If your tiny doggo is feeling ill, you will feel it too! If he/she is sad, you’ll notice for sure. Dog fevers can be very difficult to identify at home and they might need a check-up from the vet. In order to understand how a dog’s body is functioning, you must know that they have a higher body temperature than human beings. For example, while 98.6 Fahrenheit is the average body temperature for humans, your doggo’s body temperature should be between 101 and 102,5 degrees Fahrenheit. A dog has a fever only if its body temperature is over 103 degrees. But be careful that it doesn’t reach 106 degrees because it could be very dangerous!

So how can you tell if your dog has a fever? There are a few symptoms that might help you figure out if your cutie is in danger.

1. Loss of appetite 

Unfortunately, fever comes along with the loss of appetite. If the treats or even the food you give it daily doesn’t seem to be appealing anymore, this might be a sign that your dog has a fever. Of course, this particular symptom might also be a sign that the food is not ok anymore.

Loss of appetite can also be a pain in your pet’s mouth (especially if it’s old and it already has issues with its teeth),  or somewhere else in their bodies.

If you observe these changes in your dog’s behavior, take it to the vet as soon as possible! It might need a temporary change of diet or some other proper treatment.

2. Dry nose 

Most people say that you can tell if a dog is sick just by feeling its nose. Even if this is not entirely true, and it doesn’t have a scientific explanation, a warm and dry nose can indicate that your dog has a fever especially if it’s paired with other symptoms.

Be careful!

3. Shivering 

If your dog is shivering and it’s actually pretty warm in the house, the cause might be that it has a fever. You can cover it with a fluffy blanket and make sure it stays warm. Be careful: if these shivers are because it has a fever don’t make them too hot! Call your doctor if you don’t know what to do about it.

4. Vomiting

Your dog’s fever may be followed up with vomiting. This can be caused by a virus or just because your pet ingested something that makes them puke. Before checking if it has a fever, try and find if it didn’t chew too much on his squeaky toy and by mistake ingested parts of it! Ask your vet if the food you give to it is good enough and be sure the dog is hydrated enough. Drinking water is also very important!

5. Lethargy 

Is your little fella tired? Taking naps when it’s usually begging you to throw his favorite toy? This might be a sign of lethargy, but you should know that this symptom does not indicate fever. If your dog doesn’t seem to regain its energy you really need to consult your vet!
Please remember that an infection can cause a fever!

Pay attention to all the symptoms and go to the vet as soon as possible!

6. Red eyes 

If your dog has redness in its eyes along with the symptoms we’ve listed before, it might be because of a fever. Even if this is not the main cause of the redness, you may want to get him checked out because this could be caused by irritation, allergies, or a very bad infection.

Be aware that you should really treat your pet accordingly and you will need a vet to tell you what the cause of the redness is.

Take care of your dog, you are its best friend!

7. Coughing

Is your dog coughing a lot? If the answer is yes it could be a case of kennel cough, a highly contagious illness that is caused by a mix of viruses and bacteria. Don’t panic! There is a vaccine for the kennel cough and if your dog is a real social butterfly, you may want to discuss the vaccine with your vet.

8. Nasal discharge 

This is another symptom that can be caused by a fever, but be careful because this is not the only reason your dog may have nasal discharge. If the dog has nasal discharge you may want to ask for your vet’s help. It might be just a regular fever, but nasal discharge may lead to a more serious illness like cancer.

Even if we’ve presented you with these symptoms, one of the most accurate ways to see if your dog has a fever, before calling your vet, is to take its temperature. This might be uncomfortable for your dog because unfortunately, you will have to use a rectal thermometer. If this sounds too complicated, another way of doing it is to try under your pet’s armpit.

Note: Most thermometers that are not digital contain mercury inside the glass tube. Make sure your doggo doesn’t bite or break it!

We know you’re scared. It’s perfectly normal to be afraid if your pet is sick. But you must know that if your dog has an infection, the regular treatment is based on antibiotics or antifungal pills and it’s treatable in most cases.

Before you head out for your day, make sure to check this article out as well: 6 Dog Breeds You Can Safely Leave Alone For Hours.