How do I know if my dog has a fever?

Detecting a doggie’s fever can be difficult. Some signs that fido’s feeling a little under the weather include lethargy and excessive panting. A feverish dog may also refuse his food.

A dog’s normal, resting temperature is between ninety-nine-point-five and one-hundred-two-point-five degrees. But this number may climb higher when your dog has some kind of underlying medical problem. Anything higher than one-hundred-four-degrees requires an immediate call to your veterinarian. The most common cause of fever in dogs is infection – particularly from a wound or abscessed tooth.

The most accurate way to detect a dog’s fever is to use a rectal thermometer. Ask your veterinarian to show you how.

– Dr. Larry McDaniel, DVM for the “Purina® Animal Instincts” Podcast Series

Source: www.purina.com