Skip to main content

ALL ABOUT THE FEVER IN DOGS

ALL ABOUT THE FEVER IN DOGS

The fever in dogs or fever Canine is an increase in body temperature above normal values, which are between 38 and 39ºC , due, for example, to an infection or inflammation.There are different causes that cause the fever and we can easily measure it with the use of a digital thermometer.

Next, in this article of Animals and Pets Online we will explain everything you need to know about fever in dogs, causes, symptoms and treatment to be applied to lower it.That is, if you suspect that your dog may suffer from fever, we recommend you go to your trusted veterinarian to discover the cause that is causing it and the treatment indicated according to your specific case.

What temperature is considered fever in dogs?

Fever is an excellent defense mechanism of the body .By increasing body temperature, the immune system seeks to destroy the pathogen.Therefore, it is a immune system reaction very beneficial for the dog in the face of an illness.

The normal temperature of a dog

The body temperature of an adult dog is between 38 and 39ºC [1] ( Celsius degrees ) which may vary depending on the circumstances.However, after exceeding 39ºC we will consider that the dog's body temperature is too high and, therefore, that He suffers from fever.Starting at 41ºC we will face a veterinary emergency.

It is common to observe irregularities in the temperature of the dog when we are faced with a puppy, a young dog, dogs near to give birth and even in very old dogs.In any case, if we observe that our dog is not able to regulate correctly the temperature has increased significantly, it will be indicated to go to the specialist to notify you of the possibility of an increase in canine fever.

ALL ABOUT THE FEVER IN DOGS

Causes of fever in dogs

There are many different causes that can cause canine fever, not only those that we will show you below, therefore, we emphasize the importance of visiting the veterinarian, because the specialist is The only figure that can make a truthful diagnosis, however, we will show you the most frequent ones.

Some of the causes of fever in dogs , whether adults or puppies are:

Symptoms of fever in dogs

Although there are several signs that may suggest that a dog has a fever, the only truthful way to ensure it is by introducing a thermometer in the rectal area .Still, we will show you some signs that usually accompany this syndrome.

The most common symptoms of fever in dogs are:

  • Hot nose
  • Dry nose
  • Apatia
  • Sadness
  • Tremors
  • Nasal discharge
  • Vomits
  • Anorexia
  • Diarrhea
  • Discomfort
  • Aggression
  • Sleep

Now you know some of the most frequent manifestations that usually accompany the fever.However, remember that the fever itself is not a disease, but a symptom more of a possible pathology.Then we will explain how to take a dog's temperature with the use of a step-by-step thermometer:

How to take a dog's temperature correctly?

The most accurate and accurate way to take a dog's temperature is by using a thermometer and introducing it to his rectal area, but before you start you must have some considerations clear.

Take a dog's temperature step by step

Choose a digital thermometer or a safe material to take its temperature.Relax your dog with caresses and voice, to prevent it from moving and harming itself.If it is not possible, ask another person for help and hold it.Embed the thermometer with lubricant or petroleum jelly, so that it is less uncomfortable.Enter the thermometer at least 2 centimeters inside the anus.Wait for the time indicated by the thermometer.If you do not have a timer, wait at least a couple of minutes before take it out.Once the temperature is taken, remove the thermometer and wash it with ethyl alcohol to properly disinfect it.

After measuring the temperature of the dog, you can easily identify if you have a fever or not.Remember that after 39 ° C or more considers that a dog suffers from fever and that from 41ºC we are facing a veterinary emergency.

When a dog's temperature is low, is he a fever?

It may happen that, in a timely manner and due to a decrease in the temperature of the environment, the dog's body temperature is below 38 ° C, however, when we notice that it is below 37 ° C and even 35 ° C , we are facing a case of hypothermia.

We would also observe some frequent symptoms of hypothermia in dogs, such as tremors, muscle stiffness, slow breathing, lethargy and difficulty finding the pulse of the animal.It would be essential to call our veterinarian to indicate how to proceed from that moment to warm the dog taking into account the body temperature it shows.

In cases of severe hypothermia, it may be necessary hospitalization of the animal, to be able to carry out an emergency treatment while it is being observed.Fluid injection may be necessary.intravenous a or the use of enemas, for example.

Treatment for fever in dogs

You may wonder how to lower a dog's fever, however, you should know that the veterinarian is the only specialist trained to apply a treatment in case of fever in the dog, since is requires a diagnosis that indicates the underlying cause that is causing the rise in body temperature in the can.The treatment to be applied will depend directly on the pathology suffered by the animal and it may be necessary to use of antibiotics or fluid therapy.

Fever in dogs, how to lower it?

Even if we are facing a serious situation, it is very important to keep in mind that we should never self-medicate our dog .There are many prohibited human medicines for dogs, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, which could be fatal or cause serious damage to your body.

The best thing to do is go directly to the veterinary center or make an emergency call to receive Go to the specialist's advice, which will guide us based on the symptoms that the dog presents.

ALL ABOUT THE FEVER IN DOGS

Home remedies for fever in dogs

If you are facing an emergency and cannot go to the veterinarian, you can apply some remedies and tricks to try to lower the temperature slightly, however, before and after applying them it is essential to contact the veterinarian , even by telephone, who will indicate if these tips are correct according to your specific case.Do not forget that fever can be a symptom of many pathologies, some of them very serious, that if not treated in time endanger the life of the animal.

How to lower a dog's fever?

Some tips to reduce fever in dogs are:

  • Lightly moisten a sponge or towel and cool with it certain areas of the dog's body, such as the abdomen, the English or the armpits.Check your body temperature every 15 minutes to see what effects this process has in the dog and if it manages to lower its temperature, yes, it is not advisable that the dog is humid for a long time, as it could cause an excessive decrease in its coporal temperature, causing hypothermia.Have a dry towel handy to dry it.It will also be essential that you have a dryer and a blanket on hand to cover it if that happens.
  • Keep your dog well hydrated at all times.It may be interesting to bring the trough and even administer water directly in the mouth with the help of a syringe without a needle, always in small quantities.If your dog does not accept it, you can try to stimulate it with homemade chicken broth (without onion, garlic or salt) or with very warm moist food.

During the whole process you should take Their temperature and paying attention to all the symptoms that the animal presents to be able to provide your veterinarian with all the possible information about the clinical picture.Do not forget to treat him with affection and be close to encourage him, as it will help him to feel more secure and relaxed, fundamental in any disease process.

If your condition does not improve after 4 or 6 hours, you should go to the emergency veterinarian .

The prevention of fever in dogs

Although it is not always possible to prevent our partner from suffering from a pathology, some basic preventive medicine tips can help you prevent certain diseases.

How to avoid fever in dogs?

We offer you some tips:

  • Veterinary reviews every 6-12 months: Many diseases could be prevented and treated more effectively if they were detected in time.Preventive medicine can save us a lot of money and time by detecting a pathology quickly.
  • Vaccination : It is essential to follow the schedule of vaccines of the dog.Without them, Your best friend may be susceptible to any disease that puts his life at risk, such as distemper or parvovirus.
  • Deworming : There are many external and internal parasites that can cause diseases in our dog.To avoid it, you should deworm your dog on a regular basis, t at and as directed by the veterinarian.There is a wide variety of products on the market and many are quite economical.
  • Toxicity : identify which are toxic plants for dogs as well as Toxic food for dogs will be essential to avoid possible poisoning.Inform yourself properly and if you are not sure, offer only a food already prepared for dogs.
  • Cold and heat : the ambient temperature is very important for dogs, it depends on it not to suffer a heat stroke, a cold or hypothermia.We will avoid being outside for a long time if the temperatures are too low or too high and we will take precautions to avoid exposing it in a way Excessive.

The care and constant affection of an owner are the best remedy to avoid a cold or the appearance of any disease, such as fever in dogs.Even so, sometimes it will be inevitable that Our dog suffers from certain diseases, but by following these tips we can minimize the risk.

ALL ABOUT THE FEVER IN DOGS

This article is merely informative, at Animals and Pets Online we have no power to prescribe veterinary treatments or make any type of diagnosis.We invite you to take your pet to the veterinarian in the event that it presents any type of condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to Fever in dogs-Causes, symptoms and treatment , we recommend that you enter our section of Infectious Diseases.

References

Gabriella Tami, Vital signs in dogs , Affinity PetcareThe Doctors Book of Home Remedies for Dogs and Cats, Rodale Press, 1996

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Names of animals with J in Spanish and English

Children easily learn new words and their meaning, something that Not only does it have fun, but it helps them learn new languages.English, for example, is an essential language today, due to the constant diversification and mixing of cultures among people from anywhere in the world. For this reason, we have prepared a list with names of animals that begin with "J", a great way to teach the names of animals in English to primary school children, as well as in Spanish.Do you want your little ones to know all the animals in the world? Then start with our list of animal names with J in Spanish and English , memorizing them is simple and fun! Names of animals with J in Spanish Do you know the animals with J that we bring for you on this list? Find out what they are! Jabiru It's a kind of stork of great size, it can reach 14 centimeters high and 3 meters long with the wings unfolded.It does not emit any type of sound or song, but communicates through blows that it...

14 Animals with feathers - List with names and curiosities

What are the animals with feathers? When you think of feathers, what animals come to your head? You probably remember species such as duck, chicken, hummingbird or ruisenor.Now, do birds only have feathers? The answer to this is yes .Only birds have feathers, this is a feature that allows a species to be included in the group of birds. However, it has been shown that, in the past, some dinosaur species also developed feathers and from them the birds we know descend.Today there is still no definitive conclusion about what caused the change from scales to feathers (thinking about crocodiles, other prehistoric creatures), the different theories plan that it could be due to a process evolutionary to allow the flight of those species of dinosaurs that moved over the treetops and branches through jumps, while others point to thermal protection or attraction mechanisms during the mating season. Despite this, if there is evidence as they point to the dinosaurs belonging to the group ...

Urea high in dogs - Symptoms and treatment

Sometimes, we need to perform a blood test to our dog.It may be because he is ill and we try to reach a diagnosis or as part of a complete review, which is recommended in dogs older than seven years.Within the parameters that are analyzed in a blood test is urea. In this article by ExpertAnimal we will explain what high urea means in dogs , since it is usually the most frequent alteration of this parameter, although it may also appear low, as we will see. Urea The urea is a component of urine and is the residue generated by the metabolism of proteins that takes place in the human body, mainly in the liver .Yes, the urea present in the urine is the result of this metabolism and, also, of the breakdown of body cells. The liver is passed to the kidneys and from these the elimination takes place in the form of urine.If there is any problem in these organs it will result in alterations in the urea level.In a diet with an excess of proteins we could also find the urea eleva...

Pododermatitis in Dogs - Symptoms and Treatment (WITH PHOTOS)

What is pododermatitis in dogs? Pododermatitis is the inflammation of the interdigital spaces of the feet and hands of dogs and other animals as a result of various causes.Often, the trigger is a hit in the area or the action of a foreign body that has caused an injury.Therefore, it will be more frequent in animals that transit through forested areas or perform hunting activities, races or jumps that can damage their feet or hands.By foreign body we understand any object capable of causing injuries such as crystals, spines or stones. Causes of pododermatitis in dogs Despite the above, pododermatitis has many other causes such as the action of irritating substances responsible for contact dermatitis, the allergies , the presence of parasites , such as scabies or flea mites, or the development of fungi.Also, endocrine diseases such as hypothyroidism, autoimnune or interdigital cysts are also among the list of causes of Pododermatitis in dogs.In addition, psychological problem...

How often should I change my cat's sand?

The sandbox is a tool essential for the daily hygiene of our felines.We must ensure that the cleaning we do is adequate, with the aim of preventing health problems and even behavioral problems that are related to the lack of cleaning.This very important aspect is common that doubts arise from the caretakers when choosing the sand, the sandbox itself, which is the best place to install it or how and how often to clean it. Maybe you wonder how often change the silica sand or binder, the recommended amount of sand or the frequency of complete sand change, for this reason, in this article of Animals and Pets Online we will focus on explaining how much we should change the sand of our cat .We will see the importance of maintaining the hygiene of a reindeer and how to preserve it in the best conditions. The importance of the sandbox for cats From a very young age, kittens learn to use the sandbox and, except for behavioral disorders or specific diseases, they will continue to use ...

Diclofenac for dogs - Dosage and uses

The diclofenac sodium is the active substance of a a well-known drug and used under the trade name of Voltaren or Voltadol.It is a product that is used to fight pain .Has your veterinarian prescribed it for your dog? Do you have questions about its uses or doses? In this article of Animals and Pets Online we will talk about diclofenac for dogs , how this drug is used in veterinary medicine and what aspects are important to consider for its use As we always insist, this and any other medication can only be administered to a dog by veterinary prescription . Is diclofenac bad for dogs? Diclofenac is an active substance included in the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatories , that is, those commonly known as NSAIDs.They are products that are prescribed for pain relief, especially related to bone joint problems .Diclofenac can be used for dogs as long as it is prescribed by the veterinarian. Veterinary use of diclofenac Diclofenac for pain in dogs is used in veterinary me...

Can I bathe my dog ​​if I just wormed him?

When is it a first time in adopting a dog, it is normal that many doubts arise about what is best for them and when it is advisable to do everything, so Animals and Pets Online solves all the questions that arise. Deworming your dog periodically is necessary to preserve their health and avoid possible diseases from the action of microorganisms, external and internal parasites, among others.If you do not know when you should bathe your dog after a deworming , keep reading this article. Why deworm the dog? You may think that deworming is not necessary, but the truth is that thanks to it you avoid your dog much discomfort, in addition to prevent diseases transmitted by parasites . Among the main parasites, both external and internal, are ticks, fleas, lice, losacaros and intestinal worms, among many others.Pruritus, hair loss, diarrhea, tick disease, and even death in the most serious cases, they are part of the consequences that cause these beings to stay in the body of your furr...

Types of monkeys and their names

Monkeys are primates classified according to scientific jargon in the Platirrinos or monkeys of the new world and the Cercopitecoideos or monkeys of the old world.The hominoids, which would be primates that have no tail, where man enters. Animals such as orangutan, chimpance, gorilla or gibbons also do not enter the scientific classification of monkeys, since the latter, in addition to having a tail, have a more primitive skeleton and are small animals. Then you can see the scientific classification of monkeys in more detail, where you can distinguish two different parvordenes and a total of six families of monkeys, all this in this article of Animals and Pets Online.The different types of monkeys and their names you can see them below: Classification of the Simiiform infraorder To correctly understand everything about the types of monkeys we must detail that there are a total of 6 families of monkeys grouped in 2 different parvordenes. Parvorden Platyrrhini: This in...

10 exotic birds of Chile

Chile is a country in South America that has an impressive geographical variety, due to the which can be found in mountainous areas, volcanic islands and even a polar strip.This multiplicity of climates and zones brings with it a great diversity of species in both flora and fauna. The exotic birds of Chile do not fall behind in terms of this diversity, thanks to which it is possible to find from small birds of warm climates, to penguins.Read reading this article of Animals and Pets Online so that you find out what are the most characteristic species of this country. 1 Andean Condor The Vultur gryphus , also called condor de los Andes, is considered the national bird of Chile , so it appears on the national shield.it's easy: its plumage is almost all black, with white wings and red head .It lives in rocky areas and feeds on carrona.Its appearance is imposing and intimidating. 2.Chilean Flamenco There are six species of flamingos around the world, and three of them ar...