Causes of hot dog ears

What is fever in dogs? Pet is hot to the touch

The normal body temperature for dogs is between 38 and 39.0 degrees Celsius, which is higher than that of humans. This means that your dog may be hot to the touch, even if his temperature is completely normal. There is also a temperature limit from 39 to 39.5 degrees, when it is impossible to reliably estimate the temperature. Within this limit, it can be normal or increased. Therefore, you need to pay attention to additional symptoms - activity and appetite. In rare cases, temperatures of 40 and above occur in healthy dogs after intense exercise or stress. After resting and calming down, you need to measure your temperature (after 30 minutes).

The word fever is commonly used to describe increased body temperature caused by infection or inflammation. A temperature exceeding 39.5 degrees is considered elevated, although it can also be 40 if the dog is very excited or under stress. You need to let it breathe and re-measure after 30 minutes. If the temperature drops, everything is fine; if not, you need to show your pet to the veterinarian.

When dogs have a high fever, which is the result of heat or excessive exercise in humid conditions, the condition is called hyperthermia or heatstroke. When the temperature reaches 40.5 degrees, serious and fatal complications can occur.

What is normal temperature in dogs?

This indicator can be affected by:

physiological characteristics;
age of the animal;
habitat;
breed.

In hot weather, your pet will very intensively look for a cooler place, and by increasing its breathing, it will cool the body. In such conditions, for dogs, an increase in body temperature of 0.5-1.5 degrees may not be considered a very big problem.

This problem affects large breed dogs the most. A larger body surface area helps absorb a greater proportion of thermal energy.

A puppy's temperature is higher than an adult dog's.

Symptoms of Dog Fever

Although there are no definite signs, some symptoms that may indicate illness and fever in dogs include:

Lethargy
Depression
Shiver
Loss of appetite
Vomit
Cough
Nasal discharge
A hot head in a pet is a sign of an increase in general or local temperature (inflammatory processes in the head area)
Hot ears (inflammation of the ears or general fever)
Hot and dry nose (signs of general malaise)
Hot paws (fever or local inflammation, compare the temperature on all four limbs and on the tail)
How to care for a dog with a fever or fever at home when you need to call the vet?

When you need to urgently take a patient to a veterinary clinic

The only accurate way to determine if your dog has a fever is to take his rectal temperature.

Experts recommend using a digital thermometer specifically designed for rectal use in dogs. Most thermometers designed for use in the human ear are not suitable for this purpose.

To take your dog's temperature, first coat the thermometer with a lubricant such as petroleum gel or baby oil. Then carefully insert the thermometer one to two centimeters into your dog's anus and wait for the results. Most thermometers will take less than 60 seconds to register for this purpose. You can also use a mercury thermometer, but you need to measure for at least 5 minutes.

Methods for measuring a dog's temperature

Measurements in dogs of all breeds and sizes at home, as well as at the veterinarian, are carried out using a regular thermometer. The procedure is carried out rectally, so it is better to take an electronic thermometer, which measures indicators in half a minute. Mercury may not be suitable; it is unlikely that a dog will be able to stand calmly for even five minutes with a foreign body in the anus. The thermometer for a dog must be individual!

Usually, pets of any breed tolerate the procedure easily; after a while the animal even stops noticing it, it is absolutely not painful and does not bring much inconvenience, so it is very easy to learn how to take measurements yourself at home.

How to measure a dog's temperature:

Lubricate the tip of the thermometer with Vaseline, baby cream or Levomekol gel. Afterwards you need to reset the reading on the mercury thermometer or reset the electronic one.
You can insert the thermometer either into a dog lying on its side or one that is simply standing on its paws. The tail must be raised up and the device must be carefully inserted to a depth of 1.5-2 cm, leaning against one of the walls of the rectum.
To measure the temperature, the animal must lie or stand quietly; the pet may be scared the first time, so it is better to talk to it gently, calming it down. The pet can be taught a command, for example, “Treat,” so that she knows what procedure will be performed on her. 4. Next, take out the thermometer, note the readings, wash the device after use with soap and wipe with alcohol.

There are also infrared thermometers that measure data through the animal's ears, but their price is much higher than electronic or mercury thermometers.

Before giving birth, as well as after giving birth to large and small breeds, thermometer readings can be taken every hour, and then written down to know how the process is proceeding.

Causes of Dog Fever

A variety of diseases and conditions can cause your dog to develop a fever. These include:

Infection. Can have any number of causes of infectious disease in dogs, including bacterial, fungal and viral diseases. The infection can be anywhere in the body, such as the lungs (pneumonia), kidneys (pyelonephritis), brain (encephalitis), or even the skin. The symptoms you see will depend on where the infection is and the cause. Some infections, such as fungal infections, can cause inflammation in multiple areas of the body at the same time.
Vaccination. An increase in general and local temperature after vaccination within 24-48 hours after vaccination is not uncommon and is the result of interaction between the injection and the dog's immune system.
Toxins. Consumption of substances that are toxic to dogs, including macadamia nuts and some antidepressants, can cause an increase in body temperature.
There are times when the cause of a dog's fever cannot be easily determined; this is called "fever of unknown origin." The most likely causes of canine fever of unknown origin are immune system disorders, bone marrow problems, undiagnosed infections and cancer.

Causes of hot ears in dogs

In fact, this symptom is not alarming unless there are any additional complaints about the dog’s well-being, for example:

lethargy,
poor appetite
vomiting, diarrhea,
itching, scratching on the ear,
temperature,
swelling of the muzzle.

The main reasons for this symptom may be:

Home care and when to call the vet

If your dog has a temperature above 39, you should call your veterinarian. Fever above 40 is an emergency that must be addressed promptly.

If your dog has a temperature above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, you can lower his body temperature by running cool water on his fur, especially around the ears and paws.

Using a fan on damp wool will help reduce the temperature. When doing this, be sure to monitor your dog's rectal temperature and stop the cooling procedure when it reaches 39.5. You should not lower the temperature too quickly.

If your dog has a fever, try to make sure he drinks enough water regularly to stay hydrated, but don't force it. And never give your dog medications meant to reduce fever, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, as these can be poisonous to dogs and cause serious stomach, liver and kidney damage or death.

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