Pet parents are more invested in the health of their pets now than ever before. Learning how to take a dog's temperature and how to take a cat's temperature is clear evidence of this commitment. Veterinarians are delighted to see more pet parents actively engaging with the health of their pets, and most are more than happy to help them acquire this simple skill.
Learning how to take a dog or a cat's temperature is fairly easy to do. Let's look at the best way to take the temperature of your furry family members.
As in humans, dogs' and cats' body temperatures can tell us a lot about their overall health. While these species' temperatures are higher than ours (101.3 degrees Fahrenheit / 38.5 degrees Celsius), it's easy enough to tell what's too high or too low.
Fevers (above 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit / 39.2 degrees Celsius) can inform pet parents of issues like heat stroke, infections or systemic inflammatory diseases, as noted by the Merck Veterinary Manual.
Meanwhile, low temperatures (below 100 degrees Fahrenheit / 37.8 degrees Celsius) can tell us whether they've lost too much body heat. They may be hypothermic (as with exposure to the elements in winter) or possibly experiencing the effects of shock, low blood sugar, malnutrition or another severe system-wide disease.
Modest drops in temperature can even note when a mother is getting ready to give birth to her babies!
Whenever pets are lethargic, quieter than normal, or exhibit a change in appetite or other normal behaviors, temperature-taking can be helpful. This is especially true for cats, who are notorious for hiding most signs of illness. However, it's important to understand that plenty of illnesses can present without changes in body temperature. Thus, you should only take your pets temperature if you are planning to promptly contact a veterinarian and discuss your concerns about your pets health. Additionally, if you do not have experience taking your pet's temperature you should talk to a veterinarian before doing so. This is for the safety of both you and your pet.
Not only can a body temperature reading help you decide how soon to bring your pet to the vet (an elevated temperature should always prompt a call to your veterinarian), but an at-home reading gives the vet very useful information, too.
In fact, at-home temperature-taking is so beneficial that it has become a common teaching point for vets and their teams. If you are interested in learning this skill ask your vet about getting a tutorial as most are happy to teach you how to manage this safely at home.
The mechanics of how to take a dog's temperature are simple. Here are a few basics:
Looking to learn how to take a cat's temperature? The mechanics are just as easy. The only hard part is getting your kitty to behave. Because cats are generally smaller and often resist restraint, cat caretakers may need to try a variety of inducements or restraint techniques. This is where it becomes ideal to have your vet's team demonstrate the best methods for your individual cat.
Young pets may need several visits in their first year for vaccinations. Adult pets generally benefit from annual check-ups, while senior or special-needs pets might require more frequent visits.
When learning how to take a dog's temperature, or a cat's, having the right equipment is essential. For example, glass thermometers can break and expose your pet to mercury and glass, and some older thermometers can take quite a long time to get to temperature.
It's also critical that pet parents take their pet's body temperature from the rectum. Although vets yearn for a less invasive way to take their patients' temperatures, non-rectal methods can be more difficult to interpret.
When learning how to take a cat's temperature, restraining your cat may take some time and patience. Watching online videos on properly restraining your cat can be helpful in these cases, but having your veterinarian show you how to do this for your specific cat remains your best course of action.
It's also important to note that some pets' body temperatures are naturally higher or lower than the majority. Again, anytime you elect to take your pets temperature it should be done with the intention of promptly contacting a veterinarian to discuss your concerns. Finally, it bears repeating that not all pets can be trained to accept this procedure. If the stress it causes is significant or your safety is at risk, at-home temperature-taking should be reconsidered.
Dr. Patty Khuly is an award-winning veterinarian known for her independent thinking, her spirited pet advocacy, her passion for the veterinary profession, and her famously irreverent pet health writing.
Dr. K is an honors graduate of both Wellesley College and the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. She received her MBA at The Wharton School of Business as part of the prestigious VMD/MBA dual-degree program. She now owns Sunset Animal Clinic, a veterinary practice in Miami, Florida.
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