Puppies have a higher natural body temperature than humans – and it can be quite a significant difference! Depending on their breed, their temperature can range from 99.5º and 102.5º, so when your puppy feels warm, it doesn’t mean they’re ill.
But what if your dog is sick? How can you tell? Relying on symptoms over temperature is a smart way to go about it. Here are common symptoms to look out for:
- Shivering
- A warm and dry nose
- Appetite loss
- Nasal discharge
- Lack of energy
- Warm ears
- Coughing
- Lethargy
- Vomiting
- Depression
- Red eyes
Of course, if you want, you can take the temperature of your puppy with a thermometer. Ear and rectal thermometers made specifically for puppies are the right tools for the task. If the thermometer shows a reading of lower than 99º or higher than 103º, you should bring your puppy to a vet as soon as possible. A fever can be caused by:
- Vaccination. A previous vaccination within the last 2 days could lead to a low-grade fever.
- Infection. A puppy can face fungal, bacterial, and viral infections from a wide range of sources.
- Toxins. Curious puppies may ingest things that are dangerous to them or that they aren’t supposed to.
Feature Image Source: Pixabay