May 6, 2008

Tips For Discovering If Your Dog Has A Fever

by Floella McFee

Fido is lying listless in his bed; not even the temptation of slobbering on Aunty Mavis is of interest to him; his food is untouched, he may not be drinking much and a nice “walkies” is completely out the question. His eyes are dull and his manner is depressed. What on earth is the matter with Fido? It is unlikely that he’s simply bored with his home life; it’s probably indicative that Fido might be ill; and these listless behavioural symptoms are a sign of fever.

As with humans, feverishness is the body’s mechanism for dealing with infections, either bacterial, viral or through toxins. A human knows how feverish person feels to the touch, this is not always so obvious in a dog. For a start their temperature is slightly higher than that of a human: in a healthy dog it ranges somewhere between 37.8C (100F) and 39.3C (102.7F). They moderate their temperature differently: whereas we will sweat, the dog pants. Although Fido will normally feel hotter than a human if you touch his ears or his nose, in the case of a fever, he will feel hotter than usual.

It may be that he is showing more obvious signs of illness, such as scratching, pain when he moves, or vomiting and/or diarrhoea. If there is any doubt about a fever in Fido, the only way to prove concretely is to take his temperature using a thermometer.

The usual method of taking a dog’s temperature with a thermometer is via the rectum. Obviously this will not be the most enjoyable experience for poor old Fido, particularly if he’s not feeling at his best. Insertion can be made easier by coating the thermometer with petroleum jelly.

Of course when in doubt it’s always best to consult a vet, but if the temperature is slightly above 102F, and he’s not showing any very serious signs of illness, then this might only be a mild fever. It may be considered wise to allow Fido to fight this off himself; it will boost his immune system. Unfortunately, as the temperature is being taking rectally, poo poo lurking in his back passage could give a false reading. Take his temperature at regular intervals, particularly after he’s evacuated his bowels. If his temperature increases, or was already at 105 or above, Fido is a very ill dog and will need immediate medical attention.

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