Fever in dogs can get serious quickly. It’s good to know what to monitor and what first-aid steps you can take.
The picture below showed my boy Sylvester when he had a fever. When he developed the fever, he already had a root canal procedure scheduled—he came from the shelter with a cavity. Two days before the dentist appointment, he wasn’t feeling well. After taking his temperature, it was clear that the tooth infection had led to his fever. I had been to the dentist with him that week. The dentist told me that cavities—infections—can lead to this. Without this knowledge, I would have been a lot more concerned. But because of this, I was pretty sure what we were dealing with.
His temperature was elevated but not critical. It was Sunday, and the vet was closed. I decided to apply cold paw and head wraps with wet towels. I kept taking his temperature throughout the day to monitor his condition, and I was able to break his fever. It works for dogs the same way I learned it from my mother when I was a child. Before antibiotics, people would use wet towel wraps, which still works. So, as a first-aid measure, you can use this approach to start addressing fever in dogs. But also take your dog’s temperature to the vet as soon as possible.
Essential Facts about Fever in Dogs
The average temperature in dogs is 100.5° to 102.5° Fahrenheit (38.06° – 39.17° Celsius), compared to 97.6° to 99.6° Fahrenheit for humans. This means your dog may feel feverish to you even when its temperature is entirely normal. A better indicator is a dog’s nose. It should be wet and cool. If the nose is not cool, something is wrong.
The word ‘fever’ in dogs is typically used to describe elevated body temperature caused by infection or inflammation. A temperature of more than 103° Fahrenheit (39.44° Celsius) is a fever in dogs.
Other Causes
Dogs can also have higher body temperatures due to hot external temperatures or excessive exercise in humid conditions. This is referred to as hyperthermia or heat stroke. When temperatures reach 106° Fahrenheit (41.11° Celsius), severe and fatal complications can occur.
Although there are no definite signs, some typical symptoms that might indicate illness and fever in dogs include:
Lethargy
Depressed mood
Shivering
Loss of appetite
Vomiting
Coughing
Nasal discharge
Taking Temperature
The only accurate way to tell if your dog has a fever is to take its rectal temperature. Experts recommend using a digital thermometer specifically designed for rectal use in dogs. Most thermometers intended for use in human ears do not work well for this purpose.
To check for fever in dogs, you must take your dog’s temperature. First, coat the thermometer with a water-based lubricant, such as petroleum gel or baby oil. Next, gently insert the thermometer about one inch into your dog’s anus and wait for the results. Most thermometers sold for this purpose will take only a few seconds to register. Instant, electronic thermometers for humans, sold in drug stores, usually also work well. I have one of those in my dog’s emergency medical bag.
We are located in Southern California and train dogs nationwide. Happy Dog Training currently offers local dog training services in the following counties. Riverside County, Orange County, San Bernardino County, Los Angeles County, and San Diego County. In addition, we offer our board-and-train program nationwide and all virtual training services worldwide.
Do you want your new puppy trained right from the start? Are you looking for help for your fearful dog? Do you need to resolve a severe aggression problem? You came to the right place! We are experienced, professional dog trainers. Ralf has trained over 1500 dogs in over 18 years, and Sarah has trained over 1200 dogs in over 11 years. Consequently, we can help you with any dog training goal.
We can help you, regardless of your dog's challenges or training goals. Being a professional dog trainer means having experience, knowledge, and skill. Further, we developed a highly effective training program to specifically help fearful dogs gain more confidence and become the best possible version of themselves. Building Confidence is our second most popular training program.
Last but not least, we are experts in dealing with all types of aggression in dogs and are often the trainers of last resort after many other programs have failed. Most of our aggressive dog clients previously spent significant money on half-baked solutions without much improvement. This is different from us. We will give you an honest assessment of what goals are realistic for your dog. We will tell you what can be resolved reliably and what likely needs to be managed before we start.
Our flagship product is our board and train program. But our virtual dog training and coaching services have become quite popular over the last couple of years. Our setup enables us to deliver online dog training services from our indoor and outdoor training areas. This allows us to help clients worldwide.
Finally, once you're ready to move forward, please use our dog training contact form to schedule a free phone consultation or book a paid, in-person consultation.
Happy Dog Training is the pet dog training business of Ralf Weber and Sarah Gill. We are certified professional dog trainers in Southern California. We are specialized in advanced obedience training, all forms or behavioral challenges and service dog training. For behavioral training, we are known for our work with aggressive and fearful dogs. Our service dogs, through Total K9 Focus, have a nationwide reputation for their reliability, longevity and performance.
Ralf Weber, MS, TWC CPDT, IACP CDT, CDTA
Certified Professional Dog Trainer Ralf Weber is lead pet dog trainer of Happy Dog Training. Ralf is a long-time dog owner of German Shepherds. During his career, Ralf has worked with over a 1500 dogs of many different breeds. Moreover, Ralf has a thorough understanding of all aspects of canine training. This includes evolutionary psychology, ethology, and, most importantly, learning science. Ralf is specialized in resolving dog behavior challenges—especially fear and aggression. Apart from this, Ralf trains dogs in basic and advanced obedience, service dog tasks, and GRC Dog Sports. Ralf is further certified in a broad range of other canine training areas. Last but not least, Ralf is the author of the behavioral book If Your Dog Could Talk: Understand Your Dog Like Never Before.
Ralf loves helping people have a better relationship with their dogs. He is a certified professional dog trainer in the Training without Conflict™ methodology by Ivan Balabanov (TWC CPDT). Ralf is also a member of the International Association of Canine Professionals and also holds their basic and advanced dog trainer certifications (IACP CDT, CDTA). In addition, Ralf is an AKC-approved evaluator for the AKC Puppy Star, CGC, and Advanced CGC programs and is also certified in canine first aid by the Red Cross.
Sarah Gill, Certified Professional Master Trainer
Sarah Gill, is a professional service dog trainer and handler. Sarah entered the world of professional service dog training after a car accident. As a result, she had to use a wheelchair for almost two years, trying to maneuver in a house not designed for it. No one expected Sarah would walk again. This opened her eyes and became a driving force behind pushing herself to defy the odds. When she regained some stability, Sarah attended a dog training school and learned how to train service dogs. Sarah completed her Master Trainer Certification and gained further experience by training new trainers. However, the school wasn’t accommodating to those with physical difficulties and PTSD. Hence, Sarah moved home to Dallas. In 2019, Sarah teamed up with Ralf and moved to California.
Sarah started this journey because she had a trained dog to mitigate her disabilities. But Sarah needed additional tasking for a new diagnosis. The only option she could find was getting a second dog for the new diagnosis. She knew there had to be a different way to address this. Sarah's passion is changing the ways of the service dog training industry.
