Dog Fever: Know the signs & catch it early before Serious Complications!

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Do dogs get fevers?

Dogs are entitled to be lazy every once in awhile, and their appetites can decrease for various reasons. Check this out for some really serous stuff about why dogs loose apitite. Usually these spells are brief, but when these common symptoms are present along with others like vomiting, nasal discharge, shivering or a fast heartbeat, these may be warning signs of pyrexia, or a dog fever.

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Fevers are a natural defense mechanism and most go away within a day if the underlying cause is a mild infection. But some canine fevers will persist or increase, and these can have life-threatening repercussions if left untreated.

Whether you’ve been a lifelong dog owner or just recently gotten your first rescue dog or puppy, so many questions run through your mind as you try to get to the source and seriousness of your dog’s discomfort, and treat it. Here are some answers to those questions:

How to tell if your dog has a fever (fever symptoms and signs) – Check the nose!

Since every dog and breed are unique, understanding your dog’s personality and sensitivities are key to determining whether he has a fever. There are some common symptoms to look for: a lack of energy, loss of appetite, shivers, runny nose, coughing or vomiting, dizziness, or an unusual depressed or irritable mood. If you groom your dog regularly then you will easily notice these variations from standard “happy puppy behaviour” (Another critical reason why we spend at least 5 minutes a day massaging / grooming pups). If you want to get more serious about grooming then here is a guide to pain free and struggle grooming with clippers.

If your dog has a nasal discharge, this could also signal a fever. A widespread home method for detecting fever in dogs is to check your dog’s nose. If it is warm and very dry, it might indicate a fever.

The most definitive way to determine whether or not your dog has a fever is to take his temperature.

What is a dog’s normal temperature?

Dogs have a range of normal body temperature of between 99.5 and 102.5 Fahrenheit, higher than our human normal temperature. A dog reaches a state of fever at 103.5 degrees (or 39.7 degrees Celsius). This means that your dog will always feel a little warmer to you, and it is difficult to tell solely by feel whether your dog truly has a fever.

What is a puppy’s normal temperature range?

A puppy, however, has a lower normal temperature at birth: between 96 and 97 degrees Fahrenheit. As the puppy gets to be about four weeks old, his normal temperature hovers at 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

What is a dog’s temperature when they are in labor?

There may be an instance where a dog shows symptoms of fever but may actually be in labor. The range of temperature in this case would be lower than normal, below 100 degrees Fahrenheit. That lowered temperature indicates she will deliver within about 24 hours.

How to take your dog’s temperature at home and at the vet

There are special rectal thermometers for dogs that take less than 60 seconds to register a temperature reading, and they are very easy to use. With a dab of petroleum jelly or baby oil, gently insert the rectal thermometer only about an inch deep.

How can you tell if your dog has a fever without a thermometer?

If you are in a situation where you have no thermometer and need to determine if your dog has a fever, there are places on a dog’s body that you can feel for changes.

The most popular indicator for a fever is a dog’s nose, and this is debatable. A normal healthy dog will have a cold, wet nose. A dog with a possible fever will have a very warm and dry nose. But because there may be other reasons for the change in a dog’s nose, this is not always a surefire way to determine if there is something wrong.

You can also feel your dog’s paws and ears.

These spots have many little blood vessels which feel very warm during a fever when an infection is underway. If one ear is warmer than the other, this might be a clue that your dog has an ear infection. Additionally, you can feel your dog’s armpits and groin for swollen lymph nodes and excessive warmth.

You can also tell by your dog’s gums if a fever might be present. His gums will be very red and warm.

You will want to practice feeling these areas with your dog so that you can get an idea of his own temperature and regular changes in temperature on his nose. Although it will be very approximate and by sense, you will have an idea of how to take your dog’s temperature without a thermometer if the need arises.

How to take a dog’s temperature with a human thermometer

It is not recommended that a standard human thermometer be used to determine a dog’s temperature for several reasons. Dogs may squirm fiercely while having their temperatures taken, and a mercury thermometer may possibly break in the process.

Ear thermometers don’t often reach the accurate high range of a canine fever. If you do use a human thermometer, your best bet is a rectal one, and one with a flexible tip. Remember that it will take about two minutes to properly register a temperature reading.

You may want an extra person to help you take your dog’s temperature.

Dog fever home remedy – how to treat dog fever at home

The American Kennel Club helping cool your dog down by applying cool damp cloths or water to his paws and ears, and getting him to drink a little cool water if possible.

Your vet will know what to give your dog for a fever. Do not give a dog human fever reducers like aspirin — they are toxic to canines. There are specific canine pain relievers and fever reducers to make your dog more comfortable.

Causes of fever

It is hard to know initially what can cause a fever in your dog. There is a spectrum of possibilities, from infection to specific diseases which are transmitted to your dog through insects or soil, depending on where you live.

The most common cause of dog fever is an infection, whether it be from a wound of some sort or an internal bacterial or viral illness. An abscessed tooth can also cause a fever.

Vaccinations can often cause fevers, as well as allergic responses which are unique to your dog.

Excessive heat is likely to cause a fever in dogs, and you must react quickly in order to prevent heat stroke. Move your dog immediately to a shaded or internal location and apply cool cloths or ice to his body, particularly around the paws and ears.

The consumption of toxins by your dog will also trigger a fever. These include plants, human prescription or over-the-counter drugs, certain foods like xylitol (used in sugarless gum) and chemicals like antifreeze.

Causes of high fever — is it dangerous for my dog?

A fever of 105 degrees is one that needs immediate veterinary attention, and at 106 degrees there can have life-threatening repercussions. Once it is determined your dog has a fever over 103 degrees, you will want to monitor it. If it has not subsided in 24 hours, call your vet to be safe.

When your dog’s fever becomes very high, there are more serious reasons

If common reasons are ruled out, your vet will want to do a physical exam to explore the possibility of parasitic, metabolic or endocrine diseases, which may include a complete blood count test, measuring hematocrit, RBC and hemoglobin. The ratio of red blood cells to white can reveal anemia brought on by these diseases.

There are a number of parasitic canine diseases that will induce a fever in your dog. Let’s look at a few of them:

Dog fever with lethargy and no appetite

There are some serious and contagious infections which are signaled by fever, lethargy and no appetite, but the good news is that they can be treated with antibiotics and other medications. Parvo virus, spread through feces, causes abdominal pain and vomiting. Distemper, which causes neurological problems, can also be treated. Kennel cough causes respiratory distress but can also be treated.

The parasitic heartworm, transmitted by mosquitoes, requires a long regime of injections and long rest. Heartworm can be prevented with monthly medications.

Tick diseases in dogs

Ticks are carriers of a number of debilitating diseases in dogs.

What is tick fever in dogs? What is the treatment for tick fever?

Ticks are especially prevalent in the continental US. They transmit organisms that cause Rickettsia, an internal bacterial infection which takes over white blood cells and brings on tick fever.

The Lone Star tick and brown dog tick are the most prevalent carriers. While monthly tick control products are your best prevention against ticks, it is always best to know what to do in the event your dog is bitten. Your ability to sense changes in your dog’s behavior and body temperature and detect a fever is key to wiping out the infection before it may get worse.

Tick fever progresses in three stages, according to Cuteness.com. In the early days after your dog is bitten, you will notice symptoms in your dog like swollen lymph nodes and loss of appetite accompanied by fever.

Your vet may prescribe antibiotics as a precaution. Catching tick fever early gives your dog much better insurance against severe complications later on. If you know your dog was bitten, you need to make note of the date so that a blood test can be done in the eighth week following the bite.

In the second stage of tick fever, your dog will fight the infection while showing no symptoms at all. A dog with a healthy immune system will fight the tick fever on his own during this phase.

At the third stage of the infection, your dog will have either conquered the tick fever, or he will show more severe signs of illness: bleeding problems, anemia, trouble seeing, and difficulty walking.

It is not until this stage, if not yet treated, that a vet will do a blood test as it takes time for your dog to build up antibodies that can be tested. Antibiotics and sometimes fluids and transfusions are treatment options.

Canine Valley fever / Valley Fever in dogs / treatment/ dog Valley Fever treatment cost

If you live in the Southwest US, you will want to be aware of a less common but serious fever, Canine Valley Fever, brought about through a fungus released in the soil by rodents and natural weather events.

Dogs are susceptible if they do a lot of digging and playing in dirt. The fungus is inhaled and causes fever in dogs, accompanied by respiratory and neurological discomfort and distress.

The treatment for Canine Valley Fever is an anti-fungal fluconazole, costing about $35 per month, according to the East Valley Tribune. A vaccine is being researched. Fortunately this fever is not contagious.

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in dogs /symptoms of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in dogs

Like other tick illnesses in dogs, Rocky Mountain Spotted fever is a Rickettsia bacterial infection carried by ticks. No obvious symptoms other than the bite are present the first day. Anywhere from two to fourteen days after a bite, however, an infected dog will suffer fever, digestive distress, bleeding, and an array of neurological symptoms such as dizziness.

The treatment for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in dogs is similar to that of tick fever. Two blood tests are done two weeks apart for comparison, and antibiotics are prescribed. Again, tick control products are the best insurance against this fever.

Milk Fever in dogs

Yet another fever in dogs which is accompanied by loss of energy and appetite is “milk fever,” or eclampsia. This occurs when pregnant or lactating dogs reach an unusually low level of calcium in their blood. A logical remedy would be to change your dog’s diet but this can actually further decrease the calcium levels, according to the website All-About-Goldens.

Milk fever symptoms are easy to spot, and they get worse very quickly. You will notice nervousness in your dog, shivers and difficulty walking. Your vet will immediately need to give her a high-calcium intravenous solution.

Know the signs of dog fever

You know your dog’s quirks and behaviors better than anyone, and your instinct often tells you that something isn’t quite right with him.

When in doubt, look for the signs of high temperature and discomfort, take a thermometer reading, and call your vet if you determine your dog has a fever.

Remember to tell your vet all the places your dog has been (Pro Tip: If you are worried about infection Use a Satellite or GPS dog fence to restrict their movements to safe areas. ) and all the symptoms he is having so that relief and treatment of the cause of the fever can happen as quickly as possible.

Know how to reduce a fever in your dog at the onset. In the case of dog fever, it’s better not to “let sleeping dogs lie”.

Dog Fever : Know the signs and catch it early on!