How to measure a dog's temperature

Every dog ​​owner has at least once wondered how to take their dog's temperature. This measurement is crucial, as it allows you to assess your pet's health and detect illness at an early stage.

Every home usually has a thermometer—mercury or electronic—and either is suitable for taking a dog's temperature. However, for hygiene reasons, each animal should have its own thermometer, so it's best to purchase a personal thermometer for your pet in advance.

How to measure a dog's temperature

An electronic thermometer is considered the most convenient: it provides a result in just 1.5–2 minutes, while a mercury thermometer requires 3–5 minutes. The measurement is taken rectally—the thermometer is gently inserted approximately 2 centimeters into the dog's anus.

If you're wondering how to take a dog's temperature and you're doing it for the first time, here are some things to keep in mind:

• The tip of the thermometer should be lubricated with Vaseline or baby cream so that its insertion does not cause severe discomfort.
• While taking your dog's temperature, reassure him and speak to him kindly. If his appetite is normal and his condition doesn't cause any serious concern, you can treat him with his favorite treat.
• Measurements must be taken in a calm environment, in a quiet place, so as not to cause unnecessary anxiety and worry in the dog.
• After taking the measurement, the thermometer must be disinfected (for example, wiped with alcohol).

If you need to know how to take a dog's temperature at home and you're unsure how to organize the procedure or position the animal correctly, it's best to place the dog on its side. If you're performing the procedure for the first time, this will be easier for both the dog and you. However, if your dog has had to undergo such procedures before, and you have similar experience, you can place the animal standing, as veterinarians do.

Features of the procedure

Owners often wonder how to take a dog's temperature because their pets are simply frightened by the procedure, running away, or resisting. This is a completely normal reaction for dogs if they haven't experienced such procedures before, or if the previous ones were painful or unpleasant. There's no need to resort to force in cases where muzzling, tying, or applying pressure can be avoided. In most cases, owners can easily persuade their dogs to accept the procedure calmly with a little attention and affection. This is the best approach and will definitely help in the future, should any further measurements be necessary.

You can even train your dog to accept such procedures, developing a command like "come and measure," "get treated," or something similar. By warning the dog each time with appropriate words about the need for such a procedure and rewarding it during or after it's performed, you can easily ensure that the dog comes to you on its own when called to have its temperature taken.

How often do measurements need to be taken?

Unless veterinary guidelines for monitoring an animal's condition are in place, temperature checks should only be performed if you suspect illness—or if the animal is ill and you're monitoring its condition yourself. A veterinarian may also check the animal's temperature before vaccinations and during veterinary examinations. The only exception to this rule is for purebred puppies, whose temperature is monitored by breeders in the first few days after birth to prevent illness and death.

If there is a suspicion of injury or illness, open wounds, bruises, or other damage, if the dog has fought with other animals or suffered from human actions, the temperature may indicate an inflammatory process and problems in the body as a whole.

Dull and sticking out fur, lack of appetite, convulsions, vomit or diarrhea, or inappropriate behavior—all of these indicate the need to take the animal's temperature and consult a veterinarian. Whether these symptoms are elevated or low, they indicate underlying health issues and, in some cases, the need for immediate medical attention.

How can you tell if you have a fever without measuring it?

Some dog owners say you can tell if a dog has a fever by looking at its nose. This is a misconception; whether a dog's nose is dry or wet is irrelevant.

But if a dog hangs out its tongue and breathes heavily, lies down, trying to curl up into a ball, or, conversely, spreads its body as wide as possible, if it lies down in a puddle, looks for a warm or cool place - you can judge with a certain degree of certainty that something is wrong with it.

Norm and its variants

Another important question that may plague owners after taking their dog's temperature is whether the reading is truly normal. This isn't always easy to determine, as dogs' temperature readings are more individual than general—unlike in humans. The diversity of breeds, their different sizes, and their physiology create a wide range of normal readings, from 39.3 (102.3) for small puppies to 37.4 (100.4) for a large adult. A female dog in heat will have a higher temperature than normal, and the reading will drop before and after whelping. Physical activity, emotional state—all of these and many other factors—can affect the reading, making it unstable.

How to take a puppy's temperature

Any changes in a puppy's behavior may indicate the onset of illness. Since puppies' immune systems are not yet fully developed, they develop illnesses more quickly than adult dogs. Therefore, it's important for owners to know how to measure their pet's temperature—even a slight deviation from the norm can be a warning sign.

To measure a puppy's temperature, use the same thermometers as for an adult dog. Normal readings are considered to be between 37.5 and 39.5°C, with slight variations possible depending on the pet's age and size.

The procedure for measuring a puppy's temperature:

• lubricate the tip of the thermometer with Vaseline or similar ointment;
• lay the puppy on its side or place it on a table, if necessary, ask someone to help hold it;
• carefully insert the thermometer into the anus and wait 3-5 minutes (or until the electronic device beeps);
• If the reading exceeds 39.5°C, the puppy should be shown to a veterinarian as soon as possible.

You can also ask our website's staff veterinarian a question, who will answer them as quickly as possible in the comments box below.

Read also:

• How to give a pill to a puppy?
• Rhinitis in dogs
• Epilepsy in dogs