Fever occurs when the presence of an infection or inflammation causes the body to rise beyond normal limits. A dog that is ill is said to have fever when the body temperature exceeds 103F. However, it should be noted that an increase in body temperature (also called hyperthermia) can be caused by non-medical conditions including hyperactivity, stress, or being exposed to high environmental temperatures.
Fever is not a disease; rather it is just a symptom of an underlying health issue that is caused by:
- Infectious diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. The accompanying symptoms will depend on what organ system of the body is affected and the underlying cause/s.
- Dogs that have just been vaccinated can run a low-grade fever within 24-48 hours after being vaccinated. This is a normal reaction of the body’s immune system in response to the administered antigen/s present in the vaccine.
- Poisoning caused by ingestion of toxins present in food, medication, etc.
If your dog is running a fever, you should call your animal hospital Helotes, TX.
