KismetKat Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 short of sticking a thermometer up its arse, is there any other way to tell if a dog has an elevated temp? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullbreedlover Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 How about using words more suitable to the forum. And I would also suggest that you get a digital or mercury thermometer and get a proper reading. Does the dogs body feel hot. Are they stressed in any way? Usually(but it some circumstances not always, ie on a hot day) a dog that has a nice cool damp nose should have a normal body temperature Normal temp for a canine is 38.5 but this can be lower or higher for some. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janba Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 I find feeling the temperature just inside the ear helps. A dogs body temperature is 1 degree higher than ours so should feel slighlty warmer but not hot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charli73 Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 My sister is a vet nurse and tells me to see if her ears are hot, just like Janba said... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullbreedlover Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 uuummm my girls ears are hot even though she is has been lying by the fans and her body temp is 37.5. Her nose is a bit dry and warm too so it is not exact science Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KismetKat Posted September 19, 2009 Author Share Posted September 19, 2009 Thanks for the tips about the ears. I DO have a thermometer, but as I use this with the kids I really don't want to use it where the sun don't shine on the dog I was wondering if using under the armpit (and adding a degree) like you do with babies might be a work around. But I will feel his ears. Ta people Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigDaz Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 Thanks for the tips about the ears.But I will feel his ears. Ta people The problem with this it that the result will depend on the temperature of your hands. If you have cold hands the ears will feel warm, if you have warm hands the ears will feel cold. If in any doubt to a dogs health, take it to the Vet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwaY Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 Use the kids one, then buy a new one for the kids, They are cheap enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*Avanti* Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 Thanks for the tips about the ears.I DO have a thermometer, but as I use this with the kids I really don't want to use it where the sun don't shine on the dog :D I was wondering if using under the armpit (and adding a degree) like you do with babies might be a work around. But I will feel his ears. Ta people You could buy one for use on the dog/s only. I got a digital one for mine and it was only about $10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gsdog2 Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 The problem with this it that the result will depend on the temperature of your hands. If you have cold hands the ears will feel warm, if you have warm hands the ears will feel cold.If in any doubt to a dogs health, take it to the Vet. I worked for a vet years ago and the first thing we'd check were the ears (and yes, we did use a thermometer too :D ) - I still tend to check my own dogs ears if I think they might have a temp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staffyluv Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 The best way to tell is by using a thermometer. When Ollie was having chemo, I had to take his temp twice a day. His ears are always warm, so I could not use that as an indication of elevated temperature ever. Hope the dog is OK... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blacklabrador Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 I was wondering if using under the armpit (and adding a degree) like you do with babies might be a work around. No you don't add a degree to an underarm temperature for a baby! Not if you want an accurate result. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirty Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 Glad you said that Blab! I was beginning to wonder if all those times I'd taken my baby's temp under the armpit, I had been a degree off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KismetKat Posted September 20, 2009 Author Share Posted September 20, 2009 I was wondering if using under the armpit (and adding a degree) like you do with babies might be a work around. No you don't add a degree to an underarm temperature for a baby! Not if you want an accurate result. Oh jeesh - you don't add a degree??? Is under armpit accuarate then? Well they are 17 and 12 now - so they survived my being an appalling mother. btw dog is now fine. He had a raised temp at the vet, but I could already tell something was wrong by his behaviour. He was put on ABs but last night he was still acting weird, so why I suspected still having an elevated temp. But he's acting perfectly normally today. I will get another thermometer - just still not really happy with the whole up the bum thing - but am sure I can cope. Just trust I don't mix up the 2 thermometers ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janba Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 I used an ear thermometer on one of my dogs who screamed when anyone put one in her rectum. I gtook her temperature over various times during the day to bet a baseline, as the ear thermometer isn't that accurate, and it seems to work OK to get an idea about her temperature. This was the vets suggestion and she did need her temperature taken regularly towards the end of her life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandgrubber Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 If you have a couple dogs, I'd say do the ear thing on both. If one feels warmer than the other, then it's worth getting out the thermometer. I once owned a dog who deeply resented the 'rectal' approach . . . temperature taking was the only time she ever bit anyone. Guess what, the vet got it. If you have a similar dog, a muzzle may be a useful prelude to the thermometer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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