Mary Allen
Having a warm belly in your dog is usually nothing to worry about, but it can also be a sign of a fever. You may have already noticed as you stroked your dog: while the rest of the body may be fluffy but not necessarily warm, a dog’s belly is often different. Why is this so?
It’s no coincidence that your dog’s belly is warm. After all, the average body temperature of our four-legged friends is between 37.5 and 39 degrees, that is, higher than that of us humans. There is usually the least amount of fur on the belly, which is why this is where you feel the dog’s body warms up the most.
And, like humans, dogs’ body temperature fluctuates too. Thus, its belly is likely to be warmer after your dog has been in the sun than after walking in the snow.
Does a Dog with a Warm Belly Have a Fever?
The only question is, when should you worry because your dog’s belly is too warm? In fact, you shouldn’t rely only on your feelings. If you suspect your dog is having a fever, you should measure its temperature with a thermometer. Possible symptoms of fever – in addition to a particularly warm stomach – are a dry nose, warm ears, and armpits.
In addition, fever is often accompanied by lethargy, severe shortness of breath, tremors, and loss of appetite. Then you should either measure the temperature of the four-legged friend yourself or take him to the vet.
But don’t worry: in most cases, a warm dog’s belly is perfectly normal and harmless. And, of course, he always offers to scratch him well …