Many Akita owners worry about the dog getting sick with a fever, especially during seasonal weather changes. Fever in an Akita can be troublesome, but if your dog unfortunately develops one, there are sensible ways to respond.
The Akitas normal body temperature is higher than that of a human, so if you do not measure carefully, it can be difficult to tell when a true fever is present. In daily life, owners should pay close attention to the dog and try to catch signs of illness early. If the dog does develop a fever, do not panic. Instead, follow a careful and scientific approach.
Do not misuse fever reducing medicine, and understand the risks
1. Misusing fever medicine can hide symptoms and make the disease worse.
2. Random use of fever medicine may disrupt the natural fever pattern of some diseases and therefore make diagnosis more difficult.
3. Misusing fever medicine does not actually treat the cause. For example, if fever comes from acute or chronic inflammation, the true priority is to control the infection or inflammation itself. Fever medicine alone cannot do that.
During fever, the function of phagocytic cells is often strengthened, which helps the body produce antibodies and makes it harder for pathogens to reproduce. In that sense, fever is itself a defensive response by the body.
For a puppy, a body temperature above about 40 degrees Celsius can be regarded as fever. However, a slightly elevated temperature does not always mean disease. A puppy may vary by one or two degrees across the day because of emotion, activity, or environmental influence.
Most cases of persistent fever are caused by infection, whether viral or bacterial, though there are other possibilities such as heatstroke, low blood calcium, or even cancer. Dogs cool themselves by panting because they do not sweat like humans. In hot weather, if an Akita is trapped in a poorly ventilated place or exposed to strong sun for too long, panting may not be enough. In that case, the dog should be moved immediately to a shaded, airy place.
Physical measures can make the Akita more comfortable
Cold compresses can help. Ice packs, or towels soaked in cool water and wrung out, may be applied to the dogs abdomen. Towels lightly dampened with diluted alcohol are also sometimes used because evaporation helps lower temperature more quickly.
A cool water bath can also help bring the temperature down, provided the dogs condition is otherwise stable. Some owners let the dog remain in cool water for five to ten minutes. For smaller dogs, a large towel soaked in cool water can be wrapped around the body instead. Many feverish dogs will sit quietly in the towel and enjoy the relief.
One especially important point is hydration. A feverish dog loses water more quickly, and without enough drinking water dehydration may become dangerous. If the Akita is unwilling to drink, adding ice cubes to the bowl may encourage it to lick and take in water.
Signs that an Akita may be feverish include low spirits, a miserable expression, poor appetite, rapid breathing, and a faster heartbeat. Once you notice this pattern, the safest action is to seek veterinary care right away.