How to tell if a dog has a fever

The normal body temperature of small dogs: puppies are 38.5~39℃; adult dogs are 38~39℃.

Normal body temperature for medium-sized dogs: puppies 38.5~39℃; adult dogs 38~38.5℃.

Normal body temperature for large dogs: puppies 38.2~39℃; adult dogs 37.5~38℃.

To put it simply, when your dog’s body temperature exceeds 39.5℃, it means that your dog has a fever.
Related links: How to know if your dog has a fever. Do you know how to measure your dog’s temperature?

Dog feverCauses

Fever is caused by various external or internal stimuli that act on the body temperature regulation center. The body temperature center is in an excited pathological state, causing an imbalance in body temperature and heat dissipation. During fever, the function of phagocytes is enhanced, which is conducive to the production of antibodies in the body and is not conducive to the reproduction and survival of pathogens. Therefore, fever is a defensive response of the body against pathogens.

Dog Fever Symptoms

1. Observe whether the dog’s mental state is gloomy, whether it has lowered its head, drooped tail, stood still, or was unresponsive.

2. The dog’s nose is obviously dry and no longer wet like before.

3. Does the dog have symptoms of loss of appetite, picky eaters, refusal to eat, or suddenly likes to drink ice water?

4. Check whether the stool is normal.

5. Check the dog’s eyes to see if there is redness, swelling, discharge, or turbidity.

6. Use a thermometer to measure the dog’s rectal temperature, or measure the temperature of the inner thigh.

How to treat dog fever

1. The cause of dog fever must be ruled out, which is what we usually call the right medicine.

a. If the infection causes fever, the source of infection must be removed to keep the dog’s living environment hygienic.

b. If you have a cold or fever, you should pay attention to keeping your dog warm.

2. Go to the pet hospital to give your dog a fever-reducing injection.

3. Use alcohol to wipe the dog's foot pads, belly, and ears every once in a while.

4. Put an ice pack on the dog’s belly for about 1 minute, then put it on again after a while, repeat several times.

Possible complications of dog fever

1. Symptoms of fungal infection: chronic cough, diarrhea, skin suppuration, ulcers, and swollen lymph nodes.

2. Symptoms of bacterial endocarditis: reduced exercise tolerance of dogs, edema of limbs, cough, joint cysts, and lameness.

3. Symptoms of chronic liver disease: dogs lose weight, lose appetite, become irritable, and develop neurological symptoms.

4. Symptoms of empyema: chronic cough and difficulty breathing.

5.Symptoms of Ehrlichia infection: Dogs lose weight, lose appetite, nosebleeds and spotting bleeding, and mucus-like secretions appear in the eyes and nasal cavity.

6. Symptoms of chronic nephritis: This symptom is not very obvious. When the dog has loss of appetite or vomiting, or a few dogs will have anterior abdominal pain.

Warm Tips

Owners should choose the right method to reduce their dog’s fever and find the cause and prescribe the right medicine. Never abuse antipyretics or give random injections. Hold your dog when measuring its temperature to prevent the thermometer from breaking inside the dog's body! The most important thing is to wear more clothes for your dog, make appropriate corrections, and pay attention to the sleeping environment. Make sure you don't let it catch a cold in your sleep, and pay attention to the water temperature difference when taking a bath.