One of the hardest parts of caring for pets is when they get sick and you don't know exactly what's going on. Just like with humans, a dog with a fever probably has something unusual going on in their body that goes beyond just a temperature rise. To help you identify this condition in your pooch, we spoke to theveterinarian Isabela Pires, from Rio de Janeiro, and she explained how you can measure the temperature and know if your puppy is hot. Take a look!

Dog with fever: know the symptoms of high temperature in the dog

In everyday life and with coexistence, it is normal for you to know your dog's personality and the first thing that changes when they have a high temperature is their behavior. "Generally, they become more apathetic and quiet when they have a fever," explains Isabela. In addition, the veterinarian also tells what are the other most common symptoms. "Dogs also have a dry muzzle and morehotter than normal and if you get close you will feel that his breathing is hot too," he points out.

Another factor that indicates that your dog has a fever is the increase in belly temperature, but the veterinarian points out that this symptom cannot be evaluated in isolation. "If, for example, the day is very hot and the dog has gone out, it is normal for him to have a warmer body. Therefore, the temperature of the belly should only be taken into account together with the other signs ", he says.the professional.

How to take your dog's temperature at home?

If you suspect something is wrong with your puppy, you can take their temperature at the vet or with a thermometer at home. There are pet-specific devices, but you don't have to. You can use a digital human thermometer on your puppy just fine, and it's a safer option than the mercury version. The vet explains how to take the temperature of your puppy.dog temperature at home, take a look:

• Place the dog in a comfortable position, which can be lying down or standing. If possible, it is good to have someone help you hold and calm the pet;
• Insert the digital thermometer into the animal's anus until it gently touches the animal's anal wall;
• Press the button to initialize the digital thermometer and wait for the beep that indicates that it has detected the animal's stabilized temperature.

Is 39°C in a dog a fever? Find out what your pet's normal temperature is

What many people don't know is that the normal temperature of dogs is naturally higher than ours. So, when interpreting the thermometer, be aware. "The usual temperature of a puppy varies between 38ºC and 39.3ºC. If the value indicated on the thermometer is higher than that, he has a fever", explains Isabela. If he really has hyperthermia, you will need to take him to the hospital."Fever is always a warning sign and can mean a virus, parasitosis or even cause seizures and tremors," she adds.

You can try to lower the temperature of your dog with fever at home

In many cases, it's common not to get emergency veterinary care the moment you realize your dog has a fever, and in that case, you can try to bring down his temperature before going to the office. Check out the vet's tips:

• Give your dog plenty of water to stay hydrated while they have a fever;
• Wipe the muzzle and paws with a towel soaked in cold water;
• Leave the wet towel for a while on the muzzle as a compress.

Another very important point is: do not medicate your pet on your own before listening to the instructions of a veterinarian, ok? The sooner he is attended to, the easier it will be to discover the problem and treat the right causes of the fever.