Why does a dog have a temperature of 40. What body temperature is considered normal for a dog? What is the normal temperature for dogs
Hello dear readers! Today I propose to talk on an interesting topic: “Body temperature in animals”, and more specifically, talk about high temperature in dogs. In the article we will analyze the following points:
How is temperature regulation in dogs and cats
Body temperature is not a constant value, it changes during the day, these changes depend on age, gender, intensity of physical activity, as well as environmental conditions.
But there is such a thing as normal temperature, this is not one figure, but an interval. For example, for a dog, the norm is from 37.5 to 39.5, and even in this case, size and age must be taken into account. For large adult dog 39.5 is already an elevated temperature, but it is acceptable for a puppy. More details like and than temperature.
In a living body of warm-blooded animals, heat is constantly generated, its main producers are muscles and the liver. Therefore, after a run and a delicious lunch, the body temperature tends to rise. When “overheated” blood enters a certain area of the brain, the mechanisms for removing excess heat are turned on.
Most likely, you have noticed how your cat or dog, on a warm day, stretches to its full length, and if it is very hot, it begins to breathe intensively, opening its mouth wide. This is how animals stay cool.
Semych shows you how to cool down properly 🙂
Of course, I gave a simplified scheme, in fact, the thermoregulation mechanism is much more complicated. The main idea is that the temperature of the body is constantly changing, but remains within certain limits, homeostasis is maintained. Deviation from normal parameters may indicate a disease.
It is also important to know that the formation of heat is a biochemical process, and its return is physical. Important for proper care. And yet, a high temperature in a dog is not a disease, but only a symptom.
Some Causes of Temperature Rise
The temperature rises when heat transfer is disturbed or physically impossible, or when heat retention mechanisms are activated during its increased production. Now I will try to decipher what I wanted to say so as not to confuse you.
Consider the classic example of a dog being left in a car with the windows closed on a hot day. In such a trap, the animal will overheat due to the inability to remove excess heat from the body - it is too hot in the car.
Either you got on a bike, took your dog with you and decided to ride, you rode fast and for a long time, the dog ran beside you. In this case, a lot of heat is generated in a short time, which does not have time to be removed. These are two examples of the influence of the environment and conditions that the dog has been placed in.
But most often the temperature rises in response to the action of certain substances, they are called pyrogens. For example, pyrogens can be parts of bacteria, during an infectious disease, destroyed tissues of the body, formed during trauma or tumor decay.
Also, those substances to which the animal has an individual sensitivity, that is, an allergy, can raise the temperature.
When I spoke about a dog locked in a car, it is clear that practically nothing depends on the animal, it got into such conditions. Overheating is coming.
In the second case, with the development of an infectious disease, the body itself reduces heat transfer, and sometimes accelerates heat generation. The defense mechanism is activated. 
What gives a high temperature, why is it?
An increase in temperature is a nonspecific protective reaction of the body. That is, the introduction of a virus, bacteria, allergen, severe stress or injury will have the same response. This is ancient system protection and not too picky.
What's positive? With an increase in temperature, metabolic processes in cells increase, energy is produced faster, interferon and antibodies are produced. The overall resistance of the body to infection increases. It also creates unfavorable conditions for microorganisms.
Certain conditions are necessary for the division and normal functioning of cells, including bacterial ones. At elevated temperatures, many bacteria and viruses cannot reproduce normally.
Yes, prolonged fever has Negative influence and the dog, but animal cells divide much more slowly than bacteria. Due to the different growth rates, microorganisms are in a worse position.
Complications
But, in addition to positive effects, high temperatures can harm. First of all, the central nervous system, the animal becomes inhibited, depressed, loss of consciousness and hallucinations are possible. The nutrition of the brain is disrupted.
With an increase in temperature, the heart rate increases, by about 10-15 beats per minute, by 1 "extra" degree. On the one hand, this is good - better blood flow, but the heart works under load.
The digestive system is not working properly. The secretion of saliva decreases, the tongue and mucous mouths become dry. The secretion of pancreatic juice, the secretion of bile and gastric juice is also significantly reduced. Intestinal peristalsis slows down, which leads to constipation, fermentation and bloating.
Violated water-salt metabolism in the body. The fluid is retained in the tissues due to the redistribution of sodium and chlorine. Urination increases, and a lot of fluid is lost with rapid breathing.
As a result, dehydration quickly sets in, and this leads to changes in the blood. And again we come to an increase in the load on the heart and a deterioration in the nutrition of the brain. One violation leads to another.
How to help an animal?
Friends, once again I want to remind you that fever is not a disease, but a reaction of the body, therefore, first of all, you need to find the cause of the disease.
But until you get to the doctor:
- Allow the body to easily give off excess heat, for this you need to lower the ambient temperature. Of course, the dog does not have to be driven out into the cold, it is enough to ventilate the room or turn on the air conditioner. The air temperature should ideally be 18-20 degrees. We will not allow a draft and a cold floor where the animal lies.
- Minimize physical exercise, at muscle work a lot of heat energy is produced.
- Be sure to drink your dog or cat clean water if she does not drink on her own. See how to do it in this video.
What not to do
When a dog has a high temperature, people have the idea to use their own, "human" drugs, but this is a bad idea. For example, they give: ibuprofen, paracetamol, analgin, aspirin, diclofenac and others. Most of the listed drugs are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and they have a lot of side effects.
Some side effects in animals appear much stronger and more often than in humans. For example, after taking an ibuprofen tablet, a dog may develop gastrointestinal bleeding, which will lead to death if not helped.
In addition, intense vomiting may begin, the kidneys and liver may suffer, blood clots may form, and confusion may occur.
With drugs, it’s clear, but there is one more opportunity to do harm - to feed. For some reason, many try to feed a sick dog, force, persuade, push the food into the mouth. When you ask why? The answer is simple - so that she does not lose strength.
But at elevated temperatures, the food cannot be digested normally, by force-feeding, you add problems. Now the animal, in addition to fever, will also have bloating, constipation or diarrhea.
Summing up
We remember that temperature is not a disease, but only a symptom, so we do not fight the symptom, but look for the real cause, preferably together with the doctor. Eliminate the cause, the temperature will pass, in extreme cases, the veterinarian will use a safe remedy.
Do not give animals human drugs for fever - it is dangerous. In extreme cases, when there is no doctor and his appearance is not expected, but already above 42, then dexamethasone can be used. But he also has many side effects, so read before use.
Wow, the article turned out to be great, I will be glad for your questions, additions, it is interesting if you share yours in the comments personal experience. Until we meet again, friends!
Temperature is one of the main indicators of the well-being of both people and animals. His increase or decrease indicates that something is wrong with the pet.
What temperature is considered normal for a dog? How to measure it at home, and what to do if it is greatly reduced or increased?
The normal value for adults and small puppies is different. In dwarf breeds, it may be slightly increased, and this will not be considered a deviation. The temperature norm in dogs is presented in a table that contains averages for different age and size groups.
Body temperature in dogs is normal, if it is within the range indicated in the table. In addition, there are additional tolerances for different situations. Temperature in a dog: the norm may increase under stress (up to 0.3⁰С), on hot days, after intense training, during estrus. In bitches before childbirth, on the contrary, it decreases by 0.5-2⁰С.
Important! Such changes do not indicate the presence of disease or ailment.
There is an opinion that the temperature can be determined by the nose, but this is a delusion. Sometimes when the heat is hot, the ears and groin become hot to the touch, but you cannot rely on these signs alone.
How to measure the temperature of a dog at home?
To take a measurement use a thermometer (mercury gives more accurate readings, but electronic shows the result faster). It is administered rectally (into the dog's anus). Here is an algorithm for how to measure the temperature of a dog correctly:
- Calm your pet, lay him on his side, stroke his stomach. The dog must relax.
- The tip of the thermometer is lubricated with a greasy ointment (children's cream is usually used for this purpose).
- The tail of the animal is raised, the thermometer is slowly inserted into the rectum (2-2.5 cm for large individuals, 1-1.5 cm for small ones).
- While the measurement is in progress, talk to your pet, stroke it, treat it to your favorite treat.
- After the end of the measurement (5 minutes for mercury thermometers, 30-40 seconds - for electronic) carefully remove the thermometer, praise the animal, write down the data. Wash the thermometer and hands with warm soapy water, if necessary, disinfect with an alcohol solution.
Thanks to this algorithm, you can easily find out the status of your pet. Handle the dog gently and calmly, do not scare it.
Attention! The pet should know that measuring with a thermometer is a simple and painless procedure.
What should I do if my pet has a fever or chills?
How to bring down the temperature?
If the indicator value is very high (above 40⁰С), best solution will take the pet to the veterinary clinic. This indicator is especially dangerous for babies, since metabolic processes in their body proceed much faster.
What should I do if my dog has a fever but veterinarian help is not available? If your pet has a high fever, follow these guidelines:
- wet ears, groin and paw pads cold water;
- you can put a wet towel on your head;
- move the dog to a cool place (on the tiles in the bathroom, on the balcony, etc.);
- give your pet cold fresh water to drink;
- mix three drugs in a syringe: No-Shpu, Analgin and Dimedrol (check the dosage with the doctor by phone, it is calculated by the weight of the animal) and inject this mixture into the dog intramuscularly.
How to bring down the temperature in a dog and avoid severe dehydration? To do this, use a syringe to inject saline solution under the skin at the withers (up to 50 ml for small dogs, up to 200 ml for large dogs).
If the measures taken are not enough, try to call a specialist at home or take the pet to a veterinary clinic. A high score is a sign of an illness, it can be a symptom, or
Important! If you notice other symptoms (loose stools, change in color or smell of urine, poor appetite, body tremors, etc.), be sure to tell your veterinarian about them.
How to raise the temperature?
If the indicator drops below 37-35⁰С, the pet needs to be warmed up. To do this, wrap the dog in a shawl or a warm woolen blanket, put a heating pad or a bottle of water against his back and stomach. hot water(be sure to wrap it in a towel). An indicator of 32-28⁰С is considered critical (in this case, the pet should be immediately taken to the clinic).
Temperature is an important indicator with which you can recognize the beginning in time. But not always its increase indicates the presence of an ailment.
Attention! If your pet has a high fever or hypothermia, contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.
Additionally, check out the video on what temperature the dog should have and how to measure it:
Normal body temperature in a dog is higher than in humans and reaches 38-39 degrees. However, dogs also have a fever when the temperature rises even higher - up to 40-41 degrees.
It is believed that with the help of increased temperature, the body fights infection. At this point, an area of the brain is activated, which responds with an increase in temperature to the invasion of viruses or bacteria.
Most of the invading "foreign" organisms die under conditions of high temperature. However, too high a temperature indicates that the body can no longer cope and can threaten the life of the animal.
Causes of fever in dogs
There are many reasons for such a reaction of the body. First of all it is:
Also, the cause may be various disorders in the body:
- disruption of the endocrine system,
- metabolism,
- too high activity of the immune system.
The body may react with heat to toxic substances or drugs, as well as a developing tumor. Sometimes exact causes cannot be determined at all. Then the diagnosis is made: fever of unknown origin.
Symptoms of a fever in a dog
To determine that a dog has a fever can not only measure body temperature, but also other symptoms.
- The dog is clearly weakening.
- Often the animal begins to tremble, her breathing and heart rate quicken, and dehydration is observed.
- May appear strange behavior for example, a dog will try to hide.
For a long time, this condition can eventually lead to shock.
What should a dog owner do? Animal treatment.
With the symptoms described, it is necessary by introducing a thermometer into the anus. High in a dog is considered a body temperature above 39.4 degrees. The veterinarian should determine the cause of the disease by examining the dog and studying its medical history.
Especially if it's cold outside. If calling a doctor is not possible, you can consult with him by phone, describing appearance and dog behavior. Additional tests may be required:
- hemogram,
- blood test,
- blood smear,
- Analysis of urine,
- test for diseases of the immune system,
- X-rays of light,
- biopsy of various tissues.
Treatment for a dog with a symptom such as fever depends on the diagnosis. If the diagnosis is not obvious, a course of antibiotic treatment is most often prescribed. If the temperature is above 40 degrees, it is necessary to use antipyretic drugs for animals or aspirin. You can also put ice on the neck and inner thighs or moisten the dog's coat with cold water, provide her with a drink of cool water in small portions.
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 the scent, at the 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?
- If the dog is looking for a cold spot in the house. It can be a wet rag on the threshold, a tiled floor in a toilet, a basement. The dog tries in this way to lower its body temperature on its own.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- And the surest way to determine the temperature is to measure it. To do this, place the tip of the thermometer in the anus of the animal and wait a bit. It is best to use an electronic thermometer - it works faster and makes a sound when the measurement is completed. 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. In dogs, this happens quite often and does not require special treatment. You just need to water the dog and leave it in a cool place.
Another one 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 fever. It is necessary to treat the wounds with an 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 an increase in the body in an animal is a protective reaction of the body to 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.
- 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.
- Make sure your pet has free access to clean drinking water. If necessary, solder the dog with a syringe without a needle.
- 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.
- If the dog's temperature is above 40 degrees, you need to use medication. 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.
- 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 the back of the tongue - the animal will certainly swallow it.
- 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.
- When you have a small breed dog or puppy in front of you, any antipyretic drug should be in a children's dosage. One teaspoon of 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
