Dogs are just like us in some ways \u2014 and I\u2019m not just talking about the fact that sometimes, they look like us<\/a>. As is the case in human healthcare, a pup\u2019s temperature is a good indicator of their overall health.<\/p>\n But what is a normal dog temperature? Dr. Chris Roth, DVM, from Pets Best Pet Health Insurance<\/a>, says a dog\u2019s temperature is usually between 100-103 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything higher or lower may be a sign something is up \u2014 though not always. Dr. Roth discussed all things dog temperature, including what it means and what to do if the reading is out of range. <\/p>\n We often think about out-of-range temperatures as fevers. And they can be. But sometimes, a dog\u2019s temperature is too low. <\/p>\n \u201cIt could be hypothermia\u2026if they have been out in the cold too long,\u201d says Dr. Roth.<\/p>\n If your dog is running a fever<\/a>, it could be a sign of infection \u2014\u00a0but the key phrase here is \u201ccould be.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA dog could be overheated from being in the sun, stressed, overexercised, or confined to a space without adequate circulation,\u201d Dr. Roth says<\/p>\n You can get an idea of your dog\u2019s overall health by taking their temperature. You don\u2019t need to do it every day, but Dr. Roth suggests taking it regularly at first using a rectal thermometer. <\/p>\n \u201cTake it several times, so you know you\u2019re dog\u2019s normal,\u201d he says. \u201cAfter that, if they are acting normal, healthy and happy, there\u2019s no need.\u201d<\/p>\n What does abnormal behavior mean?<\/p>\n Sluggish behavior is a sign of both high or low temperatures, and rapid breathing is a cue your pup may be running a fever.<\/p>\n \u201cThey cool themselves by panting,\u201d Dr. Roth says.<\/p>\n So, you took your dog\u2019s temperature, and it\u2019s out of range. Should you panic? Not yet.<\/p>\n Dr. Roth says that you should call your vet immediately if the dog\u2019s temperature is below 98 or above 103 degrees. But if it\u2019s just a touch out of range, try retaking it. That\u2019s what vets do, too.<\/p>\n \u201cYou have to take [dog temperature readings] with a grain of salt,\u201d he says. \u201cAt the vet, if the dog is stressed or the owners have been waiting out in the sun, the dog may have 102.8 or something. We may want to wait a little bit and let the dog cool down before taking the temperature again.\u201d<\/p>\n If your dog\u2019s temperature is too low, Dr. Roth suggests warming them with a blanket or dog coat. Dogs with temperatures that are high could benefit from a room-temperature bath and plenty of fluids. You can also blow them with a fan. Avoid giving your pup an ice bath.<\/p>\n \u201cIt cools them down too fast and can cause shock,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n If it\u2019s repeatedly out of range, call your vet for a check-up.<\/p>\n The post Dog Temperature: Everything You Need to Know, According to a Vet<\/a> by Beth Ann Mayer<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n The post Dog Temperature: Everything You Need to Know, According to a Vet<\/a> by Beth Ann Mayer<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n Dogs are just like us in some ways \u2014 and I\u2019m not just talking about the fact that sometimes, they look like us<\/a>. As is the case in human healthcare, a pup\u2019s temperature is a good indicator of their overall health.<\/p>\n But what is a normal dog temperature? Dr. Chris Roth, DVM, from Pets Best Pet Health Insurance<\/a>, says a dog\u2019s temperature is usually between 100-103 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything higher or lower may be a sign something is up \u2014 though not always. Dr. Roth discussed all things dog temperature, including what it means and what to do if the reading is out of range. <\/p>\n We often think about out-of-range temperatures as fevers. And they can be. But sometimes, a dog\u2019s temperature is too low. <\/p>\n \u201cIt could be hypothermia\u2026if they have been out in the cold too long,\u201d says Dr. Roth.<\/p>\n If your dog is running a fever<\/a>, it could be a sign of infection \u2014\u00a0but the key phrase here is \u201ccould be.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA dog could be overheated from being in the sun, stressed, overexercised, or confined to a space without adequate circulation,\u201d Dr. Roth says<\/p>\n You can get an idea of your dog\u2019s overall health by taking their temperature. You don\u2019t need to do it every day, but Dr. Roth suggests taking it regularly at first using a rectal thermometer. <\/p>\n \u201cTake it several times, so you know you\u2019re dog\u2019s normal,\u201d he says. \u201cAfter that, if they are acting normal, healthy and happy, there\u2019s no need.\u201d<\/p>\n What does abnormal behavior mean?<\/p>\n Sluggish behavior is a sign of both high or low temperatures, and rapid breathing is a cue your pup may be running a fever.<\/p>\n \u201cThey cool themselves by panting,\u201d Dr. Roth says.<\/p>\n So, you took your dog\u2019s temperature, and it\u2019s out of range. Should you panic? Not yet.<\/p>\n Dr. Roth says that you should call your vet immediately if the dog\u2019s temperature is below 98 or above 103 degrees. But if it\u2019s just a touch out of range, try retaking it. That\u2019s what vets do, too.<\/p>\n \u201cYou have to take [dog temperature readings] with a grain of salt,\u201d he says. \u201cAt the vet, if the dog is stressed or the owners have been waiting out in the sun, the dog may have 102.8 or something. We may want to wait a little bit and let the dog cool down before taking the temperature again.\u201d<\/p>\n If your dog\u2019s temperature is too low, Dr. Roth suggests warming them with a blanket or dog coat. Dogs with temperatures that are high could benefit from a room-temperature bath and plenty of fluids. You can also blow them with a fan. Avoid giving your pup an ice bath.<\/p>\n \u201cIt cools them down too fast and can cause shock,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n If it\u2019s repeatedly out of range, call your vet for a check-up.<\/p>\n The post Dog Temperature: Everything You Need to Know, According to a Vet<\/a> by Beth Ann Mayer<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9308","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nWhy might a dog temperature reading be out of range?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
How to take your dog\u2019s temperature<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"dog](\"https:\/\/s36700.pcdn.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/GettyImages-657695546-600x400.jpg.optimal.jpg\")
What to do if the temperature is too high or low<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Why might a dog temperature reading be out of range?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
How to take your dog\u2019s temperature<\/strong><\/h2>\n
What to do if the temperature is too high or low<\/strong><\/h2>\n