An increase in body temperature in an animal is a symptom that requires immediate consultation with veterinarian. It is not recommended to shoot it down on your own, as this can complicate the diagnosis. Hyperthermia is characteristic of many diseases, so the animal should be taken to the clinic as soon as possible for examination.

A slight deviation up or down is acceptable.

At an elevated temperature (hyperthermia), the animal often becomes hot to the touch, redness of the skin and dryness of the mucous membranes are possible. The pet may behave strangely: hide, walk from corner to corner, or cling too much to the owner. Hyperthermia is very dangerous and can lead to the death of a pet.

At a temperature of 42 degrees, the breakdown of proteins begins, the central nervous system and the animal may fall into a coma.

Symptoms of high fever in dogs

In order to find out the temperature of an animal, it is enough to measure it with a thermometer. But the device may not always be at hand, then you need to pay attention to external signs.

Symptoms of hyperthermia

• dry nose;
• hot ears;
• grinding of teeth;
• small trembling all over the body;
• tachycardia;
• frequent breathing;
• unnatural behavior: the dog hides behind the sofa or, on the contrary, is afraid to move away from the owner;
• refusal to eat;
• convulsions;
• redness of the skin;
• general lethargy.

At high temperatures, one or more of the above symptoms may be observed. If the dog has seizures, then you need to go to the doctor immediately, she needs emergency help.

How to take a dog's temperature

Temperature in dogs is measured rectally with a thermometer. It is better to use an electronic thermometer, but mercury is also possible.

1. Treat the thermometer with a disinfectant.
2. Lubricate the tip of the thermometer with petroleum jelly or a greasy fragrance-free cream.
3. Fix the animal so that it cannot sit down.
4. Insert the dog's thermometer anus to a depth of 1.5 cm and hold for a few minutes.

After measuring, calm your pet down and give it a treat. The thermometer is then disinfected and put away.

What temperature is critical for a dog

The dog's body copes much better with a low temperature than with a high one. At intense heat irreversible changes occur in the brain and other organs of the animal. The critical temperature is considered to be above or about 42 degrees Celsius.

If the animal is not urgently delivered to the doctor, then complications are possible.

• respiratory paralysis;
• acute honorary insufficiency;
• intoxication of the body;
• heart failure;
• cerebral edema;
• hypoglycemia;
• hyperbilirubinemia;
• coma;
• death.

Self-treatment at high temperatures is unacceptable and can threaten the life of the animal.

How to bring down the temperature in a dog

First of all, you need to suppress the natural desire to give the dog the medicines familiar to humans. Self-treatment of hyperthermia at home is not recommended.

Heat- this is a symptom of the disease, it is necessary to establish what caused its rise.

The veterinarian, after diagnosis and if necessary, prescribes antipyretics, as well as analgesics or antihistamines. During the examination, the doctor may recommend tests or additional examinations.

Until the animal is taken to the clinic, the owner can apply ice packs through the tissue to the neck, as there are large blood vessels. In fluffy breeds, it is desirable to cut off excess hair. Also, the animal can be seated near a fan or air conditioner.

The only medication that can be used on its own is paracetamol.. However, keep in mind that you can not give it thoughtlessly. It is necessary to accurately calculate the dosage. One tablet is required for a dog weighing 40 kilograms. Thus, if you have a light or, divide the tablet into 10 parts, and if you have a heavy or, then about 3-4 parts.

Diseases that can cause hyperthermia

• inflammatory diseases;
• infections;
• malignant neoplasms;
• thermoregulation disorder in life-threatening conditions, such as stroke.

Also, hyperthermia can begin due to heat stroke or intolerance medicines given to the dog by the owner.

In addition, we must not forget that many conditions of the body are accompanied by an increase in body temperature. This is, for example, the period after surgery, during pregnancy and with large, prolonged loads. In this case, if there are no special prescriptions from the veterinarian, you can do without non-drug means And most likely hyperthermia quickly will pass.

What not to do

Sometimes the owners try to force the dog to eat, which refuses to eat due to the high temperature. It is absolutely impossible to do this, since the food will not be digested normally and will create additional discomfort for the animal.

Do not give your pet pills from a human first aid kit without the consent of a veterinarian, many of them are poisonous to dogs.

Also, do not apply to animals. a large number of ice, it will only worsen his condition. Do not use cooling packs that are not wrapped in cloth, as this may lead to necrosis.

Medications that reduce fever

In order to lower the temperature, droppers with drugs that replenish the deficiency of fluid in the body are usually used.

The use of antipyretics and a course of antibiotics is indicated. Dogs with heart failure or overweight problems are given glucocorticoids if upper airway obstruction develops.

Remember that an increase in body temperature is only a symptom of the underlying disease, so the dog definitely needs the help of a qualified veterinarian.

There is nothing worse than having a pet sick. After all, it cannot tell about its symptoms, cannot complain and show where it hurts. Therefore, it is very important for the owners to carefully observe their pet and note everything unusual in his behavior. In this article, we will talk about a high temperature, the signs and causes of it, and how to bring down a high temperature in a dog.

How to tell if your dog has a fever

The normal temperature of a dog is 37-39 degrees. Moreover, puppies have a slightly higher temperature than adult dogs. In dogs large breeds body temperature is lower than that of their small counterparts. Body temperature also depends on the time of year - in summer it is higher than in winter.

Many mistakenly believe that body temperature can be determined by the nose of an animal. This is not true. A dog's sense of smell works best when the nose is moist. Therefore, the dog often licks it with his tongue. And when the dog is sleeping, she does not need a scent, in this moment she relies more on hearing. Therefore, the nose becomes dry. It is for this reason that it is impossible to draw a conclusion about an elevated temperature only by the nose. But how do you know if a dog has a fever? What signs should alert the owner?

1. If the dog is looking for a cold spot in the house. It could be wet rag on the threshold, tiled floor in the toilet, basement. The dog tries in this way to lower its body temperature on its own.
2. If the dog drinks a lot. At a temperature, the body burns and, in order to make up for the loss of fluid, the dog tries to drink a lot.
3. The condition of the dog is changing. She becomes lethargic, she loses her appetite, refuses to play, tries to retire. When a pet behaves this way, you need to understand why this is happening.
4. Feel your dog. When the temperature is high, his nose and ears become unusually hot. At the same time, the heart beats faster, and breathing becomes frequent.
5. And the most the right way to determine the temperature - this is its measurement. To do this, place the tip of the thermometer in the anus of the animal and wait a bit. Best to use electronic thermometer– it acts faster and makes a sound when the measurement is finished. If the animal's body temperature is 40-41 degrees, urgent action must be taken.

Causes of an increase in body temperature in a dog

As you know, body temperature in humans and animals rises due to heat stroke. This can happen during the hot season, when the dog has been playing in the sun for a long time or simply overheated. This happens quite often in dogs. special treatment does not require. You just need to water the dog and leave it in a cool place.

One more common cause fever in dogs is a nervous experience. If the dog is given to new house if he changed his place of residence or owner, and also if he is in a crowded and noisy place - this can provoke a rise in temperature. In this case, it is necessary to relieve the animal of stress and everything will work out.

Sometimes body temperature can be caused by local inflammation. If the dog has painful injuries or open wounds, they can cause an increase in body temperature. Wounds need to be treated antiseptic composition. Sometimes the temperature rises due to a reaction to a particular vaccine. So the first day after vaccination, the dog must be carefully monitored.

The most common cause of body elevation in an animal is defensive reaction organism for a virus, bacterium, infection. This means that your pet is sick. Here it is very important to show the dog to a veterinarian who can diagnose the animal. Pay attention to other dog symptoms. He may have had vomiting or diarrhea, blood in the stool or urine.

Most often, the dog's temperature rises at night, and it is impossible to get to the veterinarian in the next few hours. In this case, you need to know how to bring down the temperature of a dog at home on your own.

1. First you need to provide a cool room. If the dog lies down in a cool place, do not chase him. In the cold season, open the windows, ventilate the room. In the hot season, on the contrary, draw the curtains from the sun and turn on the air conditioner.
2. Make sure your pet has free access to clean drinking water. If necessary, solder the dog with a syringe without a needle.
3. Use contact cooling techniques. Wet a towel and cover the animal's back with it. You can also just wet the dog's coat. Place wet rags on inside hips.
4. If the dog's temperature is above 40 degrees, you need to use medications. The temperature in dogs is brought down by the same drugs as in adults. To do this, use Paracetamol, Ibufen, Nurofen - that is, any antipyretic drugs.
5. It is best to give antipyretics in the form of syrup. If the dog refuses to drink it, you can put half a tablet on back tongue - the animal will certainly swallow it.
6. When the temperature is too high, antipyretic suppositories, such as Cefekon, can be used to quickly reduce it. It is best to use children's candles. If you only have adult dosage, the candle can simply be divided in half with a knife.
7. When there is a dog in front of you small breed or puppy, any antipyretic drug should be in children's dosage. One teaspoon baby syrup is usually sufficient.

After an antipyretic, relief and a decrease in temperature come quickly, within half an hour. But this does not mean that you should not find out the cause of the fever. After the incident, contact your veterinarian as soon as possible to rule out serious illness. Take care of your pets, and they will repay you with kindness and love!

Video: how to measure the temperature of an animal

Yunkina Anastasia Alexandrovna
general practitioner

An increase in body temperature in animals can only be judged by the readings of a thermometer.
Therefore, every owner should be able to measure the body temperature of their pet.

Why is the temperature rising?

The mechanism of temperature increase is based on the imbalance between the process of heat generation, the so-called heat production, and the process of heat transfer. And this balance is disturbed under the influence of both external and internal factors. And there are many such factors. For instance:

• When the body overheats as a result of heat stroke, the heat input from external environment significantly exceeds the ability of the body to give off heat. As a result, body temperature can reach a critical level of more than 41°C.
• When pathogens are introduced infectious diseases the temperature rises as a result of the development of a protective and adaptive reaction of the body. This reaction is called fever. Many non-infectious and surgical diseases also accompanied by fever.
• Under stress, a short-term increase in temperature occurs in a healthy animal. The main stress factors for dogs are long journeys, change of home, long separation from the owner, physical overload, emotional overload, such as an exhibition.

Separately, I would like to say about visiting the veterinary clinic.
This for most dogs is the cause of the development of stress, and, consequently, an increase in body temperature. Therefore, the following situation often develops: the doctor, before vaccinating, measures the patient's body temperature, and it turns out to be elevated. Only healthy animals can be vaccinated.

In this case, the doctor refuses to vaccinate your dog until the cause of the fever is determined. stress or illness.

If your pet is agitated, but before that he felt well, and there are no other signs of illness, the doctor will recommend re-taking the temperature after a while, when the dog gets used to the environment.

The dog's body temperature is elevated. You ruled out the development of stress. So it's a sign of illness...

What to do?
If body temperature 39.5-40°C: carefully examine the dog, remember what happened to your pet over the past few days. You may be able to determine the cause of the fever or identify any signs of the disease. In any case, it is necessary to show the dog to the doctor on the same day.

A significant increase in temperature, above 40-41 ° C requires immediate appeal doctor and emergency care.

Owners need to know:

• An increase in body temperature above 40.5 ° C leads to loss of fluid from the body, to a decrease or lack of appetite, general depression, accompanied by rapid heartbeat and breathing
• Body temperature above 41.1 ° C leads to a critical loss of fluid from the body, can cause cerebral edema and serious disturbances in work internal organs, which are manifested by palpitations and heart rhythm disturbances, severe shortness of breath, accompanied by wheezing, loss of consciousness, convulsions and impaired coordination of movements, diarrhea and vomiting, yellowing of the conjunctiva of the eyes and mucous membrane oral cavity, lack of urine and the appearance of the smell of acetone from the mouth, bleeding from the intestines and hemorrhages on the skin. Any of these complications can short terms lead to the death of the animal.

If the temperature has risen above 41 ° C, you should try to bring it down:

It is necessary to put ice on the neck and inner thighs, if this is not possible, moisten the dog's coat cold water, provide drinking in small portions of cool water.
You should not self-administer antipyretics at home, give pills. Some of these drugs may do more harm than good.
It's better to limit yourself physical methods cooling.
It is important to get the animal to the doctor as soon as possible!

The question often comes up: go to the clinic or call a doctor at home?

Drive to the clinic. An increase in body temperature - nonspecific symptom many diseases. Therefore, in animals with weakened vital important functions diagnosis of the disease should be carried out against the background of supportive treatment. It is very important to put accurate diagnosis underlying disease and do so as soon as possible.
If after clinical examination the patient's information for making a diagnosis will not be enough, will prescribe additional research, such as the:

• laboratory tests of blood and urine
• testing for infection
• Possibly hormone levels
• radiography and ultrasound.

It may also be necessary to consult narrowly specialized specialists, for example, an endocrinologist, a neuropathologist, an oncologist, an allergist.
In parallel, the doctor will correct the condition of the animal, if necessary, begin infusion therapy(“Droppers”), in order to make up for the loss of fluid, he will introduce antipyretic drugs in the required dose.

If the dog's condition turns out to be critical, the doctor will strongly recommend placing the patient in a hospital under the supervision of qualified personnel who monitor and maintain adequate functioning of the heart, lungs, kidneys and other internal organs around the clock.

When you notice a fever in your pet, remember how bad it is for you when you get a cold, how exhausting the high temperature is. Your friend is experiencing the same sensations. Help him in difficult times.

By determining that your dog has a fever, you can start treatment in time and prevent further deterioration of his condition. Although the only reliable way To measure a dog's body temperature is to use a rectal thermometer, knowledge of methods that allow you to quickly determine the temperature in an animal without using a thermometer can be of great benefit.

Steps

Part 1

Feel the dog's ears and paws. A dog with a high fever usually has very hot ears and paws. You can assess its temperature by touching the ears and paws of the pet with sensitive areas of your body - your cheek or back side arms. Is your dog's skin warmer than yours? At healthy dog body temperature is only slightly higher than that of humans.

• There are many in the ears and paws of the dog blood vessels and when she fever, these parts of the body become hot due to the movement of cells immune system to areas where there is an infection. Increasing the circulation of these cells in the blood leads to the release of additional heat in the blood vessels.
• If right and left ear have different temperature is a deviation from the norm. Usually, if one ear is warmer than the other, this is a sign of local inflammation of the ear rather than a general fever.

1. Feel the dog's nose. If she has greenish or yellowish discharge from the nose, the dog probably has a fever and an infection. Such discharge may mean that your dog's body is fighting a respiratory infection, although this only becomes clear in more severe cases. Certain illnesses such as distemper and adenovirus (the so-called kennel cough) also have similar Clinical signs. Therefore, if you notice a greenish or yellowish nasal discharge in your dog, take him to the veterinarian immediately.

   • Body temperature and humidity healthy dog change within certain limits. It is a myth that dogs always have a cold and wet nose. In fact, the nose can be dry for several reasons: for example, if the dog is lying in the sun, after sleeping near the battery, or after physical activity or when she is dehydrated. What nose does your dog usually have? Did she do any of the above that could cause her nose to become dry and hot?

2. Feel the armpits and groin area of ​​the dog. With fever and infection, these areas are usually swollen and hot. You can try with the back of your hand to see if they are hot. The lymph nodes in the armpits and groin area. But in order for you to feel the temperature correctly, your hands must be at a normal temperature and not cold or hot.

   • The lymph nodes contain cells of the immune system that fight bacteria and viruses. They protect the blood by filtering causing infection microorganisms: when an infection enters the body, the lymph nodes prevent its spread. At the same time, they are filled with cells of the immune system that secrete various substances, which, when released into the brain, initiate an increase in temperature. As a result of the simultaneous occurrence of various protective reactions, the lymph nodes become inflamed, swelling and heating up at the same time.
   • Since dogs have very little hair in the armpit and groin area, you can easily check whether they are hot or not.

3. Examine the dog's gums. If she has a fever, her gums may be warm and dry to the touch. Another important feature- This is reddening of the gums, especially if they are brick red. This may indicate a high temperature or even sepsis.

   • If a dog has healthy gums, they should be moist, shiny and almost the same. Pink colour like a human gum. Raise upper lip dogs at upper canine and touch the tip index finger to the gum, tasting how hot and moist it is. Is its color, temperature and humidity almost the same as yours? If not, then the dog may have an infection.

4. The dog may also have a fever. If she has health problems or is going through shock, her body temperature may be lowered. In addition, she may experience physiological adaptations to this temperature, such as shivering and goosebumps. An animal with excessively low body temperature can be very lethargic and very weak. In this case, contact your veterinarian immediately.

   • Keep in mind that a dog's shivering does not always mean that its body temperature is low; it may be a response to stress, fear, or pain. If you don't know why your dog is shaking, contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.

   Part 2

   Assessment of the appearance of the dog

   1. Look for other signs of a fever. In addition to body temperature, the dog may show other physical signs heat. It is important to be attentive and notice changes in normal behavior and physiological processes– From difficulty passing a bowel movement to coughing and sneezing, as these signs may indicate an infection. TO possible symptoms relate:

      • poor appetite
      • Lethargy, sluggishness and passivity
      • Weakness
      • Vomit
      • Stomach upset
      • Sleep throughout the day
      • Desire to be away from other dogs

   2. Watch out for appearance and behavior of the dog. If the dog has a very high temperature, you will be able to feel the heat emanating from his body, being at a distance of about half a meter from him and without even touching him. You may notice a number of other symptoms listed below.

      • The dog may have long periods shortness of breath, and you will feel her hot breath on your cheek.
      • The animal may be thirsty and drink more than usual as it loses large amounts of fluid when panting.
      • Fever can cause joint pain. This is manifested in the fact that the dog avoids physical activity, it is difficult for her to get up, she walks slowly and awkwardly, or even limps.
      • At high temperatures, your pet will be withdrawn, quiet and lethargic. Feeling uncomfortable and irritated, the dog may also show unusual aggression when touched.
      • The dog does not want to take care of his appearance, and his coat seems disheveled and unkempt, too dry or greasy.

   3. Pet the dog, play with it a little, trying to get it involved in the game. Remember how your pet looks when he healthy. Is his body warmer than usual? Are your eyes dull? Wool less silky? Is your dog less active and responsive than usual? These changes in physical condition and behavior may be indicative of illness.

      If your dog seems to be fine, check back in an hour. If her body is hot, but she does not show any signs of illness, and her behavior is normal, let her rest in a cool place for an hour and then check the temperature again. Since a fever is a natural defensive reaction of the body, it may be enough to simply wait it out if there is nothing serious.

      • Remember, if the temperature of the extremities rises and the animal behaves unnaturally, this is more serious than a fever in an otherwise seemingly healthy dog. In this case, you should not worry about a high temperature, but about an infection.

      Part 3

      Causes of fever in dogs

      1. Fever is a normal protective reaction of the body. In most cases, it does not pose much of a threat. On the contrary, an elevated temperature often indicates that the body is fighting infection or recovering. However, in some cases, fever may be a sign bacterial infection. If your dog is showing any unusual symptoms, contact your veterinarian immediately.

         When in doubt, contact your veterinarian to get a diagnosis from a professional. If symptoms are present, action must be taken; fever should be taken especially seriously if it persists for more than 24 hours. Perhaps the veterinarian will prescribe an antipyretic that will bring the temperature down very quickly.

      2. Be aware of other ailments causing an increase temperature. If your dog's fever is related to another, often more serious condition, you will notice a corresponding set of symptoms. It could be a serious respiratory or gastrointestinal infection. Keep the following in mind:

         • When respiratory infection dogs tend to cough and sneeze, have a runny nose and watery eyes. Often this negatively affects the activity of the animal and its sleep.
         • With a gastrointestinal infection or inflammation, the dog may not have an appetite and often suffer from vomiting or indigestion. If you suspect your dog has a gastrointestinal infection, take him outside when he wants to go to the bathroom to monitor his stool and urine. Does she have an upset stomach? Is there blood in her urine?
         • If you notice any of the above disorders, consult your veterinarian immediately. There is a possibility that the animal's body is infected; Fever is just one of many symptoms to look out for.

If the dog is sick...

A high temperature in a dog that exceeds 39.5 ° C (lower) can be caused by the following main reasons.

1. The beginning of the work of the protective function of the body, designed to protect it, for example, from harmful pathogens of various diseases (viruses, microbes, etc.) that have invaded the animal's body. In other words, an elevated temperature often indicates that the pet is sick. Logical, right? And this symptom points to very serious illness, which may represent inflammatory process(wounds, abscesses, arthritis, etc.) or the presence of dangerous infection. Of course, there are exceptions when protective function turns on not because of an illness, but because of a recent vaccination, a sudden onset of an allergy, or a severe one.


2. Creation of conditions under which the dog is exposed to extreme heat(heat outside, too warm room, etc.), as a result of which he begins to have heat or sunstroke.


3. Banal stressful situation (of course, if the dog has a temperature of 40 and above - stress cannot be the cause, in 99% of cases this indicates that the body is not able to cope with the disease on its own and needs urgent health care!), such as, for example:

• change of owner, moving to new family or to a new house
• trips to unfamiliar places,
• psychological and physical overload that the dog is not able to cope with (rough treatment, participation in exhibitions),
• and, finally, a trip to the veterinary clinic - an event that does not bring joy to any animal (in this situation, to get correct result, it is recommended to measure the temperature again after an hour and a half, that is, after the “patient” slightly adapts to the new environment and stops being very worried).

In the second and third cases, it is enough to simply eliminate the factors that cause a negative reaction, for example: do not allow the dog to be in the sun long time and regularly ventilate the room in which she lives, or try to change the situation that led to severe stress.

If you find that the dog's temperature, which should be treated immediately, could not be caused by either heat or stress, then your pet is sick. What is the right thing to do in this case?

Firstly, It is not recommended to bring down the temperature on your own with the help of any medications., since, without a doctor's prescription, such methods can cause more harm to a pet than good. But you can alleviate the condition of the dog in the following ways:

• offer her slightly chilled water;
• stroke it with a hand dipped in cold water;
• apply to inner surface hips an ice bottle wrapped in a thin towel;
• create a shade around it (that is, protect it from the sun) or open windows.

Second, try to determine if your pet has any other obvious signs ailment. For example, if a dog's temperature is 39 degrees, weakness and she refuses to eat, we can conclude that she is not healthy, although 39 degrees is the norm. Any unusual behavior of the animal should alert the owner.

Thirdly, be sure to visit a veterinarian. As you understand, knowing only that the dog is sick, you will not be able to help him. It is necessary to conduct research and take tests to determine the correct diagnosis and prescribe treatment. For this you will need:

• carefully examine the animal;
• examine the body for infections;
• take a urine test, blood test;
• conduct an ultrasound examination;
• take x-rays and other procedures at the discretion of the therapist.

Only after the disease is identified, the doctor will be able to prescribe treatment. As a rule, at a high temperature, antipyretic drugs suitable for a particular patient are first used, and droppers are also placed to prevent dehydration and other dangerous consequences.

Most importantly, never ignore your pet's fever, as it can lead to dire consequences, such as:

• convulsions;
• fainting;
• violation of the functioning of vital organs;
• frequent (or intermittent) heartbeat;
• severe diarrhea with vomiting;
• intestinal and other bleeding;
• death.

If there is no way to immediately contact a specialist, you can bring down the temperature with intramuscular injection made in the thigh. Take 0.5 ml of diphenhydramine, 1 ml of noshpa, 2 ml of analgin and draw these drugs in the indicated proportions into one syringe. For small breed dogs and puppies, take half the dose. Remember, this is an emergency! With the help of such an injection, it is impossible to cure a dog, it will bring only temporary relief, but the cause that caused the ailment will not go away.