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Checking your dog for signs of infection is vital during recovery from any major surgery.
During our recent Tripawd Talk Radio interview with Jillian Meyers from Healthy Paws L.A. we discussed the importance of having a pet first aid kit on hand and the myth about feeling a dog’s nose to check for fever, among many other pet first aid and CPR tips.
How to Safely Take Your Dog’s Temperature
The only way to accurately check your dog’s temperature is rectally with a thermometer. Since you don’t want to risk breaking a glass thermometer – or wait for the reading – a digital thermometer is the best. Gillian suggests using a lubricant, and the faster the thermometer the better.
Your dog’s normal body temperature should be about 100.5°F or 38°C. For fast accurate readings, see all the digital thermometers available on Amazon or consider these recommendations.
- Fever InSight: Large color changing display with backlight
- Fast 8-second reading w/ memory recall
- Accurate readings within +/- 0.2 deg F
- Waterproof w/ storage case inside
- Lifetime warranty
- Rectal use only
- Large backlit LCD display
- 10 second readings
- Lifetime warranty
- Ultra-quick 8-second measurements
- Fever alert for temperatures above 99.5°F (Not applicable for dogs.)
- Extra-large backlit display for low-light use and easy reading
- Soft flexible tip for added comfort during readings
- Super fast read measures in as little as 8 seconds
- Safe and accurate
- Measures in centigrade or Fahrenheit
- Last reading memory
- Water resistant
- Ultra-quick 9-second measurements
- Last-reading memory recall
- Convenient dual-scale measurements
- Hygienically waterproof for easy cleaning
Don’t miss our selection of recommended pet first aid kits in the Tripawds Gear blog, or compare prices of many first aid kits for dogs to save at Amazon and support Tripawds!
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2 responses so far ↓
1
fortisdad
// Jul 27, 2011 at 4:57 pm
I think this is great advice! I remember during the week leading up to Fortis’ passing we were scrambling all over the place trying to find one. All we had was one of those glass ones….you can lose one of those in a big
Seriously, it was a very emotional and scary time and the last thing Pattie wanted or needed to do was to leave Fortis and run to the drugstore to get one. I will always have one in my pet’s first aid kit going forward.
Brett
2
krun15
// Jul 27, 2011 at 9:18 pm
It is also nice to have one if you do chemo with your pup. I had to monitor Maggie’s temp whenever she seemed ‘off’ during her treatments.
Karen
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