Dog Fever Symptoms

Dogs are very similar to humans and they can have fever the same way as we do.
There are usually indicators and change in your pet behaviours to tell us that something is not normal.
Since your dog can’t talk it is the your duty to watch for signs of dog fever symptoms and take care of them when they have don’t feel well.

Dog fever symptoms

These are the signs to tell that your dog is not feeling well and starting to have fever.

• Overheated or body temperature raised above 103 degree fahrenheit


• coldness and shivering


• depression and sad expression


• respiration rate or pulse rate increase


• coughing


• sneezing


• watery eyes


• drooling a lot


• red gum or swollen


• lethargy


• vomiting


• diarrhea


• faints or collapses


• rough or dull coat


• clearly decreased in activity


• urinating problems or excessive urination for more than 12 hours


• loss of balance while walking, staggering and falling


• scratching at eyes or ears for a long time


• discharge from eyes, nose or ears


• breathing difficulty


• hot and prolonged panting


• whining for unclear reason


• increase or loss of appetite for more than 24 hours


• eat more but losing weight


• restlessness


• unusual lack of activity or excessive sleeping


• excessive water drinking

Other related symptoms are scratching, itching, painful movement or even bloody stools.
Some of the dog symptoms mentioned above are quiet serious and need to check with your vet because it may related to parasites, bacteria infections and diseases.

Dog fever prevention

Dog grown up in the house and they have no nature sense of survival like wild dogs. It is the owner duty to keep their dog in good health by giving them a regular exercise, proper diet and routine health check with your veterinarian. It is very important that you must memorize and remember your dog normal habits so the owner can detect their dog fever and symptoms when they are not feeling well. Always remember that prevention is better than cure.

Dog Fever Symptoms

Dogs are very similar to humans and they can have fever the same way as we do.
There are usually indicators and change in your pet behaviours to tell us that something is not normal.
Since your dog can’t talk it is the your duty to watch for signs of dog fever symptoms and take care of them when they have don’t feel well.

Dog fever symptoms

These are the signs to tell that your dog is not feeling well and starting to have fever.

• Overheated or body temperature raised above 103 degree fahrenheit


• coldness and shivering


• depression and sad expression


• respiration rate or pulse rate increase


• coughing


• sneezing


• watery eyes


• drooling a lot


• red gum or swollen


• lethargy


• vomiting


• diarrhea


• faints or collapses


• rough or dull coat


• clearly decreased in activity


• urinating problems or excessive urination for more than 12 hours


• loss of balance while walking, staggering and falling


• scratching at eyes or ears for a long time


• discharge from eyes, nose or ears


• breathing difficulty


• hot and prolonged panting


• whining for unclear reason


• increase or loss of appetite for more than 24 hours


• eat more but losing weight


• restlessness


• unusual lack of activity or excessive sleeping


• excessive water drinking

Other related symptoms are scratching, itching, painful movement or even bloody stools.
Some of the dog symptoms mentioned above are quiet serious and need to check with your vet because it may related to parasites, bacteria infections and diseases.

Dog fever prevention

Dog grown up in the house and they have no nature sense of survival like wild dogs. It is the owner duty to keep their dog in good health by giving them a regular exercise, proper diet and routine health check with your veterinarian. It is very important that you must memorize and remember your dog normal habits so the owner can detect their dog fever and symptoms when they are not feeling well. Always remember that prevention is better than cure.

High Fever |

Knowing the normal temperature for a dog is important if your dog develops a high fever. A dog’s normal temperature should range from 101 to 103 degrees Fahrenheit.

A fever is the body’s normal response to fight an infection. But if your dog’s fever rises above 105 degrees, it can cause damage to its vital organs and may cause your dog to go into shock.

Determining whether your pet has a normal temperature for a dog or whether it has a fever requires the use of a rectal thermometer. But using a rectal thermometer can sometimes be difficult because the dog does not want to remain still while you take its temperature. Most dogs find this invasive procedure uncomfortable and will squirm and try to move away from you.

If you notice your dog displaying any of these symptoms, you should use a rectal thermometer to see if it has a temperature higher than the normal range:

* Sleeping more than usual during the day (unless you have a senior dog who always sleeps a lot during the day)
* Lack of interest in eating or drinking anything
* Lack of interest in usual activities

If your dog””””””””s temperature is not unusually high and does not require a visit to your veterinarian, you can try to lower the fever naturally.

Start by bathing your dog in a cool bath. Make sure the water is not too cool or ice cold. If it is, this can cause your dog to go into a state of shock if it has a high fever.

Make sure that your dog is drinking plenty of fresh, cool water. When a dog has a fever, it usually doesn’t have any desire to eat or drink. But your dog can go longer without eating than it can without water, so if your dog has a fever and is not drinking plenty of water, it can lead to dehydration and more serious complications.

Medication for a Fever
If your dog””””””””””””””””s temperature exceeds 104 degrees Fahrenheit, you need to seek medical attention immediately. This level of body temperature and higher can cause critical organs such as the heart, kidneys and lungs to fail.

Your veterinarian will probably suggest leaving your dog for a few hours or possibly overnight to allow the monitoring of its fever. If the fever remains elevated after administering medication, more invasive methods such as surgery may be required.

Knowing the normal temperature for a dog is necessary to distinguish between a simple fever versus a dangerous one. High fevers are just as serious in a dog as they are in small children and care should be taken to treat a dog whose temperature rises above a safe range.

Symptoms, Causes and Treatment for a Pet with a Fever

By Linda Cole

It’s not always easy to determine if a pet has a fever or not. The general way many pet owners decide if their dog or cat is running a temperature is by feeling their nose. If it’s wet and cool, that’s a good sign the pet is healthy, but if it’s dry and hot that could mean the pet has a fever. However, there are better signs of fever in pets. Pet parents can tell right away when a pet isn’t feeling well, especially when they pass up their favorite CANIDAE or FELIDAE meal. We can also tell if they’re warm by touching them. If your pet is running a fever, you need to know for sure, otherwise you may miss the reason for their fever. The best way to know for certain is to actually take their temperature using a rectal thermometer.

Symptoms and Causes of Fever in Dogs and Cats

The first thing to remember is that our pet’s body temperature is higher than ours. We have a normal body temperature at 97.6 up to 99.6. A dog’s normal body temperature is 101 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. The normal temperature for cats is 100.4 to 102.5 degrees. Indications of a fever include loss of appetite, lack of energy, depression, shivering, a runny nose, coughing, dehydration, lack of grooming or vomiting.

An infection or inflammation can produce a fever in pets. Anytime their body temperature is over 103 degrees Fahrenheit is cause for concern. A temperature of 106 degrees or higher can damage a pet’s internal organs and can be fatal. High fever in cats isn’t as harmful for them as it is for dogs, but it’s always best to get a high fever down as quickly as possible. If you can’t bring it down on your own within a day or two, a trip to the vet is recommended for specialized care and to determine why they have a fever.

A fever can be an indication your pet is fighting an infection inside the body or outside. An unnoticed cut on a paw pad or between a toe could have become infected. A bite or scratch from another dog or cat, an ear infection, a bad tooth or an abscess (common in cats) can cause infection. Urinary tract infection, pneumonia, encephalitis, fungal, bacterial or viral diseases can all cause your pet to run a fever. Complications during birth can also cause a pet to have a fever.

Dogs often pick up things they find on the ground, and both dogs and cats will nibble on plants. Many inside and outside plants are toxic to pets and can cause them to have a fever. Antifreeze poisoning, human medications, eating toxic human food or drinking alcohol can cause a rise in body temperature. If you suspect poisoning, take your pet to the vet immediately.

Sometimes the cause of a fever is unknown, and that could indicate problems with their immune system, an infection that hasn’t been found yet, or cancer. Many pets will run a low grade fever after their yearly vaccinations, and it’s recommended to keep a watchful eye on them for a few days after getting their updated shots. As long as their temperature remains under 103 degrees there’s no cause for concern, unless it lasts longer than 48 hours.

How to Take Your Pet’s Temperature

A digital rectal thermometer made specifically for pets is recommended. It will register your pet’s temperature in less than 60 seconds which for the pet is a good thing. Lubricate the thermometer with petroleum jelly or baby oil. Carefully and gently insert it about an inch into your pet’s anus and then remove it as soon as you have a reading. It is not recommended to use a glass thermometer or the type we use in our ears or mouth.

Reducing a Pet’s Fever

To help reduce a pet’s high fever that’s over 105, apply cool water around their ears and paws. You can put them in front of a fan and as their fur dries it will help them cool down. It’s important to monitor their temperature with a thermometer and remove them from in front of a fan and stop applying water once their temperature has dropped to 103. Try to get them to drink small amounts of water.

Never give dogs or cats human medication like acetaminophen or aspirin to reduce a fever. Aspirin is extremely toxic for pets. Applying water to cats to reduce a fever is not recommended. However, if a dog or cat is suffering from heat stroke, applying water around the ears, paws and back of the neck will help cool them down. Do not use ice if your pet is suffering from heat stroke.

Photo by Marlana Shipley 

Read more articles by Linda Cole