums. Additionally, these may be noticeably reddened. If there are signs of fever in a dog, it must be examined immediately by a veterinarian. Only then can an accurate diagnosis be made and appropriate treatment initiated.

Therapeutic Approaches: How You Can Help Your Dog with Fever

If a dog has a fever, it is natural to try to reduce it with appropriate therapeutic approaches. However, this is not always advisable. Instead, the dog must first be examined by a veterinarian to obtain an accurate diagnosis. If the dog has an infection and therefore a moderate fever, it can be counterproductive to reduce the fever. Instead, the infection should then be treated.

Before appropriate therapy is carried out, the veterinarian will conduct a detailed anamnesis to determine the cause of the fever. In some cases, further diagnostics, such as ultrasound, blood tests, or tissue sampling, may be necessary. In addition, it is possible to lower the fever with medication or to administer an infusion. The treatment of the fever is therefore always determined by the underlying cause.

Fever or Hyperthermia? Different Temperature Anomalies in Dogs

The term hyperthermia literally translates to overheating. This must be distinguished from fever. The difference is that fever is an elevation of normal temperature that is controlled by the regulatory center (hypothalamus). This means that the set point shifts upwards and the dog's body therefore strives for a higher temperature.

Hyperthermia, on the other hand, is not triggered by the hypothalamus, so the set point does not shift upwards. Instead, the animal's body heats up, while the hypothalamus tries to keep the body temperature within the set point limits.

Typical causes of overheating include, for example, physical overexertion or overheating from external sources. The latter happens, for example, when a dog is left in a parked car. As temperatures in the car rise sharply, the animal begins to overheat. A life-threatening heatstroke can be triggered if the body temperature rises to 42 to 43 °C.

Hyperthermia therefore does not arise due to fever-inducing substances. For this reason, it cannot be treated with medications that are intended to lower fever. Instead, an animal suffering from overheating must be moved to a cooler place as quickly as possible, while stress should be avoided at all costs.

Preventive measures against fever in dogs

Dogs can get a fever from time to time throughout their lives. It is unfortunately not possible to completely rule this out. However, one can certainly do something to strengthen the dog's health. This includes an balanced diet as well as sufficient exercise in daily life. Both factors contribute to strengthening the immune system. This way, the dog's body has the opportunity to cope well with infections and fight them on its own.

In some cases, fever in dogs is also caused by injuries or wounds. Only if these are treated early can the development of fever be prevented. If the dog has recently undergone surgery or received an infusion, its body temperature should be checked regularly. In case of doubt, a veterinarian should always be consulted.

FAQ

Like us humans, dogs can occasionally get a fever. Not always is a serious illness behind it. Nevertheless, one should take the dog's symptoms seriously and be well informed about possible causes. In this section, we answer frequently asked questions about fever in dogs.

What is an elevated temperature in dogs?

Dogs have a higher normal temperature than humans. At 40 degrees Celsius, an elevated temperature in a dog is referred to as a fever at 41 degrees Celsius. If this persists for a long time and is not treated, it can lead to life-threatening conditions. Above 41 degrees, the dog has a high fever, which can also be acutely life-threatening. A dog with a fever must be taken to the vet immediately.

How low can a dog's temperature be?

The normal temperature for a dog is 37.5 to 39.0 °C. It should not be significantly below or above this range.

What is hypothermia in dogs?

Hypothermia in dogs occurs when the body temperature drops sharply. Typical symptoms can include shivering, restlessness, increased breathing, and an elevated heart rate. In severe hypothermia, muscle stiffness and dilated pupils may occur. To prevent the dog from losing consciousness, it should be presented to a veterinarian immediately.

Conclusion

When dogs have a fever, it usually manifests itself as sluggishness. Depending on the underlying disease, other symptoms may occur. The surest way to find out if a dog has a fever is to measure its body temperature with a thermometer. However, a normal human thermometer should not be used, as it is not optimally suited for use in dogs.

Temperature measurement can certainly be carried out independently. If the suspicion of fever is confirmed, the next step is to identify the causes. Veterinarians have the necessary knowledge and means to make a diagnosis.

Depending on the cause and course of the disease, various therapeutic approaches are available for treating affected dogs. While in some cases it may be sensible and necessary to lower the dog's fever medicinally, in other diseases this is counterproductive, so instead, the underlying disease must be treated.

To prevent fever in dogs, it is important to provide them with a balanced diet, combined with sufficient exercise.