Fever is a common symptom of illness in dogs. With a clinical thermometer, you can quickly and easily assess your dog's condition.
How is a fever measured?
The body temperature of dogs is normally slightly higher than that of humans. In adult dogs it ranges from 38.0°C to 39.0°C, in puppies up to 39.5°C. To obtain reliable values, you should always determine the rectal temperature, i.e. measure at the anus. Measurements under the armpit or in the mouth are unreliable in dogs.
It is best to ask a helper to take the temperature. Then one person can hold the dog while the other makes the thermometer slippery with a little gel and carefully inserts it into the anus. It should remain there for about a minute. Electronic thermometers beep to indicate when the measurement is complete.
What to do if your dog has a fever?
If your dog has a fever, this may indicateillness in conjunction with other signs of illness such as tiredness, refusal to eat or panting. In such a case, you should definitely take your dog to a vet. However, body temperature is also very suitable for monitoring a patient undergoing treatment. In the case of infectious diseases, a reduction in fever is a sign of improvement, for example when an antibiotic begins to take effect.
In order to be able to examine dogs as gently as possible, it is helpful to get them used to examinations at a young age. For example, if a puppy learns how to have its temperature taken in a playful and relaxed atmosphere, it will hardly put up any resistance later on. After all, he knows the procedure and knows that nothing bad will happen.