My dog's temperature is abnormal, what should I do? Veterinarian advice. What should be the normal temperature in dogs and what to do if it differs from the norm Normal values for different breeds

Unlike people, dogs normal temperature bodies are 2-3 degrees higher. But, like in people, in domestic animals the temperature can rise and fall for a number of reasons, including those of a painful nature. In some cases, fluctuations in temperature may go completely unnoticed by the owner.

How to measure

First of all, you need to purchase a thermometer, usually an electronic one, used exclusively for animals. Glass models are not safe and take longer to measure. It is impossible to measure temperature by touch on the nose, since a dry and warm nose does not always indicate health problems. In dogs, temperature is measured rectally, as this method gives the most accurate readings. Best time for measurement - in the evening, before meals, but not after a walk or workout.

No matter how unpleasant it may be, there is no other exact way. For the animal, the process is also not pleasant. Therefore, you may need the help of a family member or friend to hold the animal, especially a large one. The assistant must act correctly, namely, place one hand around the animal’s neck and the other around the stomach, pressing the animal towards him. You can measure the temperature of a dog in a standing position, but it is much more convenient if the animal is lying on its side.

Before using the thermometer, lubricate its tip with Vaseline or baby oil. Then you need to lift the tail and gently but quickly insert the thermometer into the rectum about 1-2 cm, depending on the size of the pet. The thermometer is held for 1-3 minutes (depending on the type of thermometer). Then the thermometer is also gently removed.

If you still have problems measuring t°, then, as a last resort, you can measure t° in the armpit area. The thermometer is placed in armpit and hold the pet in calm state until the values appear, which the device will notify you with an audible signal. This method takes a little longer and gives approximate results.

Normal temperature

Dogs' body temperature can vary depending on the size, age, and activity level of the animal. By the way, hairless breeds have the same temperature as representatives of breeds with coat. The only difference is in the perception of the sensation when you touch the skin and fur with your hand; the skin seems warmer, and the wool is cooler.

The normal body temperature of a dog is considered to be 37.2-38.9 degrees. In puppies and older individuals, the indicators are lower - about 38.5, and in active animals - higher.

Temperature small dogs slightly higher than that of representatives of large breeds, it is 38.5-39 degrees.

*excluding pregnant bitches, if there are no complications during childbirth

Dog's temperature before giving birth

Two weeks before giving birth, it is recommended to measure the bitch’s body temperature twice a day (morning and evening) and record the results. 24 hours before giving birth, the dog's temperature drops to 36.6-37.2 degrees, which is completely normal. There are exceptions; in some bitches there are no changes in the rectal temperature of the body, or the indicators may change before the first birth, and remain unchanged in subsequent ones.

Low values may persist for 1-2 days after birth, but if symptoms of fever, signs of depression are observed, and the bitch drinks a lot of water, then you should consult a veterinarian. Perhaps the listed signs signal a uterine infection, retained placenta, or even a retained puppy.

If the bitch cannot whelp within 24 hours after the temperature drops, and the gestation period is more than 68 days, then it is necessary to seek help from a veterinarian.

Causes of low and high temperature

It is completely normal for pets to have an increase in temperature after physical exercise, since muscle work stimulates heat production. After eating food, the temperature may increase by 1-2 degrees, which is caused by the digestion process.

If the pet is worried, remains in under stress, then the temperature of his body may increase. High temperature can be caused by heat stroke, poisoning, brain tumors, and infectious diseases.

Newborn puppies have a body temperature of 38.5 degrees, but babies are not able to control their own body temperature and are very dependent on external heat. Even at normal room temperatures they are prone to hypothermia. Therefore, it is important to keep puppies in a warm place (about 30 degrees Celsius).

Hypothermia is characterized by an abnormally low body temperature. Hypothermia happens three forms. At mild form body temperature is 32-35 degrees, with moderate - 28-32 degrees, with severe - below 28 degrees. When hypothermia occurs, the body is unable to retain heat, which leads to depression of the central nervous system. nervous system, turns out bad influence on functions of cardio-vascular system, breathing. The result may be coma and death. Representatives of small breeds, animals with injuries, elderly individuals, and puppies are more susceptible to cold and prone to hypothermia.

Some medications, for example, those used in anesthesia, can help lower body temperature. As well as diseases of the hypothalamus, hypothyroidism, hypoglycemia, infectious diseases that affect the body’s ability to regulate temperature.

Reaction immune system animal for diseases of a bacterial or viral nature (pneumonia, encephalitis, infections urinary tract) is a fever. An increase in temperature indicates that the body is fighting an infection that could enter the body through cuts, bites, scratches, or bad teeth. Other causes include cancer and complications during childbirth. In such cases, it is highly not recommended to lower the dog’s temperature on your own.

What to do if your dog has a fever

If the dog’s body temperature is above 39-40 degrees or below 37 degrees and we are not talking about a puppy before giving birth, then you should contact a veterinarian. There is no need to try to bring down the dog’s temperature on your own, since it is impossible to determine at home exact reason hesitation. Low or high temperature in animals is only a symptom. Therefore, compresses or medications will not help heal the animal. In addition, medications intended for human use may be toxic. Considering that a dog's temperature above 40 degrees can cause complications, taking toxic medications only worsens the situation. Therefore, it is advisable to take your pet to a veterinary clinic or call a veterinarian at home. But if the cause is heatstroke, then you need to apply it to the body cold compress, especially on the head, legs and ears. In this case, you should be careful to avoid hypothermia.

If we are talking about low body temperature, then emergency measures must be taken. The animal must be kept warm and additional heat loss prevented. Warming the body by 0.5-1.5 degrees per hour is considered safe. For mild hypothermia, blankets that wrap the animal in will help prevent heat loss. For moderate hypothermia, use external heat sources (heating pads, bottles with hot water, heaters). In case of severe hypothermia, the help of a veterinarian is required, since fluids that are administered intravenously and oxygen are used. Warming must occur gradually, otherwise there may be complications, a sudden fall blood pressure, low heart rate. Depending on the degree of hypothermia, body warming therapy continues for 2-10 hours.

Elevated temperature (hyperthermia) in dogs, as in humans, usually indicates health problems. A dog owner needs to be able to recognize signs of a fever in their pet, as well as be able to take its temperature and provide first aid before seeing a veterinarian.

What to do if your dog has a fever?

To determine whether your dog's body temperature is elevated, you need to know what is considered normal.

Normal temperature in a dog

The normal body temperature of a dog is higher than that of a person, and is slightly different in dogs and puppies of large and small breeds.

The average body temperature of a dog can range from 37.5 to 39 degrees:

in large breed dogs it reaches 37.4-38.3 degrees;
in dogs of medium breeds – 37.5-39 degrees;
in small breed dogs – 38.5-39 degrees;
in puppies - from 38.2 to 39.3 depending on the breed.

With such a wide range, it can be difficult to determine exactly what temperature your dog might be considered elevated. Therefore, it is recommended that every owner know the average normal temperature of their dog.

To do this, measure the animal's temperature several times when it is healthy and in a calm state. You can determine the average value for yourself and consider it the norm.

Elevated temperature is considered to be higher than normal by 1.5-2 degrees.

An elevated temperature is usually accompanied by certain signs that the dog owner should study in order to notice in time possible violation pet's health.

Signs of a high temperature in a dog:

lethargy;
dry nose;
poor appetite;
light lips and tongue;
the desire to settle down in a cool place - on the bathroom floor, on cold tiles;
with a significant increase - vomiting, convulsions.

How to take a dog's temperature

To measure, you can use a mercury or electronic medical thermometer. Dogs' body temperature is measured rectally, so it is advisable to have a separate thermometer for your pet.

To measure, lay the dog on its side, lubricate the tip of the thermometer with Vaseline and, raising the tail, carefully insert the thermometer into the dog’s rectum to a depth of 1.5-2 cm.

During the measurement, it is advisable to talk affectionately to your pet, you can give him a treat. You should hold the dog so that it does not jump up with the thermometer and break it. It is advisable to accustom the dog to a certain command “Treat” or “Thermometer” so that it gets used to such a procedure and is not afraid of it.

To take a measurement with a mercury thermometer, you will have to wait about 5 minutes; for an electronic one, one minute is enough.

How to measure a puppy's temperature

If your puppy is a very small breed, it is better to purchase an electronic thermometer for him, since such a thermometer has a thinner tip than a mercury thermometer. In addition, you will not have to hold your pet for so long - after all, puppies can behave more restlessly than adult animals. Reward your baby with treats.

The rest of the procedure is the same.

Why does my dog have a fever?

An increase in temperature tells the owner about some abnormality in the dog’s body or disease. Most often, hyperthermia is observed in the following cases:

teething permanent teeth in puppies;
overheating (especially in summer, in the heat);
after vaccinations;
allergic reactions;
stress;
infectious diseases;
joint inflammation;
suppuration of wounds.

It should be remembered that among infectious diseases, at which the temperature rises, there are also very dangerous ones, for example, plague, piroplasmosis, leptospirosis etc. Therefore, if you find an increase in the dog’s body temperature by 1.5-2 degrees, and especially - up to 40-41 degrees, you need immediately show the dog to the veterinarian.

How to reduce a dog's fever

What to do if your dog has a fever? Before examining the dog veterinarian There are several steps you can take to help relieve your pet's condition:

give the dog something to drink;
lightly moisten the wool or cover with a damp, cool towel;
You can apply ice packs to your neck and inside dog's hips;
open a window or turn on the air conditioner;
with significant hyperthermia, you can give your pet antipyretic drugs based on paracetamol. The dose should definitely be checked with your veterinarian!

But even if you have lowered your pet’s temperature, do not delay a visit to the veterinarian! You don't know what causes hyperthermia. It is better to play it safe and make sure that the dog does not have serious infectious diseases.

Low temperature in a dog

Low body temperature, or hypothermia, can also indicate various diseases in your pet.
In what cases does it happen? low temperature at the dog? Most often the reasons are:

parvovirus enteritis is a rather dangerous infectious disease;
helminthic infestation;
poisoning;
significant blood loss;
prolonged hypothermia;
dehydration;
the approach of labor in pregnant bitches (by this sign it can be determined that labor will occur in less than a day).

Signs of hypothermia:

weakness, drowsiness, trembling paws - with a slight drop in temperature (up to 32 degrees);
slowing heart rate, lowering blood pressure, severe weakness muscles – with moderate hypothermia (from 32 to 28 degrees);
dilated pupils, impaired breathing and heartbeat, coma - with significant hyperthermia (below 28 degrees).

Since hypothermia can occur at quite dangerous diseases and lead to development serious consequences for an animal, you should immediately show the dog to a veterinarian!

Before seeing a doctor, you can wrap the animal in a woolen blanket, place it on a heating pad, and if there is significant hypothermia, do an enema with warm water. Keep in mind that prolonged hypothermia can lead to cardiac arrest.

Monitor your pet's condition!

So, if you are a happy dog owner, you need to learn to notice in time the symptoms of an increase or decrease in your pet’s temperature, as well as other manifestations possible diseases and ailments.

Remember that when vaccinating your puppy, you need to monitor its temperature and measure it regularly. It is also recommended to regularly measure the temperature of pregnant bitches to avoid pregnancy complications and determine the onset of labor.
If you are attentive to your pet, you will quickly learn to distinguish it bad feeling from good, and immediately take measures to cure the dog. And your pet will delight you with excellent health and loud, cheerful barking!

Animals cannot tell what hurts them. And often they even hide the pain so as not to upset the owner. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor the dog’s condition and pay attention to even minor changes. One of the indicators of health is body temperature. Deviations from the norm in one direction or the other may indicate the presence of infection.

Deviation of indicators is not a disease, but a consequence inflammatory processes. Therefore, normalizing the heat transfer value is not enough. A decrease or increase may indicate a wide variety of diseases of infectious or non-infectious origin. It is necessary to show your pet to a doctor who will diagnose the disease, prescribe procedures or prescribe medications.

Normal values for different breeds

Generally, body heat depends on the pet's age, size, and physiological processes(estrus, teeth cutting, whelping). Adults of large breeds, as a rule, are the “coldest” in comparison with small and medium-sized relatives and puppies. Small or young pets have a faster metabolism than giant pets, which is why the “babies” are hotter. It should be borne in mind that the more heat the body gives off, the more intense the breathing and heartbeat. A hot puppy with a rapid heartbeat is a completely healthy representative of the Canine family.

The standards include the following indicators:

puppies - 38-39°C;
small breeds - 38.5-39°C;
medium breeds - 37.5-39°C;
large dogs - 37.5-38.3°C.

Regardless of the breed and height of the pet, the temperature limit is 40°C. A deviation of half a degree from the norm in one direction or the other is not a cause for concern if the dog is active and cheerful.

Measuring method

No special skills required. All you need is confidential contact with the animal, since the procedure is not the most pleasant - it is performed rectally. Mercury or electronic thermometers are used to measure temperature. In the first case, the manipulation takes about five minutes. A minute is enough to record the indicators with an electronic device. The process is conventionally divided into three stages.

Preparation . Wash and dry the thermometer. Reset the values to zero and lubricate the heat-sensitive part with Vaseline or another greasy cream. Gently lay your dog down or secure him in a standing position.
Measurement. Carefully insert the thermometer into the anal hole approximately 2 cm (depending on the size of the animal). Hold with your hand and hold for 60 seconds or five minutes, depending on the type of device. Talk kindly to your pet during the procedure, stroke it, encourage it with treats.
Taking readings. Write down the time and thermometer reading in a notepad. If the readings are lower or higher than normal, repeat the procedure after an hour and compare the values.

Do not use a family thermometer. Buy your dog a personal thermometer from a veterinary pharmacy. For each pet in the house you need to have a separate measuring device. After measuring, wash the device with soap, dry it and store it in the dog’s first aid kit.

Teach your pet the appropriate command, for example, “thermometer”, so that the procedure goes smoothly. If the dog is already an adult and the temperature is being measured for the first time, then it is better to use an electronic thermometer. Otherwise, the animal may break the device in an attempt to escape. Besides, electronic measurement takes less time.

There is no point in taking your temperature every day without visible reasons. It is recommended to monitor changes in indicators during pregnancy, immediately before childbirth, before and after vaccination. Measure in the morning and evening and write down the values in a notepad. If there are obvious deviations, contact your veterinarian.

Reasons for deviations

Changes in temperature do not always require immediate treatment. A rise or fall in values may be influenced by external or internal factors. Often this is a normal reaction of the body to natural physiological processes.

High

A high temperature is usually an indicator of ill health. However, in some cases an increase of one to one and a half degrees is allowed:

cutting teeth;
stress;
fright;
graft;
excitation;
heat;
aggression;
fight;
estrus.

Before rushing to the vet, you should think about your dog's age and development. Perhaps a three-month-old puppy is just teething or the bitch is expecting her first heat. The alarm should be sounded in five cases of increased temperature.

Tick bite . Indicators increase with the development of piroplasmosis. The carrier of the pathogen that infects red blood cells is the tick.
Injuries. Fever after skin or muscle damage signals the onset of an abscess.
Fever. It is characterized by temperature fluctuations, which greatly exhausts the body. Often accompanied by weakness. A febrile state develops with various diseases - from poisoning to plague.
Cough . Dogs are susceptible to diseases respiratory system. Shortness of breath, cough, weakness may indicate pneumonia.
Decreased activity. Difficulty in movement, changes in gait, and rapid fatigue can signal inflammation of the joints. Arthritis, osteochondrosis, and dysplasia may develop.

The condition of the nose is not an indicator high temperature bodies. It becomes dry and hot due to various factors, not related to the development of the disease. This phenomenon is often observed during overwork or thirst.

Low

Low temperature also has two sides. In some cases, a decrease in values is a natural phenomenon, in others it is a reason to urgently contact a veterinarian. This condition is considered normal in three cases.

Childbirth. The temperature usually drops just before birth. If the thermometer shows 36-37°C, it means the dog will give birth in the next 24 hours. Before the beginning labor activity values rise sharply to 39°C.
Operation . IN postoperative period it is necessary to provide the pet comfortable conditions. An animal recovering from anesthesia experiences weakness, nausea, and dizziness. Body temperature drops to 36°C. If after 12 hours the readings have not returned to normal, you should consult a doctor.
Hypothermia. A dog, like a person, can freeze and become hypothermic. It is not difficult to return the indicators to normal. It is enough to wrap up your pet and provide a warm corner. If trembling continues and the values continue to drop, you should contact your veterinarian.

You can determine a decrease in indicators without a thermometer. The pet curls up into a ball, trembles, and looks for a warm place. If first aid is provided, but there is no improvement, you need to contact a veterinary clinic and be sure to do a blood test.

For additional symptoms low temperature body may indicate helminthic infestation, hypothyroidism, renal failure. Critical levels are 36°C and below. At 27°C the dog falls into a coma.

First aid

You should not treat your pet without examining a veterinarian. The problem may be more serious than the owner realizes. Therefore, a consultation with a doctor, at least by phone, is necessary. The specialist will tell you what to give the animal and how to act in the near future. The owner can independently alleviate the pet’s condition before the doctor arrives. The table describes basic first aid actions.

Table - How to act when there is a change in body heat transfer

Some owners believe that a dog that feels unwell should be fed. You should not do this if the animal refuses food. A weakened body copes poorly with digestion. Forced food into the mouth will most likely cause indigestion, bloating, and constipation.

It is not recommended to use antipyretic or pain-relieving drugs intended for humans. For example, “Paracetamol”, “Analgin”, “Aspirin”, “Ibuprofen”. Most "human" drugs cause severe side effects, has a bad effect on the functioning of the kidneys and liver.

Associated warning signs

To recognize the disease by early stage, measuring temperature is not enough. Should know additional symptoms, signaling various pathological conditions:

frequent urination;
frequent vomiting;
weakness;
loss of appetite;
out-of-season heavy shedding;
cloudiness of the eyes;
nasal discharge;
recurrent limb spasms;
bad breath;
change in urine color (red, brown);
frequent hoarse breathing;
thirst;
intense salivation;
bluish or white tongue;
diarrhea, especially with blood;
unnatural sleeping position;
insomnia;
restless behavior;
lameness.

Observe your pet's behavior and mood. Obvious changes in the usual way of life should alarm. If the dog is lethargic, apathetic, refuses to play and work, and does not eat, you need to contact a veterinarian.

An important indicator of a dog’s well-being is their body temperature. Deviations from the norm indicate the occurrence of inflammatory processes in the body. A normal temperature in dogs is a sign of no health problems. If you are the owner of a pet, then you should know the norm of this indicator of well-being.

What is the norm?

Dogs' temperatures are normally higher than humans'. It is 37.5-39 °C. It varies for specific animals, as it depends on several factors:

breeds;
gender;
age;
physiological state;
individual characteristics.

At the puppy's small breed the norm is approximately 39 °C. U adult large breed normal temperature may be significantly lower. The value of the indicator increases in dogs in hot weather, after physical exertion, from excitement, fear, and when bitches are in heat.

As an example, let's look at the normal temperature in animals:

small breed puppy – 38.6–39.3 °C;
adult small breed dog – 38.5–39.0 °C;
puppy medium breed– 38.3–39.1 °C;
adult medium breed dog – 37.5–39.0 °C;
large breed puppy – 38.2–39.0 °C;
adult large breed dog – 37.4–38.3 °C.

Body temperature in dogs is individual indicator. This is clearly visible in the example.

When should measurements be taken?

If your dog is absolutely healthy, then there is no need to take daily measurements. You just need to know what temperature is normal for your beloved pet.

Healthy breeding puppies are recommended to have regular measurements on a regular schedule from birth. This indicator should be measured before and after childbirth. Its value determines how soon the dog will give birth to puppies. As a rule, the temperature drops significantly before childbirth. It also needs to be measured before and after vaccinations.

At poor condition Measure your pet's body temperature regularly (morning and evening). Get a special notebook. You will make daily notes in it.

Signs and causes of temperature deviation from normal

Many owners assess the condition of their pet by its nose. They think it's dry hot nose a sign of health problems. This information is a myth. Dry, warm nose at night is the norm. Animals do not lick it while sleeping. Dry nose in dogs is not a reason to visit veterinary clinic.

A healthy animal looks cheerful. It actively reacts to events, eats normally, and plays. The dog's coat is shiny and tight-fitting. A sick animal exhibits the opposite characteristics. The following signs of ill health are identified: fever in a puppy or an adult dog, refusal to eat throughout the day, lethargy, restlessness (with severe pain), vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, rapid heartbeat, breathing.

If the above symptoms are observed, then measure your body temperature and see if it is normal. The reasons for its changes may be diseases and infections. High values occurs with plague, piroplasmosis, endometritis, heatstroke. The decrease occurs when parvovirus enteritis, helminthic infestation and other diseases.

How to determine?

The measurement is made with a thermometer (electronic or mercury). It is recommended to use an electronic thermometer. The measurement procedure will last no more than a minute. A mercury thermometer is not as fast-acting. To obtain reliable information, they need to measure their temperature for 3-5 minutes. The only advantage of a mercury thermometer is its low price.

For your beloved puppy or adult dog buy a separate thermometer. Family members should not use it for hygienic reasons. Reset the scale to zero before use. To make the procedure less unpleasant, lubricate the tip of the thermometer with Vaseline.

The pet will not like measuring body temperature, since it will be carried out rectally. During the procedure, talk to the animal, call it affectionately, calm it down, stroke it, treat it with some treat.

When inserting the thermometer, the dog can be positioned in one of the following two positions:

lying on your side;
standing.

For inexperienced owners, the first method is suitable. For dogs in a lying position, you will need to raise the tail and slowly insert the prepared thermometer into the anus 1-2 cm (depending on the size of the animal).

A calm, quiet environment should reign in the room during the procedure. During the first measurement, the dog experiences excitement and fear. Hold your pet when inserting the thermometer. The animal can twitch, jump up, break the thermometer, and injure itself.

After the procedure, it is very important to feed the animal something tasty, but before that, wash the thermometer in warm water with soap and disinfect it with alcohol. Don't forget to wash and disinfect your hands.

If you wish, you can teach the puppy to a specific command (for example, “treat”, “thermometer”). If your dog understands, it will be very easy to take measurements in the future. The pet, hearing the command, will allow you to measure the temperature and will calmly wait for the end of the procedure.

What to do if the temperature is elevated (lowered)?

The deviation of this indicator from normal value is a sign of the body’s fight against infection, a symptom of the disease. If you find that your dog's body temperature has increased (decreased), do not try to influence it on your own. Normal indicators, perhaps, will be obtained in this way, but it will not be possible to get rid of the disease or infection this way.

Contact your veterinarian as soon as possible and call him to your home. Due to delay, valuable minutes are lost and the animal’s condition worsens. You can take your pet to the veterinary clinic. If your pet’s thermometer shows above 40 °C, then apply something cool to its body during transportation. Be careful. The dog should not become hypothermic. If the animal has a low temperature (below 36.5 °C), then apply a warm heating pad to its body and cover it with a blanket.

Do not give your animal medications at your own discretion. They will only worsen the situation, because the causes of deviations in body temperature from the norm in dogs are infections, tumors, endocrine diseases, toxins.

Veterinary clinic specialists will be able to quickly and correctly diagnose and prescribe the necessary medications. Try to do everything that veterinarians recommend. Do not stop self-prescribed medications after your dog’s condition improves. This can only be done by a doctor who is confident that the dog’s normal temperature will no longer change, the animal is completely healthy and there is absolutely no threat to its life.

What is a dog's normal body temperature?

Body temperature is a very important physiological parameter of a living organism. The normal body temperature of dogs is 37.5 – 39.0°C. This indicator depends on several factors: breed, age, physiological state. Yes, in puppies and dogs dwarf breeds body temperature is slightly higher than in adults large dogs(38.5-39.2°C). This difference is associated with a higher metabolic rate (for the same reason, the normal body temperature of any dog is higher than that of a human). Temperature may increase by 0.1-0.3°C per day stressful situation(for example, a visit to the clinic), during estrus, when the air temperature rises (heat, traveling in a car without air conditioning), after a long physical activity. In pregnant dogs, shortly before giving birth, the temperature, on the contrary, drops by 0.5-1°C.

Thus, the body temperature of dogs normally varies from person to person. It is advisable that the owner knows what indicators of this parameter are typical for his pet. To do this, you need to periodically measure the temperature at home, in a quiet environment.

How to measure a dog's temperature:

There is a widely known myth that temperature can be determined by the condition of a dog's nose. This is not true. Temperature in dogs and the humidity of the nose are not related to body temperature, but to the temperature of the surrounding air and the secretions of the lacrimal glands that wet the nose. When sleeping, dogs do not lick their nose and therefore it is always dry and warm.

This physical parameter is measured only with a thermometer (mercury or electronic) rectally. This is a simple procedure, however, it requires the owner to carefully and carefully handle the dog during the process. For the first time, your pet will most likely not like this manipulation, but then he will get used to it. It is better to use an electronic thermometer, since measuring the temperature in this case will take 10-30 seconds. If you use mercury thermometer, the procedure will take about 5 minutes.

First you need to prepare a thermometer. Reset the scale to zero and lubricate the tip of the thermometer with some ointment (for example, “levomekol”) or baby cream. Lay the dog on its side, gently lift the tail at the base and slowly insert the thermometer 1.5-2 cm into the anus, preferably closer to one of the sides. If the dog is calm, you can take the temperature while standing.

While taking the temperature, talk to your dog gently and reward him with treats. You can accustom your pet to a command, for example, “Thermometer” or “Treat,” so that in the future the dog knows what awaits it and calmly allows its temperature to be taken. Most animals tolerate temperature measurement quite calmly if the owner does everything correctly from the very beginning. After you finish, the thermometer must be washed with soap and warm water and disinfected with alcohol, then wash and disinfect your hands.

What to do if the temperature is very high or low?

In this case, you should definitely see a doctor (come to the clinic or call a doctor at home), especially if there are other symptoms (lethargy, decreased or lack of appetite, vomiting or diarrhea, frequent urination, bloody urine). Increased or decreased temperature in dogs is important diagnostic sign and a symptom of many various diseases. It should be understood that a change in temperature is a consequence, not the cause of the disease. Do not try to “lower” or “increase” the temperature on your own at home, this may complicate the diagnosis and affect the further course of the disease. If the temperature is above 40.0°C, apply ice packs or something cold to the body during transport to the clinic. If the temperature is below 36.5°C, wrap the dog up and apply a heating pad.

My dog's temperature is abnormal, what should I do? Veterinarian advice. What should be the normal temperature in dogs and what to do if it differs from the norm Normal values ​​for different breeds