If your dog doesn’t greet you with his customary enthusiastic tail wag, he may be a bit under the weather. Most dog owners can tell when their furry friends come down with a bug, but checking for a fever may confirm your sneaking suspicion.
A fever is just one of the immune system’s weapons against invading germs, but fever also appears when the body’s temperature rises dramatically and can’t dissipate fast enough.
Your dog’s normal body temperature is a few degrees warmer than yours, ranging from 100.5 F to 102.5 F. His temperature can fluctuate normally within this range, but any increase in temperature above this range typically indicates a problem.
Causes
Fevers accompany hundreds of illnesses, some minor and some life-threatening. Common causes include bacterial or viral infections, parasitism, cancer, inflammatory or immune system diseases, hormonal abnormalities, and drug reactions.
Body temperature also rises when a dog can’t cool off through panting, which happens when the air temperature is close to your dog’s body temperature. This condition, called hyperthermia, can be deadly. Dogs can get hyperthermia if they catch too many Frisbees or chase too many squirrels on a hot day, but the most common and easily avoided cause is owner carelessness. Too many owners still leave their dogs in cars or outside in the sweltering sun without access to fresh water or shade. Heat stroke develops quickly in these conditions, and the signs include heavy panting, excessive salivation, weakness, bloody vomiting and diarrhea, and collapse.
What you can do at home
Overheated or feverish dogs often will seek out a cool spot to lie down. If you suspect your dog is burning up, take his temperature using a rectal thermometer. Hold him firmly to your chest, lubricate the thermometer with petroleum jelly, and gently insert it about one inch into the rectum. You may need to roll the thermometer slowly between your thumb and index finger as you insert it. Hold on to the inserted thermometer for two minutes so you can obtain an accurate reading.
A fever of 102.5 F to 103 F is mild. Just watch your pet closely for the next 24 hours for other signs of illness, such as breathing difficulty, lethargy, coughing, vomiting, or diarrhea. Often mild fevers will run their course quickly, and your pet will be back to his playful self within a day or so. Consider isolating your feverish dog to protect other family pets. It’s no fun to be alone, but your sick dog will get some much-needed shuteye.
Pets with fevers that last more than 24 hours, exceed 103 F, or occur with other symptoms need immediate medical attention. With heatstroke, the temperature rises to 107 F to 110 F. If you think your dog is experiencing heatstroke, try to lower his body temperature by covering him with moist cool towels, and take him to the veterinarian immediately.
Never give your dog over-the-counter fever relievers. Give them only under your veterinarian’s orders.
What your veterinarian will do
The doctor will examine your pet thoroughly. Depending on the results, he or she also may recommend a urinalysis, blood or fecal tests, and X-rays. The diagnosis will determine your pet’s treatment and prognosis.
