Q&A for How to Take a Dog's Temperature Without Using a Thermometer

You can usually tell a dog is sick if they are panting really heavily and being lethargic. Another thing you can examine is their nose. Ideally, a dog's nose should be a little cool and damp. If the nose is all dried up or hot, then that's a problem too.

If you're worried that your dog may have a fever, then knowing their ear temperature really helps. I recommend putting your thumb inside the dog's ear, specifically the entrance of their ear. If you know what their normal temperature is and how it feels, then when it gets hotter, you'll feel it and know something is wrong.

Not necessarily. If your dog gets warm during the night, he will lose eat best from the parts of his body that have the thinnest fur, ie his belly. When you place a hand on his belly it will therefore feel warm to the touch, but this is heat being dissipated rather than his gut generating heat because he is unwell. Watch for signs such as lack of appetite, vomiting, or diarrhea, which would indicate he is poorly.

Yes. The body produces chemicals known as Tumor Necrosis Factors (TNF). These cause cell death and inflammation, and is often accompanied by a fever. Also, having a tumor weakens the immune system and makes the dog more vulnerable to secondary infections. Either way, it's a good idea to talk to your vet about an anti-inflammatory medication and antibiotics.

Dogs often eat grass when they're nauseous and want to throw up. If your dog is consuming a lot of grass suddenly, it could mean that they have a stomach bug. (Some dogs also just enjoy eating grass.)

Perhaps you are feeding it the wrong food. When my dog was just out of his puppy years, he almost completely stopped eating and lost weight. He started shivering because his body didn't have enough energy to keep him warm. He also had Colitis. Then we put him on a food called Chappie. I would personally recommend the wet food but Chappie also does dry food so try both and she what works for your dog. My dog is now six and he has Chappie wet food with dry food sprinkled on top. So I would recommend a change in food, and go from there.

Certain types of dogs are like this, but if it is out of the ordinary for your dog or its breed, you should probably take it to the vet.

Contact your vet for advice and offer her only bland foods, like plain chicken and white rice, until she feels better.

No, a dog's nose is naturally wet. If he is licking it, it is to keep the moisture in. But if liquid is just coming out of his nose, go see a vet.

At least once a year, but it is a good idea to go even 2-3 times a year. You should go to the vet if your dog is bleeding/vomiting severely, urinating blood, has seizures, animal bites, or any life threatening or harmful injury. Just use common sense and you should be okay.

More info is needed to answer your question, but in general you need to check: Is your dog drinking water? If so, is it more or less? If your dog doesn't drink for over 24 hours, get him to a vet! Is your dog peeing? More or less than usual? Is your dog pooping? If so, is it soft or runny? Keep track. Are there any signs of blood in the urine or stool? If so, get your dog to the vet! Is your dog acting dazed or "out-of-it"? Confusion could be signs of a fever. If not any of these, then: do you hear any stomach growling or gurgling coming from your dog? It could be a digestive upset that's happening and your dog doesn't want to eat for a day or two, but more than 3 days call the vet. The more info you have the better.

You can try a cool bath, cool water can help bring temp down until you can reach a vet. You can also use the Blue Ice cold packs or ice bag, wrapped in a towel alongside your pet.

103 degrees Fahrenheit is normal for dogs, and if they are any warmer they might have a fever or infection.

Dogs have a lot of fur, which keeps them extra warm - especially during hot summer days. Ways to tell if this is the case is by checking to see if they are panting or not, which is a method they use to cool themselves down because they cannot sweat. Also, if your dog isn't as physically active as they normally are, it usually is a sign they are too warm. Help them cool down by getting their coats trimmed, and making sure there is shade for them to cool down in; also make sure they have plenty of water.

Whimpering and whining is the most common verbal sign of a dog's distress, but check out this article on How to Tell if a Dog Is in Pain for more information.

Bacitracin zinc is helpful. You can buy it at a store or online. It is good for open sores anywhere on the animal's body. Make sure you clean the area, and the wounded area doesn't necessarily need any type of bandage on it or around it.

While aspirin can be useful for dogs in small doses, it's best to avoid giving your dog any medications without explicit instructions from a vet. Contact your vet to ask them how much baby aspirin you can give to your dog.

Taking your dog's temperature can be hard. There is no way I can really suggest, but If you get worried, give the dog a cool bath. Secure a plastic bag over his paw beforehand. Afterwards, I would suggest visiting your vet.

There is a dog safe ice cream called Frosty Paws that you can probably find in your local grocery store, or you can give your dog ice cubes or broth ice cubes (my dog loves these).

You should get some medical attention from a vet immediately. Also you should check your dog's urinary tract for bleeding and check the dog for any signs of diarrhea.

What color is the vomit? Yellow or green vomit is actually bile from the dog's small intestines and can indicate bile reflux. White vomit that is foamy means the dog has too much air in its belly when it eats and needs its food bowl adjusted in accordance to the dog's height and reach its food. Dog's that strain to reach their food inhale air upon trying to eat and get sick as a result, like when babies vomit after swallowing too much air while drinking from a bottle. Red, black or brown vomit is digested blood and requires a vet. Otherwise, seek a vet.