Why Is My Dogs Head Hot? 7 Surprising Reasons
Why is my dogs head hot? Is the top of your dog’s head feeling a little hotter than usual? Do you have any suspicions that something is wrong? If your dog’s head is hot, use the information below to figure out what’s going on. If your dog’s head is unusually hot to the touch, it could be suffering from a fever. Touch, on the other hand, cannot confirm this.
Natural cooling systems kicking in, dealing with high levels of excitement or stress, and having a reaction to vaccinations are all common causes for your dog’s head to be hot. It’s possible that it’s a symptom of something more serious. Understanding the most likely cause will assist you in getting to the bottom of the problem and restoring your dog’s normalcy!
Reasons Why Your Dog’s Head Feels Hot
If your dog’s head feels hotter than usual, it’s always a good idea to inspect it and figure out what’s causing it. Although a warm head in most cases does not indicate a serious problem, leaving a potentially dangerous condition unattended can cause serious health problems for your dog. Here are a few of the most common causes for your dog’s head to be hotter than usual. We’ll also go over how to recognize each condition and what you should do once you’ve done so:
1. Fever
The term “fever” refers to a rise in body temperature. While it may appear to be a minor issue, fever in dogs is a serious medical concern that must be addressed promptly. Fever in dogs is usually indicated by a temperature of more than 103 degrees Fahrenheit. More importantly, it’s a sign that your dog is experiencing a medical problem that requires immediate attention.
Causes of Fever:
Internal and external factors can cause a dog to become feverish. While it’s possible that your dog’s fever is caused by mental stress, it’s best to rule out any infections that could be fatal to him:
Infections
The majority of the time, infections cause dogs to become feverish. Because an infection can be internal or external, you must identify and treat the source as soon as possible. If the infection is external, it could be caused by an infected scratch, bug bite, or cut on the skin. Poor hygiene can also cause infection in your dog’s ears and teeth. If germs enter through a break in the skin, your dog can become infected internally. These infections can be bacterial, fungal, or viral, and they can affect one or more organs at the same time. The lungs, kidneys, and even the brain are all affected.
Infections can worsen in any case and should be treated as soon as possible. If you find the source of the illness, contact your veterinarian to have a closer look and prescribe medication.
Vaccination
If you’ve recently taken your dog to the veterinarian for immunization, the fever is most likely a vaccine reaction. The fever will last no more than 24-48 hours in this case. If it persists for more than two days, contact your veterinarian for more information.
Toxication
Why is my dogs head hot? This is the most concerning of all possibilities. If your dog ingests something poisonous or toxic, they may develop a high fever. Contact your veterinarian right away if you suspect your dog has eaten toxic plants, human medication, macadamia nuts, chocolate, or anything else that could be harmful to their health. When your dog eats toxins like medicines or chocolate, you’ll usually find some of them lying around. If you suspect your dog has been poisoned, don’t waste any time in getting them to a veterinary clinic.
Symptoms of Fever
If your dog’s head feels hotter than usual and you don’t think it’s poisoning, the first thing you should look for are fever-related symptoms. Regardless of the cause, at least one sign will always be present. Fever can cause a variety of symptoms, including:
- Lethargy
- Loss of appetite
- Depression
- Shivering
- Vomiting
- Nasal Discharge
If you observe one or more symptoms in your pup, check their body temperature to confirm a fever.
Can you test your dog’s temperature by their nose?
Why is my dogs head hot? A common misconception is that you can tell if a dog is hot or cold by looking at its nose. Despite its longevity, however, this method is largely inaccurate and lacks scientific support. If your dog’s nose is wet and cold, according to the method, he is perfectly healthy and his body temperature is normal. If your dog’s nose is dry and warm, he or she may be feverish or sick.
In reality, there are a variety of reasons why your dog’s nose is so sensitive. Your dog’s nose could be wet and cold because it was licked or because it had recently consumed water. It could be due to the dry weather or simply old age if their nose feels dry or warm.
If you suspect your dog is feeling warmer than usual, check their body temperature with a thermometer and look for symptoms of a fever.
Why Is My Dogs Head Hot? Taking Your Dog’s Temperature
Why is my dogs head hot? Three Types of Thermometers. Unfortunately, taking a dog’s temperature isn’t nearly as simple as taking your own or another human’s temperature. It is, however, possible. There are three main ways to take your dog’s temperature. The use of three different types of thermometers is one of them:
- Digital Ear Thermometer
- Digital Rectal Thermometer
- Mercury Rectal Thermometer
The digital ear thermometers are the simplest to use, but they also have the lowest level of accuracy. The temperature of a dog’s ears varies depending on the season, weather, and climate. The results from the two rectal thermometers will be the most accurate. They are, however, the most difficult to use because your dog will despise having anything inserted into his anus. If you’re going to use a rectal thermometer, we recommend the digital version because it’s much faster than the mercury version, which requires more time to insert. A digital rectal thermometer will still be unpleasant for your pet, but it will provide you with an accurate reading. Furthermore, it does so almost instantly, so you don’t have to leave it in place for long.
Whatever thermometer you choose, make sure it’s designed specifically for dogs. Due to their higher natural temperatures, thermometers designed for humans will not work properly on dogs.
2. Natural Cooling Mechanism
A natural cooling mechanism is another reason why a dog’s head gets hot, which many people are unaware of. Dogs, unlike humans, do not have the ability to cool themselves by sweating. They can only reduce their body temperature by panting or sweating through their feet. They do, however, have a unique cooling mechanism that humans lack.
When their body temperature rises above normal, warm blood is circulated to their heads, where it can spread to their ears and make cooling easier. Unless the room temperature is controlled, your dog’s natural cooling mechanism will likely be working at full capacity on a hot day. It’s easy to misjudge a hothead as a fever in these cases when it’s actually just hot blood circulating to their heads.
3. Stress
Stress can cause physical symptoms in dogs, such as an increase in body temperature, just as it can in humans. If a dog is exposed to severe trauma, they develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Any changes in your dog’s routine or environment can cause stress. The addition of a new family member or a pet to the environment is also considered a change.
Unless they’re extremely friendly, most dogs will develop some level of stress in the beginning. If your dog has been through a traumatic event, he or she may be stressed out. Getting attacked by another dog or animal, losing a companion or partner, thunderstorms, and fireworks are all events that can cause them stress and trauma.
4. Your Dog Is Excited
It’s both adorable and accurate. When your dog becomes excited, their heart rate rises, and their temperature rises with it. This can make them feel hot to the touch, depending on how excited they are. This excitement could come in the form of a special treat, a walk, or meeting a new dog, among other things. As we all know, it doesn’t take much to get a dog excited!
5. Your Dog’s Body Is Reacting to Their Vaccinations
This may seem alarming at first, but keep in mind that humans are not immune to this! When a dog receives a vaccine, his immune system works overtime to adjust to the new ingredient combination. This results in a hardworking body and a slight fever, as well as a hot-to-the-touch head. It’s also a sign that the vaccination shots are working, just like in humans! The vaccine will fade away as it completes its course, and your dog will be back to normal! If not, take your dog to the vet for an examination.
6. Normal Daily Occurrences
However, most of the time, if you ask “Why is my dog’s head hot,” the answer will be something completely unrelated that occurred in your dog’s environment. We’ll go over it. Your dog will feel warmer than usual if he has been sitting near the heater or fireplace. In fact, he’ll sniff around the heat source most of the time, and his head will feel hotter than usual. When I noticed my dog’s head was hot, it was usually because he had been playing in direct sunlight for several hours on a hot day. Sleeping under the covers can also cause your dog’s head to become warmer than usual, so always consider the big picture.
7. Heat Stroke or hyperthermia
Heat stroke can cause a dog’s body and head to overheat in rare cases. It is also known as hyperthermia, can occur when a dog is left outside in the sun or in an overheated car in extremely hot weather.
Symptoms of heat stroke are:
- Excess drooling.
- Restlessness and panting.
- Gums become red and swollen.
- Vomiting.
- Losing consciousness.
If you suspect that your pet is at a risk of a heat stroke, do the following:
- Cool your pet down gradually. You can place it in a bathtub and gently spray or pour water on it.
- Monitor its temperature using a rectal thermometer. Anything above 103 F – rush it to the vet.
- Give it some cool water or broth to sip or provide it with some ice cubes. Do not force it to drink too much water all at once.
- Watch out for symptoms like a shock.
If the symptoms persist or worsen, please take them to the vet. Dogs that have had a heatstroke risk many complications including multiple organ failures. So, please treat this very seriously.
What to Do When a Dog’s Head is Hot
Why is my dogs head hot? Visiting a veterinarian is the best way to deal with this problem, especially if the temperature rises. A temperature difference of.6 degrees Fahrenheit is acceptable, but if it exceeds 105 degrees Fahrenheit, medical help should be sought. The internal organs of a dog have been known to be damaged by such high temperatures.
The veterinarian will most likely prescribe anti-inflammatory medication and conduct urinalysis and blood tests to determine the source of the problem. Sometimes the cause is unknown, and your veterinarian can only treat your pet with antibiotics and painkillers to treat dehydration and bacterial infections. Dogs respond to medication in the majority of cases; if they don’t, the vet admits your pet to perform additional tests. Culture for bacteria, DNA tests for pathogens, an ultrasound, and joint, lymph node, and organ sampling are all examples of tests performed.
Why Is My Dogs Head Hot? What to Do at Home
Why is my dogs head hot? It can be difficult to visit a hospital if your pet develops problems late at night. If this is the case with your dog, it’s critical that you learn basic first-aid techniques. The first step is to wipe down his head, behind his ears, and the pads of his feet with a damp cloth. It would also be beneficial if you turned on the fan to circulate the air. While you’re at it, make sure your pet gets enough water and monitor their temperature until it returns to normal (103 F).
Key Takeaways Why is my dogs head hot?
Why is my dogs head hot? You now understand why your dog’s head is so hot. The most important thing is to correctly diagnose the problem. Use a thermometer instead of relying on touch to determine whether the hot head is caused by hot weather, an infection, or a simple fever. If you have a fever, go to the doctor as soon as possible. Pets, like our children, develop sudden problems that make it difficult to keep track of their health. It’s critical to stay informed about diseases that affect dogs, and our dog wellness and health blog can help.
