How to understand a dog’s temperature

The content of the article

1 Signs of fever in a dog
2 Causes of Temperature Change
3 Diagnosis and treatment
4 Video: what to do if a dog is sick?

A healthy and full-bodied dog walks with pleasure, plays with households, dines with appetite and sleeps soundly. If the dog is unwell, then its behavior changes dramatically. This should be an alarm to the owner of the animal. First of all, the temperature is measured, and if it is increased or decreased, then you should immediately contact a veterinary clinic.

Signs of fever in a dog

Ailments do not ask permission, but always come unexpectedly. The main task in such cases is to quickly respond to alarming symptoms, diagnose and begin treatment. Lost time results in complications and significantly lengthens the recovery period. The main indicator of the onset of the disease is a change in behavior. The attentive owner immediately notices it. The following symptoms should alert:

the dog became lethargic, lethargic;
does not respond to commands;
cramps, upset stomach;
the tail is lowered and relaxed;
the mucous membranes are pale or have acquired a bluish tint;
mucous discharge from the eyes and nose began;
the pet refuses food;
does not want to go for a walk;
reluctantly responds to the voice of the owner.

In a healthy animal, the nose should be cool and moist. An increase in temperature is indicated by a dry, hot nose, covered with crusts and increased thirst.

Normal readings in a dog range from 37.5 ° - 38.5 °, for puppies the norm is slightly higher, about 39 °. Body weight and breed must be considered. In large animals, body temperature is lower, in small representatives, the metabolism is faster, respectively, they will be warmer.

how to understand that the dog got sick

Causes of Temperature Change

The reaction of the body is sometimes unpredictable, but there are several basic points.

Conducting routine vaccination. After the introduction of a weakened strain, the body begins to actively fight, producing the necessary antibodies. This is often accompanied by a general malaise. No special treatment is required. It is enough to create sparing conditions for the dog, leave it alone for a while, limit communication with other animals and carefully monitor its condition.
Weather is also able to influence the thermoregulation of the animal’s body. On hot days there is a deterioration in the well-being of large dogs and individuals of advanced age.
General overexcitation caused by a sharp change in lifestyle, climate change or participation in exhibitions can cause general malaise. In order for everything to return to normal, it is enough for 1 to 2 days not to expose the animal to additional stresses, to create a calm, friendly atmosphere.
Inflammatory processes, viral infections and allergic reactions in the body are accompanied by changes in the temperature background, external signs also appear quite clearly, for example, lymph nodes increase.
After surgery, the dog may experience sudden temperature jumps.
Overheating and hypothermia are equally undesirable and cause a negative reaction of the body.
In puppies during teething, significant changes in temperature are also observed.
If the thermometer reads off scale at 40 - 41 degrees, you need to immediately show the pet to the veterinarian, you may even need to use emergency measures in the form of medicinal droppers.

Measure the temperature of the animals in a rectal manner using a mercury or electronic thermometer. For the successful procedure, you should create the most calm, friendly atmosphere, slowly talk to the dog, do not make sudden movements and do not raise your voice.It is best during the process to take the help of a second person whom the dog knows or will let go.

After receiving the thermometer, try to determine the cause of the elevated temperature. If the increase occurs very quickly, before the doctor arrives, or on the way to the veterinarian, the condition of the dog can be alleviated by applying dry ice or a bottle of cold water to the pet's hips and neck, as well as a little water with cool water.

Diagnosis and treatment

For people and for dogs, self-medication is fraught with unpredictable consequences, therefore, first of all, an accurate determination of the causes of the temperature rise is necessary. If the most obvious of them are excluded, then it remains to surrender to the mercy of specialists and take the pet to the veterinarian. Sometimes a specialist needs a survey and a few questions to the owner, in other cases, an examination in a hospital will be necessary. If the disease has gone into a severe stage, then you will have to be treated with antibiotics, immune preparations and vitamin complexes.

The health of a pet of the pillars depends on the care of its owner. Do not ignore changes in the behavior of the dog, it thus makes it clear that a failure has occurred in the body and measures must be taken. If the temperature rises, it’s better to sound like a alarmist and visit a veterinarian. Relieved to hear from him that everything is in order to continue to rejoice in communication with the animal than to regret the lost time and opportunities.

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