If you take your pet to the veterinarian often, you have probably noticed that vets always take your furry companion’s temperature with a rectal thermometer. The reason is pretty obvious: this is the most accurate way to take your pet’s temperature. Now, if the thought of it makes you cringe, you’re not alone.
However, at times you may notice that your pet seems to feel warm, and you’d like to take their temperature to see whether it’s elevated. You should be able to take your pet’s body temperature at home fairly easily. Grab a standard digital thermometer, and follow these seven steps to make sure you’re doing it properly.
Lubricate the Thermometer
This step is short and simple. Be sure to coat the rectal thermometer with a lubricant to make the process of go more smoothly. Petroleum gel (Vaseline) or baby oil will do the trick.
Distract with Treats
Before you insert the thermometer, be sure to have treats ready to distract your pet from what’s going on behind the scenes. For a dog, try covering a few treats with peanut butter (making sure it doesn’t contain the sweetener xylitol, which is highly toxic to dogs). That way he will have to work at it a bit longer, giving you more time. A pro tip here is to recruit a helper who will focus on distracting your pet while you focus on taking an accurate temperature reading.
Insert the Thermometer
To take your pet’s temperature accurately, you should insert the thermometer about one centimeter into your pet’s anus. If your pet is standing up, he might react by sitting down, which won’t allow you to get an accurate reading. If this is the case, try putting your pet on his side and gently move the tail aside. When inserting the thermometer, try to insert it against the skin of the rectum for the most accurate reading.
Wait for Results
Once you have the thermometer inserted, just wait for the results. Thermometers these days usually provide a reading in 10 seconds. If your dog or cat is healthy, the results should read between 100 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit.
Praise Your Pet
As you can imagine, having your temperature taken with a rectal thermometer isn’t fun for your pet. When you’re done, be sure to praise your pet in every way possible. Verbal praise along with a treat will let your pet know that everything is okay and it might even help your furry companion forget about what can otherwise be a somewhat traumatizing experience.
Try an Alternative Method
If your pet is uncomfortable with the standard rectal thermometer procedure, he may be uncooperative. In this case, it might be best for you to try one of the alternative methods for taking your pet’s temperature.
This should be your last resort, though, because a rectal temperature is always more accurate. The first alternative is taking an axillary temperature. These thermometers can be mercury or digital and they take your pet’s temperature by being placed in the armpit of the front legs. Due to hair and spaces in your dog’s armpit, axillary thermometer readings tend to be less accurate than those from a rectal thermometer. A very general rule of thumb is to add one degree to the reading you obtain from this method.
The second alternative is using an infrared thermometer in your pet’s ear. This method is pretty accurate, but the infrared beam needs to perfectly hit the eardrum so it can be difficult if your pet won’t hold his head still. The downside of infrared thermometers is that they are more expensive than the other options, but your pet’s health is definitely worth the extra penny.
Last resort: Go to the vet
If you’re having trouble getting your pet to cooperate with you in this endeavor, schedule a visit with your vet. You should also visit your vet if your pet’s temperature is noticeably off or if you’re getting mixed results from taking the temperature yourself.
When it comes to your pet’s health, better to be safe than sorry.