Anal Thermometry for Dogs

1. Shake the thermometer so that the reading drops below 30°C.
2. Grasp the base of the dog's tail and gently lift it, insert the thermometer 3-5cm into the anus, and measure for 3-5 minutes.
3. Apply some Vaseline or dip some water on the top of the thermometer to make it easier to insert. What is measured in this way is the rectal temperature. When measuring daily body temperature, you can measure the skin temperature of the dog's inner thigh (just like people measure the armpit temperature).
4. When the dog is suspected of being sick, measure the rectal temperature. The rectal temperature is more accurate. Usually the skin temperature will be about 5℃ lower than the rectal temperature.
5. Check the thermometer reading. If it is between 37.5℃-39.2℃, it means the dog is normal. Higher or lower temperatures may be a sign of illness. If your body temperature is above 39.5°C or very low, please contact your veterinarian immediately.

How to measure the temperature of dogs on their hind legs

1. Shake the thermometer so that the reading drops below 30°C.
2. Let the dog lie on its side. After the dog's condition is stable, lift one of its hind legs, place the thermometer at the root of the hind leg, put the hind leg down, and the thermometer will naturally be clamped The base of the leg.
3. The owner needs full supervision throughout the process. The measurement time is 7-8 minutes, after which the thermometer can be taken out.
4. Check the thermometer reading. If it is between 37.5℃-39.2℃, it means the dog is normal. Higher or lower temperatures may be a sign of illness. If your body temperature is above 39.5°C or very low, please contact your veterinarian immediately.

Precautions when measuring dog temperature

1. When measuring dog temperature, you need to pay attention to disinfection. Both the thermometer and the dog’s anus need to be disinfected to avoid bacterial infection.
2. The body temperature of puppies will be higher than that of adult dogs. The body temperature is slightly lower in the morning and slightly higher in the afternoon. The temperature difference between day and night is generally not more than 1 degree.