Body temperature is one of the most important indicators, indicators of the health status of our pets. Even minor deviations from the physiological norm signal about systemic-functional failures, the development of diseases, infections, inflammation. Temperature indicators in most cases help to find out what the dog is sick with, to determine the complexity of the situation.
To control the condition of dogs, owners should regularly measure and monitor the pet’s temperature, know what is the norm, and what is the deviation. Having determined that the dog’s temperature is raised or lower than the physiological norm, immediate measures can be taken to normalize her condition. Consider how to properly measure the temperature of the dog, by what signs can determine the heat without the use of special devices.
Contents
Normal body temperature in dogs
Throughout their life, dogs are susceptible to a variety of pathologies and diseases. One of the indicators of general malaise, a sign of many diseases, infections is a change in body temperature in the direction of increase, decrease. Therefore, dog breeders should know exactly what the body temperature of a dog should be in the norm.
Important! Temperature indicators may have minor deviations from the physiological norm in dogs of different breeds and age groups. In addition, during the day, the temperature can vary slightly.
Normally, the body temperature of a healthy dog is 37.6-38.6 degrees. In the puppy, the indices are higher – 38.8-39.1.
Temperature parameters of the body also depend on the time of day, breed, age, size, weight. Therefore, they may differ slightly.
The older the dog is, the larger the dog, the lower its temperature will be (37.5-38.3). In puppies, representatives of miniature, small decorative rocks (Yorkies, pugs, chinas, levreets), temperature indicators range from 38.2 to 38.8-39 degrees.
Important! Changes in temperature by one to two degrees should be regarded by dog breeders as an alarm signal, which can not be ignored.
A brief slight increase in temperature is noted:
- after rest, sleep;
- the transferred stress, emotional shock, excitement;
- physical activity, heavy loads;
- active mobile games;
- after staying in a hot, stuffy room, after walking in the sun.
For females, the temperature rises several degrees during the estrus. Changes are noted during pregnancy, for several days, hours before childbirth.
To know what should be the temperature in your dog’s normal, measure it twice a day (in the morning, in the evening) for seven days, recording the indicators.
When you need to measure the temperature of a dog
Even if the dog is active, energetic, normally feels, for preventive purposes, veterinarians recommend periodically making control measurements.
Despite the fact that this procedure is unpleasant for animals, it is necessary to accustom to it a pet from an early age. After the procedure, be sure to encourage the dog delicacy, affectionate tone.
On a mandatory basis, dogs are measured in the following cases:
- with a sharp weight loss;
- in case of a sudden decrease in activity;
- unnatural, inadequate behavior;
- If the dog had contact with stray, infected animals;
- the refusal of feed, a decrease in appetite, a violation of digestion;
- before and after vaccination, deworming.
Measure the temperature, if the dog is always asleep, reluctantly goes for a walk, looks listless, apathetic. The cause for concern are: increased thirst, abundant mucous membranes, mucocutaneous catarrhal discharge from the eyes, nose, pallor, cyanosis of the mucous membranes.
These and other symptomatology, which is not characteristic of a healthy dog, may indicate the development of system pathologies, diseases of various etiologies.
Healthy dogs also need to measure temperature throughout pregnancy, before childbirth and for several days after the birth of the offspring. The day before birth, the temperature in females is reduced by about 0.5-1 degrees.
How to measure body temperature in a dog at home
To measure and know the temperature of the dog, get a mercurial or digital thermometer in the vetaptek. To facilitate the procedure, you will also need Vaseline or vegetable oil.
Advice! Using a conventional thermometer, the procedure takes 5-6 minutes, and when using a digital thermometer, it takes no more than a minute. In addition, electronic devices give a more accurate picture. There are also contact thermometers available.
How to know the temperature without a thermometer
If you do not have a thermometer at hand, you can determine the temperature without a thermometer. Any changes, deviations from the norm will affect the condition and behavior of your dog. In addition, there are certain points on the body of animals that can be used to understand if the dog has a fever.
To find the body temperature of a dog without a digital, mercury thermometer, you can:
- on the nose of the nose, ears;
- a condition mucous, on gums;
- behavior;
- appearance;
- skin condition.
Without a thermometer to determine the temperature of the dog can be on the lobe of the spout. With a strong heat, high temperature, the pet’s nose will be warm, hot to the touch. On the lobe there are noticeable white stains, dry crusts, scabs. In healthy dogs, the nose is wet, clean, the color of the lobe is not changed. There should be no discharge from the nostrils. But do not forget that a dry dog’s nose does not always signal a high temperature. For example, a warm lobe can be after sleep, active games, walks in warm weather.
Touch the back of the palm to the armpits, the groin area. With hyperthermia, if the dog has a fever, these places will be hot to the touch. Skin tight, slightly swollen.
If the fever is associated with an infection, palpate the regional lymph nodes. They will be hot, painful, enlarged in size due to inflammation.
When dogs have fever
High temperature in dogs is noted for virus-bacterial diseases (pyroplasmosis, leptospirosis, plague, enteritis), invasive diseases (helminthiases).
An increase in the overall temperature in animals can be caused by:
- an allergy, a strong emotional stress;
- change of milk teeth (in puppies from three to nine months);
- infection;
- poisoning;
- estrus;
- prolonged overheating;
- dermatological chronic pathologies (furuncles, abscesses);
- heat, walks in the open sun (sunstroke, heat shock);
- inflammatory processes in the body (inflammation of the skin, joints);
- respiratory diseases.
Hyperthermia can be triggered by inoculation, medication in case of individual intolerance to the body of their components that make up the body.
Low fever (hypothermia) in a dog, possible causes
Lowering the temperature can be caused by heavy bleeding, hypothermia, prolonged exposure to cold, frost. A similar picture is often noted in rabies, Auski, pyroplasmosis, parvovirus enteritis of small puppies, coronaviroza, exacerbation of autoimmune pathologies.
Low temperature is noted in weakened, exhausted dogs, after surgical operations, which were accompanied by heavy bleeding, during rehabilitation after a long illness.
Normally, a slight decrease in temperature is detected in the bitches several hours before the birth, and also in the first trimester of pregnancy due to hormonal changes in the body.
In the event that the temperature is greatly increased, it is lowered, and even when the temperature is normal, but you notice that there is something wrong with the pet, there is some symptomatology indicating malaise, we recommend that you visit the branch and show the dog a vet. In some cases, an accurate diagnosis can be made only after a number of diagnostic, laboratory studies. The earlier the root cause of the disease is established, the greater the chance of saving the life of your beloved dog.
Look at the gums of the pet. If the dog has a fever, the mucous membranes will be pale, anemic, or vice versa, hyperemic. Gums at a high temperature are often swollen, dry, warm, bright orange, scarlet. The healthy dog has mucous moist, gentle pink color. On their surface there should be no ulcers, ulcers.
Touch the ears and paws of dogs. In these places there are many blood vessels, so if the dog temperature, they will be hot.
The dog raises not only the general, but also the local temperature in the localization of the inflammatory process in some organ or part of the body. For example, the skin can be hot in the area of the wound, abscess, with damage to the auricle, paws. But it is not necessary to relax, as the inflammation without treatment develops rapidly, and the local temperature often provokes a fever, fever.
The body temperature is measured rectally. Before the procedure, calm the dog in a gentle tone. Do not shout, do not use physical strength. As the dog can break out during the measurement, it is more convenient to carry out the procedure with an assistant, which will fix the dog well in the desired position.
We perform the following actions:
- Lubricate the tip of the thermometer. Soothe the animal. The procedure is as calm as possible. The animal should not be frightened, instituted, as this will affect the indicators, and they may be distorted.
- Lay the dog neatly on its side, take the tail up and to the side. Measure the temperature of the pet in standing position.
- Slowly insert the thermometer into the anus at 2-2.5 cm.
- Constantly calm the dog, make sure that it does not make sudden movements.
After five minutes, remove and record the results. Keep digital until an audible signal appears. Treat the dog with a delicacy, praise, wipe the thermometer with alcohol and, putting it in a protective case, take it away.
Note that the thermometer should belong only to your pet!
