The dog has a fever, what can the owner do at home?

A change in temperature in dogs is the main indicator of well-being, indicating that something is wrong with the pet. Normal temperatures vary slightly between breeds. The indicators are individual for each dog, so measurements are taken regularly. In an adult dog, the temperature ranges from 37.5° to 38.5°. The normal temperature of puppies is 39°. Breed also affects body temperature: the larger the animal, the “colder-blooded” it is. If the normal body temperature of a small breed dog in a healthy state is 38.5-39°, for large breeds it is lower – 37.4-38.3°.

It happens that owners are worried about their pet’s high temperature. Start with a complete examination of the dog, determine if the behavior is different from normal. The human body regulates temperature through sweating, quickly cooling the body. Dogs do not sweat; sweat glands are present in several breeds. When cooling down, pets stick out their tongues and begin to breathe quickly.

Standards for adult dogs

Normal body temperature in dogs remains in the range of 37.3 to 39.3℃. More accurate numbers are individual for each animal.

Veterinarians have not established a direct relationship between the values ​​on the thermometer and the breed; size, body weight and age are much more important. Dogs of different breeds of the same weight category have the same temperature standards.

Small dogs expend more energy. All biochemical processes occur more intensively in them, including heat generation. Therefore, body temperature is closer to the upper limit of normal.

Large dogs burn less energy: for every one step of a Shepherd, there are several steps of a Yorkie. The larger the dog, the slower the metabolism and the lower the thermometer.

The table shows temperature norms for adult dogs by body size and weight:

Size	Weight, kg	t℃
Small	2 – 12	38,5 – 39,3
Average	13 – 27	37,5 – 39,0
Large	28 – 90	37,3 – 38,3

During the day, the temperature changes by 0.2 - 0.4 degrees:

• During sleep and the first hours after waking up, it decreases.
• In the evening, after eating, physical activity increases.

It is widely believed that hairless dogs are hotter than their furry counterparts – up to 40℃ or more. In fact, temperature values ​​do not exceed the normal limits in its weight category.

When you urgently need to see a doctor if you have a fever

The need for professional help arises if a dog develops:

• Convulsions;
• Loss of consciousness;
• Discharge of unclear nature;

results exceed 39.5 C. You should not administer medications on your own or try to reduce the fever. A consultation with a veterinarian will help identify the cause of hyperthermia, as well as select an effective course of treatment.

Norms for puppies

The first days after birth, the thermometer stays at 35 - 36℃. Then it gradually rises and by 4 weeks reaches 38.2 - 39.3℃.

Due to accelerated metabolism, the temperature values ​​in a puppy up to a year are always higher than in an adult dog. Moreover, they also depend on body weight.

The table shows temperature norms for puppies older than 1 month:

Size	Weight, kg	t℃
Small	0,3 – 1	38,6 – 39,3
Average	1 – 3,5	38,3 – 39,1
Large	3,5+	38,2 – 39,0

With age, metabolism slows down. In older dogs, the thermometer readings decrease by several notches.

Thermometry

In dogs, measurements are taken in the rectum with a regular pharmaceutical thermometer:

• A mercury thermometer is the most accurate, but fragile.
• An electronic thermometer allows an error of about 0.1 - 0.5 degrees. But it ends with a soft tip and is absolutely safe.

The procedure takes a few minutes:

1. Prepare your pet's personal thermometer. Shake the mercury so that the column drops below 37. For the electronic one, press the button until the letter L appears. Lubricate the heat-sensitive tip with Vaseline or cream. The family thermometer is not used for hygiene reasons.
2. Secure your pet standing or lay it on its side, raise its tail.
3. Carefully insert the thermometer into the anus, slightly pressing it against the wall. For a large and medium-sized dog - by 2 - 2.5 cm, for a small dog or puppy - by 1 - 1.5 cm.
4. Hold the mercury thermometer for 5 – 7 minutes, the electronic one until the signal beeps, this will take up to 40 seconds.
5. After the procedure, rinse the thermometer with soap and disinfect.

Non-contact infrared and ear thermometers give only approximate results in animals.

Symptoms of hyperthermia

A hot, dry nose does not always indicate a high temperature.

It becomes warm and dry during sleep, with overwork and excitement, and thirst. In older dogs, dryness occurs due to impaired production of moisturizing secretions.

Other signs of fever are much more informative:

• hot ears, paw pads, armpits, groin.
• crusts, whitish coating on the nose.
• bright, swollen, dry gums, sometimes with small wounds.
• teary eyes.
• trembling in the limbs.
• increased heart rate and breathing.

The dog with a fever looks depressed. He eats poorly, drinks a lot, refuses to play, and tries to retire.

Owners need to know:

• An increase in body temperature above 40.5°C leads to loss of fluid from the body, decreased or absent appetite, general depression, accompanied by rapid heartbeat and breathing.
• A body temperature above 41.1°C leads to a critical loss of fluid from the body, can cause swelling of the brain and serious disturbances in the functioning of internal organs, which are manifested by: rapid heartbeat and heart rhythm disturbances, severe shortness of breath, accompanied by wheezing, diarrhea and vomiting, yellowing of the conjunctiva of the eyes and mucous membrane of the oral cavity, lack of urine and the appearance of the smell of acetone from the mouth, bleeding from the intestines and hemorrhages on the skin.

Any of these complications can quickly lead to the death of the animal.

Causes of high temperature

Any deviation from the norm is associated with an imbalance in heat generation and heat transfer. A short-term increase of 0.5 - 1℃ occurs for natural reasons:

• Intense physical activity.
• Emotional shock: separation from the owner, moving, even a trip to the veterinarian.
• Overexcitement: aggression, fighting, severe fear.
• During the heat.
• Change of teeth in a puppy.
• Reaction to vaccination.
• Changes in hormonal levels in females during estrus.
• On the first day after birth due to the flow of milk.

After a short-term increase, temperature values ​​are restored to normal. In the summer heat, dogs suffer from overheating. Animals are not left in the open sun, in locked rooms or cars. Periodically moisturize the ears, paws, groin, and armpits.

Persistent hyperthermia signals the development of an inflammatory focus or infection. You need to sound the alarm in 3 situations:

• Fever is accompanied by alarming symptoms: cough, shortness of breath, vomiting, diarrhea, frequent urination, change in gait and others.
• A sharp temperature jump to 40 - 41℃ one day after a tick bite is the first sign of the onset of piroplasmosis.
• Fever after injury indicates the development of an abscess.

t 41℃ is the upper limit for dogs. If it is not knocked down, the animal’s blood composition changes, brain edema develops, and irreversible changes in internal organs begin.

First aid

The main task during hyperthermia is to reduce the thermometer values ​​by at least a few tenths of a degree:

• Place in a cool room at 18 – 20℃.
• Don't let it move.
• Wet ears, forehead, paws, and groin with cool water.
• Apply an ice pack to your neck.
• Turn on the fan.
• Give him some water.
• Give an antipyretic drug.

Do not give human medications - aspirin, ibuprofen. Medicines cause internal bleeding, form toxic compounds in the liver and destroy cells.

In an emergency, you can give paracetamol, strictly observing the dosage. The maximum dose is 10 mg per 1 kg of animal weight. The tablets are used only as an emergency medicine when the temperature goes beyond 40, there is no veterinary medicine and there is no opportunity to bring the dog to the clinic.

What to do at home

There is no single treatment regimen for hyperthermia, since it is not a separate disease, but a symptom, and it does not always indicate a pathology developing in the dog’s body.

Of course, you need to show the animal to a specialist in any case, but you can provide first aid at home.

In order for the body to begin to give off excess heat, it is necessary to lower the ambient temperature. It is enough to ventilate the room or turn on the air conditioner for a short time. Ideally, the air temperature should not exceed 20 degrees. Drafts are not allowed!

The dog needs to be covered with ice cubes (in the groin, neck, armpit area), covered with a damp towel or slightly moistened the fur, and given an enema with warm water. You should not allow your pet to move a lot, as a lot of thermal energy is generated when the muscles work.

If the animal does not want to eat, you should not force feed it, as problems may increase - diarrhea, constipation, bloating, vomiting. But a warm drink is very useful.

If the temperature is very high, an adult dog weighing 30 kilograms or more can be given one of the antipyretic drugs intended for humans. For small dogs, it is better to use children's medicine to relieve fever.

However, it is better not to take risks, since drugs such as Aspirin, Analgin, Paracetamol can cause side effects in dogs. For example, Ibuprofen is dangerous because it can provoke gastrointestinal bleeding, intense vomiting, etc.

Signs of hypothermia

Low temperatures are more dangerous for animals, but they occur less frequently. There are 3 degrees of hypothermia:

• Light 32 – 37℃
• Average 28 – 32℃
• Heavy – below 28℃

External signs depend on the severity:

• muscle weakness;
• shiver;
• drowsiness;
• pallor of mucous membranes;
• cool paw pads;
• rare pulse;
• low blood pressure;
• weak breathing and heartbeat;
• dilated pupils.

At t 28℃ and below, interruptions in the functioning of the heart and nervous system begin. The dog needs emergency veterinary care.

Possible complications

Hyperthermia can have serious consequences for the body: disruption of the central nervous and digestive systems, changes in water-salt balance, dehydration, excessive stress on the heart, multiple organ failure.

The prognosis depends on the diagnosis and timely treatment of the underlying disease. If the dog survives 48 hours after the start of therapy, then in most cases it is favorable.

Causes of low temperature

The thermometer drops below normal in the following cases:

• Extreme exhaustion, malnutrition.
• Hypothermia after a long stay in the cold or in cold water.
• After surgery and anesthesia.
• The day before birth, the temperature drops by 1 - 2 degrees.

Other reasons are associated with internal disorders:

• Blood loss. Internal bleeding due to falls, bruises, and illnesses is especially dangerous. The owners don't notice and don't provide assistance in a timely manner.
• Failure of thyroid function and hormonal disorders.
• Pain shock.
• Traumatic brain injury.
• Intoxication.
• Demodecosis.
• Helminthiases. Due to infection with worms, anemia develops and thermoregulation is disrupted.
• Kidney failure.
• Dysfunctions of the nervous and cardiovascular systems.

How to raise the temperature

When hypothermia occurs, the animal must be warmed to maintain heat:

• Place in a warm place.
• Cover with a blanket.
• Place a heating pad or bottles of warm water nearby.
• Give warm drink and food.

The pet's temperature is taken every 15 minutes. If it does not approach normal values, it is taken to the veterinarian. At the clinic, the dog is given a warm enema and a warmed saline solution is injected intravenously.

Dogs are very different in both size and temperament, so each has its own body temperature. The most accurate way to find out the norm for your pet is to measure 2-3 times at different times of the day, when he is cheerful and alert.

Treatment

Now let's talk about how to raise your dog's body temperature. After the examination, the veterinarian may recommend leaving the dog in the hospital. This is usually done in cases where the animal’s temperature has dropped significantly. The dog is often prescribed IVs. The method of passive superficial and active internal warming of the animal is used. If there is a slight drop in body temperature, the animal is covered with heating pads and a blanket to prevent further heat loss. In case of severe hypothermia, these procedures are supplemented with intravenous administration of warm solutions, gastric lavage, and warming enemas. Once the body temperature reaches 36.7 degrees, the animal is given medications to relieve attacks of pain.

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