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WHAT IS THE NORMAL BODY TEMPERATURE IN DOGS?
The dog's normal body temperature is between 37,5 – 39 °C. During hard physical exertion, it is completely normal for the body temperature to reach 40 °C without this meaning that your dog has a fever. With some rest, the temperature will drop again. Elevated body temperature can also be caused by external factors, such as from the sun. This is called heatstroke.
Read more about symptoms of heat stroke in dogs in our veterinary blog!
Causes of fever in dogs
Common causes of fever in dogs are due to inflammatory conditions or infections. If your dog has an infection, it will try to fight it by raising its body temperature. Other possible causes of fever in dogs can be anything from kennel cough, reactions to drugs, stress and immunological diseases, to pain, heat stroke or poisoning in dogs.
How do you tell if a dog has a fever?
It can be difficult to see if a dog has a fever without measuring it rectally. The temperature is often taken in connection with other symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea or if the dog is shivering. If your dog has a fever, you should not give antipyretics made for humans. Medicines such as Paracet or Ibux are harmful to both dogs and cats. Some of the symptoms of fever, such as hot paws or ears, can occur even if the dog does not have an elevated body temperature.
Symptoms of fever in dogs:
- Higher body temperature than 39,5 °C
- Persistent temperature above 39,2 °C
- Decreased appetite
- Increased desire to drink
- Impaired general condition, lethargy
- Confusion or restlessness
- Trembling
- Shallow breathing
- Stronger red color on gums than normal
- High heart rate/low heart rate
- Dry nose (healthy dogs can also have a dry nose from time to time without it signifying a fever)
How to measure a dog's fever?
To check if the dog has a fever, you can measure the temperature in the rectal opening with a digital thermometer. It is not possible to measure a dog's fever by feeling whether the muzzle, ears, tongue or other places on the body are warm. If you measure body temperature inaccurately, it may result in you not picking up temperatures that are more acute to treat. It may be a good idea to measure the temperature of your dog when you know it is healthy, so that you get a clue as to what the normal temperature is for your four-legged friend.
Step-by-step: How to take your dog's temperature
You can use a digital thermometer intended for humans, but you may want to clearly mark the thermometer with "for dogs only" to avoid confusion later.
It is easier to take your dog's temperature if there are two of you. Then one can keep the dog calm, preferably with some treats, while the other takes the temperature.
A tip to reduce the discomfort for the dog is to use neutral oil, vaseline or fatty ointment to get the thermometer in far enough (approx. 1 - 2,5 cm, a little depending on the size of the skin)
When the thermometer beeps, the measurement is complete and you can see the result on the display.
If your four-legged friend strongly objects, you can leave the measurement to a veterinarian.
When should I see a vet?
Consult a veterinarian if the thermometer shows temperatures above 40 °C. At temperatures above 41 °C, the condition can be life-threatening and you should go to the vet immediately. If the dog's body temperature has only risen slightly, but is otherwise in good general condition, you do not need to rush your dog to the clinic. Contact your vet for advice, while you wait and watch the development closely. Make sure the dog gets enough rest, water and food in the meantime. If the fever does not subside, or the vet suspects that it may be something more serious based on other symptoms or causes, it will be appropriate to take the dog to the clinic. Here we can carry out proper examinations, such as carrying out blood tests, ultrasound or X-rays if applicable. Remember that you can always contact a vet if you suspect illness, even if the dog does not have a fever.
