From a minor cold to a tumor or infectious disease, dogs can all develop a fever. The reason why dogs develop a fever is because various external or internal stimuli act on the thermoregulatory center, causing them to be in an abnormal excited state. Therefore, fever is a defensive response of the body to fight against pathogens. Fever itself is not a very serious problem, as long as it is treated in a timely manner, it can still be effectively improved. However, one should not blindly use medication indiscriminately, otherwise it will affect the health of the dog

From a minor cold to a tumor or infectious disease, dogs can all develop a fever (detailed introduction). The reason why dogs develop a fever is because various external or internal stimuli act on the thermoregulatory center, causing them to be in an abnormal excited state. Therefore, fever is a defensive response of the body to fight against pathogens. Fever itself is not a very serious problem, as long as it is treated in a timely manner, it can still be effectively improved. However, it is important not to blindly use medication, otherwise it will actually affect the health of the dog.

Many pet owners use dryness of the nose as a criterion for judging a pet's fever, but this alone is not the correct method. Although the dog's nose may become hot and dry during a fever, due to the many mucus glands on the dog's nose, it is still possible to secrete mucus normally to keep the nose moist. The correct way to determine if they have a fever is to take their temperature. Generally speaking, a normal dog's body temperature is between 38-39 degrees Celsius. If it is too high or too low, it indicates that the dog's body is abnormal.

Contrary to fever, dogs sometimes experience a decrease in body temperature, which may be due to malnutrition, massive blood loss, poisoning, shock, severe parasitic infections, and many diseases that have progressed to the late stages. A dog's fever may be caused by minor issues such as wound infection. However, more often than not, a fever is a signal that the dog is seriously ill. Therefore, it is important to promptly seek veterinary examination to determine the cause of the dog's fever when unsure.

Due to various reasons that can cause fever, it is important to remember to prescribe the right medicine during treatment. For example, fever caused by inflammation (pneumonia) should be mainly treated with anti-inflammatory medication, with appropriate adjunctive antipyretics; As a symptom of some serious infectious diseases (such as canine distemper, canine parvovirus, canine infectious hepatitis, etc.), controlling body temperature is an important part of maintenance therapy during the treatment process. However, instead of treating after getting sick, it is better to prevent it early. Vaccination can prevent dogs from contracting infectious diseases once and for all (of course, vaccines can also ensure 100% prevention of dogs from contracting infectious diseases).

Be careful when choosing antipyretics. Veterinarians generally do not approve of pet owners using antipyretics for human use, but aspirin is a good antipyretic for dogs. Dogs can take a dose of 18 milligrams per kilogram of body weight.

What harm can excessive use of antipyretic medication cause to dogs

1. Overuse of antipyretic medication can mask symptoms and worsen the condition.

2. Blindly using antipyretics may disrupt the fever pattern of certain diseases, thereby affecting the accuracy of diagnosis.

3. Misuse of antipyretic medication does not contribute to the treatment of diseases. If fever is caused by acute or chronic inflammation, the top priority is to use antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medication. Once the inflammation subsides, the fever will naturally subside, and antipyretic medication do not have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects.

What to do if a dog has a fever:

Firstly, it is important to observe whether the dog has any other corresponding symptoms besides fever. If the dog also experiences poor appetite, lack of energy, and even vomiting and diarrhea in addition to fever, it should be immediately taken to the hospital for examination. For puppies, especially those under 6 months old, if they are found to have a fever, they should be immediately taken to the hospital. If it is an mature dog that has been vaccinated, aspirin or dog fever reducing medication can be temporarily used to help reduce its fever.