April 20, 2008

How to Tell if a Dog Has a Fever

Does your dog have a fever?  Can you tell?  You should now that dogs get sick just like their owners.  We can touch a babys forhead and tell they are hot but what about your puppy or dog?  Read this post and learn how to tell if your dog is sick.

iStock_000004781555XSmall.jpg There are several ways that you can tell if a dog has a fever. First of all, dogs won’t show their fever in the same was as a person will, because when you put your hand on a dog he will probably feel warmer to you than a person, whether he has a fever or not. Therefore, simply putting your hand on your dog’s brow won’t show you whether or not he has a fever. Therefore, you need to be able to recognize the signs of a fever in your dog.

A dog’s body is different from the body of a person, but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t going to show some symptoms when they are sick. A fever is a sign of sickness in a dog’s body, so this is the first thing that you should look for. If your dog is sick, chances are that he has a fever. Some general signs of sickness in your dog should be easy for you to notice, even if you don’t have any education when it comes to a dog’s health.

First of all, if a dog is acting sluggish or lethargic, this is a sign of sickness and your dog probably has a fever. If he isn’t jumping around like he should be, or simply seems much too lazy to be his normal self, chances are good that he simply doesn’t feel well. Secondl, you can always tell how your dog is feeling by touching his nose. Your dog should have a cool and wet nose at all times. If your dog’s nose is warm and dry, he has fever and he is sick. He is also probably dehydrated.

Always keep plenty of fresh water out for your dog, and take notice if he is drinking or eating like he usually does. If you notice that your dog has no desire to eat or drink like normal, he is probably sick and you should visit a vet.

Of course, you can always tell if your dog has a fever by taking his temperature. This should be done rectally, because this is the best way to get an accurate temperature from your dog. Remember, however, that a dog’s temperature is different from the temperature of a person, so be sure to research what the typical temperature is of your dog. Also, don’t use a regular thermometer on your dog, you should always use an animal safe thermometer.

If you’ve never taken a dog’s temperature before, and you believe that there is something wrong with your dog, the best thing for you to do is to take your dog to the vet. The vet will be able to tell whether or not your dog has a fever, and will also be able to see if anything else is wrong with him. Your vet can also treat your dog right away for anything that might be wrong with him, which will make it much easier on you.
 

Filed under Dog Health by Pat

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