The lively and lovely golden retriever at home, with its warm - hearted character and affectionate companionship, always becomes the brightest color in life. Every move of it, whether it's wagging its tail joyfully to welcome the owner home or quietly lying beside the feet to take a nap, deeply tugs at the owner's heart. However, when the golden retriever is unwell, the owner often falls into worry and anxiety. Among these concerns, determining whether the golden retriever has a fever is an important issue for the owner, as fever can be a sign of many health problems. So, how exactly can we tell if our golden retriever has a fever?
There are various reasons for a golden retriever to have a fever. Infection is one of the most common factors. Pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi can all invade the golden retriever's body, triggering infectious diseases and thus leading to a fever. For example, the canine distemper virus is a virus that poses a great threat to the health of golden retrievers. After being infected, in addition to having a fever, the golden retriever may also experience symptoms such as coughing, runny nose, vomiting, and diarrhea. This virus is highly contagious and can easily spread in places where dogs are concentrated, such as pet hospitals, pet stores, and pet boarding centers. In addition, bacterial infections cannot be ignored. Bacteria like Streptococcus pneumoniae and Escherichia coli may cause respiratory tract infections, gastrointestinal infections, and other diseases, raising the body temperature of the golden retriever.
Besides infection, inflammation is also a common cause of fever in golden retrievers. When there is inflammation in a certain part of the golden retriever's body, the immune system will be activated, releasing inflammatory mediators. These mediators can affect the body temperature regulation center, causing the body temperature to rise. For instance, if a golden retriever has periodontitis, the inflammation in the oral cavity will cause local redness, swelling, and pain, and may also be accompanied by a fever. Arthritis is also a common inflammatory disease, especially in elderly golden retrievers. The wear and tear and degeneration of joint cartilage can easily lead to arthritis. The affected joints will show swelling and pain, and the dog's body temperature may also increase.
Heatstroke is also an important cause of fever in golden retrievers in summer. Golden retrievers have thick fur, making it relatively difficult for them to dissipate heat. In hot weather, if they are in a high - temperature environment for a long time without sufficient drinking water and heat - dissipation measures, they are very likely to suffer from heatstroke. When a golden retriever has heatstroke, it will show symptoms such as rapid breathing, an accelerated heart rate, and a sharp rise in body temperature. In severe cases, it can even be life - threatening.
The most direct way to determine whether a golden retriever has a fever is to measure its body temperature. Under normal circumstances, the body temperature of a golden retriever ranges from 37.5°C to 38.5°C. The owner can use a pet - specific thermometer or a disinfected human thermometer for measurement. Before measurement, first shake the mercury column of the thermometer below 35°C, and then apply some lubricant, such as petroleum jelly, to the front end of the thermometer. Gently lift the golden retriever's tail and slowly insert the thermometer about 3 - 5 centimeters into the anus. Keep it in place for 3 - 5 minutes and then take it out to read the value. During the measurement process, pay attention to soothing the golden retriever's emotions to avoid it moving around due to nervousness, which could cause the thermometer to break or the measurement to be inaccurate.
In addition to measuring body temperature, observing the daily behavior and symptoms of the golden retriever can also help determine if it has a fever. The mental state is an important indicator. A healthy golden retriever is usually full of energy, curious about the surrounding things, and likes to play and explore. However, if a golden retriever has a fever, it often becomes listless, loses interest in toys and games, and lies lazily on the ground all day, unwilling to move. The appetite will also decrease significantly. The dog that was originally enthusiastic about food may turn a blind eye to its usual favorite dog food and snacks. Some golden retrievers may also drink more water, which is a reaction of the body to regulate body temperature and replenish water.
Moreover, a feverish golden retriever may also show some other symptoms. For example, the breathing and heart rate will accelerate. Under normal circumstances, the respiratory rate of a golden retriever is about 15 - 30 times per minute, and the heart rate is about 60 - 120 times per minute. If it has a fever, both the respiratory rate and the heart rate will increase significantly. At the same time, the dog's eyes may become red and swollen, with conjunctival congestion and an increase in eye discharge. Changes may also occur in the mouth and tongue. The oral mucosa may turn red, the tongue coating may thicken, and the color of the tongue may deepen.
Once it is found that the golden retriever has a fever, the owner should stay calm and take timely measures. First of all, take the dog to see a veterinarian. The veterinarian will determine the cause of the fever through detailed inquiries, physical examinations, and necessary laboratory tests, such as blood routine and C - reactive protein tests, and then formulate a targeted treatment plan. While waiting to see the doctor, some simple cooling measures can be taken, such as wiping the golden retriever's paw pads, abdomen, ears, and other parts with a wet towel to dissipate heat through the evaporation of water. However, note that the wiping force should be gentle to avoid irritating the dog's skin.
In daily life, preventing a golden retriever from having a fever is also very important. Regularly take the golden retriever to the pet hospital for physical examinations to detect potential health problems in time and carry out treatment. Vaccinate the dog on time to enhance its immunity and prevent the occurrence of infectious diseases. In hot weather, pay attention to providing the golden retriever with sufficient drinking water, avoid long - term exposure to the sun, and create a cool and well - ventilated living environment for it.
The health of the golden retriever is what the owner cares about most. Judging whether it has a fever requires the owner's careful observation and scientific methods. When there are signs of a fever in the dog, seek medical attention in time and give it care and love. Let us use love and responsibility to protect the health of the golden retriever so that it can always be by our side and spend more wonderful times together.
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