What to do if your dog has a fever
Dogs like their human friends get fever too. Fever or the change in the body's normal temperature is an indication that something is amiss in the dog's system. In an effort to fight invasive noxious bacterial or viral agents, the body will generate heat that is beyond the set point of body temperature. Dogs' normal body temperature that is from 100F to 102F is higher than human's normal body temperature of about 98 F. The dogs inability to speak and the rather elevated temperature of dogs makes it harder for pet owners to know if the pet has a fever.
How would you know if the dog has a fever? A healthy dog would be bright eyed and have an alert expression. We know how energetic dogs are but a sick pet would be lethargic. Sluggishness is one of the symptoms of fever and a dog that curls in a corner and sleeps all day is unwell. Another telltale sign of fever is the dog's refusal to eat and drink. A change in behavior is one of the signs that the dog is unwell.
Dogs are affectionate pets and the indifference to the family's attention is a glaring sign that something is wrong with the pet. Warmer nose, ears and fur will cue you that the pet has a fever. To accurately read temperature of the pet a rectal temperature must be used. It would be best to use rectal thermometer as it would yield quick results.
Canine fever can be due to various reasons. Leaving a dog outdoors when the weather is hot can cause body temperature to rise. Fever though is commonly caused by infection. In spite of having good appetites a dog with fever will refuse to eat. If the dog refuses to eat, the pet must at least be coached to drink to prevent dehydration. Use a syringe with the needle removed to get the pet to drink.
Pet owners "ignore" the fever of the dog as it is usually gone after a few days. But if the dog shows no infected cuts, canine fever is associated with cancer, autoimmune diseases and organ diseases. Fevers of unknown origin are the hardest to treat as the elevated body temperature would just happen with no apparent reason. These cases certainly need a vet's expertise. The vet will conduct a thorough physical examination as well as diagnostic tests and once a definitive diagnosis is obtained a course of treatment can be formulated.
How would you know if the dog has a fever? A healthy dog would be bright eyed and have an alert expression. We know how energetic dogs are but a sick pet would be lethargic. Sluggishness is one of the symptoms of fever and a dog that curls in a corner and sleeps all day is unwell. Another telltale sign of fever is the dog's refusal to eat and drink. A change in behavior is one of the signs that the dog is unwell.
Dogs are affectionate pets and the indifference to the family's attention is a glaring sign that something is wrong with the pet. Warmer nose, ears and fur will cue you that the pet has a fever. To accurately read temperature of the pet a rectal temperature must be used. It would be best to use rectal thermometer as it would yield quick results.
Canine fever can be due to various reasons. Leaving a dog outdoors when the weather is hot can cause body temperature to rise. Fever though is commonly caused by infection. In spite of having good appetites a dog with fever will refuse to eat. If the dog refuses to eat, the pet must at least be coached to drink to prevent dehydration. Use a syringe with the needle removed to get the pet to drink.
Pet owners "ignore" the fever of the dog as it is usually gone after a few days. But if the dog shows no infected cuts, canine fever is associated with cancer, autoimmune diseases and organ diseases. Fevers of unknown origin are the hardest to treat as the elevated body temperature would just happen with no apparent reason. These cases certainly need a vet's expertise. The vet will conduct a thorough physical examination as well as diagnostic tests and once a definitive diagnosis is obtained a course of treatment can be formulated.
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