If you cringe thinking about taking your dog's temperature, don't worry. It's really not as bad as you think. As long as you have accurate best dog thermometer to take your pet's temperature, you'll be able to get an accurate temperature reading in just a few seconds without putting yourself or your dog through too much uncomfortable hassle.
First of all, dog fever is a thing, and every dog owner should have a pet thermometer on hand. Obviously, it must be a separate rectal thermometer for dogs specifically than the one used for the human members of your family. Once you have a good quality best dog thermometer, it needs to be a permanent part of your pet first aid kit.
Even though there are some methods to take a dog's temperature without a thermometer, they will never be as accurate as using an actual device. But just in case, you can keep your eyes open for some of the most common signs of fever, which include:
- Sudden lethargy
- Shivering
- Excessively warm ears
- Sudden loss of appetite
- Coughing
- Nasal discharge
In this article, I will briefly discuss taking a dog temperature, why you need to do it and most importantly how to take a dog's temperature the right way using a pet thermometer (video and full guide below). Here are the best dog thermometer choices we'll discuss:
| Dog Thermometers | Price | Quality | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| iSnow-Med Non-contact Infrared Pet Thermometer | $$$ | C | 3.7/5 |
| VitalEarth Eco-Friendly Baby Thermometer | $ | A+ | 4.3/5 |
| Clinical Digital Thermometer by The Fitness Family | $ | B+ | 4.3/5 |
| Advanced Monitors Pet-Temp Ear Thermometer | $$$ | C- | 2.7/5 |
| Intu-MedPet Digital Vet Thermometer | $$ | C | 3.7/5 |
* Click on the best thermometer for dogs for more information and prices, or scroll down below for more details.
Why and when we need a dog thermometer
Every pet owner must have the best dog thermometer in their pet first aid kit.
Knowing how to tell if dog has fever without thermometer is very difficult and won't give you an accurate measurement. The same can be said about measuring your dog's temperature in case of a heat stroke.
Fever in dogs is the most common reason pet owners will have to take dog's temperature. Symptoms of a dog having a fever are very vague and could be a sign of many different underlying health conditions. That's why it's so important to take pet's temp accurately.
If one or more of these symptoms is accompanied by a fever, it may be an indication that something serious is going on. You'll need to seek veterinary care immediately.
Temperature of the environment is very important for your dog and for accurately assessing your pet's condition. I recommend you read a short science-based guide on dog temperatures from Purdue University (the PDF can be found here).
How to take dog's temperature using a thermometer?
Once you have a rectal pet thermometer for dogs on hand, the process is easy:
Many dog owners don't realize that their pet's normal temperature is not the same as that of a human. The normal body temperature of a dog is between 101° and 102.5° Fahrenheit. Therefore, a temperature over 103° F is considered feverish. For more tips and information on this, you can read our full guide on taking a dog's temperature here.
What Is the Best Dog Thermometer?
top 5 best thermometer for dogs choices
1iSnow-Med Non-contact Infrared Pet Thermometer
The first best dog thermometer on the list is the most popular option from iSnow. Most pet owners have that quiet dislike for traditional thermometers that work best only when used for taki`ng rectal temperature. It’s easy to see why! Pets are generally uncooperative when they’re sick, and inserting a thermometer that way upsets them.
Not to mention, glass thermometers could break and expose pets to mercury. If that has long been your dilemma, then this non-contact ear thermometer from iSnow-Med couldn’t come at a more opportune time.
- Dog thermometer reviews: Read reviews of other pet owners
A precision thermometer specially designed for big-eared animals, this gives you the temperature of your pet in a second without need for contact. It is infrared operated. You then have a tool that is more acceptable, especially at a time when your pet is understandably indisposed.
The iSnow-Med Non-contact Infrared Pet Thermometer comes with an LCD monitor, a soft backlight, a buzzer alarm to warn if temperature is exceeded, a C and F switch, and 32 memory recalls of previously taken temps for better monitoring. This handy device is calibrated for animals, and is battery operated.
Most users of this pet thermometer have relegated their mercury thermometers to the trash bin because they found out that this reads faster, is more reliable, and is a lot safer. Some reviewers do say that the readings from this thermometer are not accurate. They say when read multiple times in the span of just a couple of minutes, they are consistently getting different readings.
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Most helpful dog owner's review (read the full Amazon review): “A couple serious issues, the first being that, for us, it was virtually impossible to get a correct, or consistent, temperature reading from the cat's ear, after 12 attempts. Thought of …”
2VitalEarth Eco-Friendly Baby Thermometer
The second best dog thermometer is from a better known brand and has been an Amazon best seller for over a year. This thermometer from VitalEarth is gentle enough for humans and their babies, so it should be safe for pets, too. It gives a digital reading in 30 seconds or less on its illuminated display. It is safe for taking underarm, oral or rectal temperature because it contains no mercury, lead or BPA.
- Dog thermometer reviews: Read reviews of other pet owners
It is made of high-quality material with a flexible tip, so it is comfortable to use even for taking rectal temperatures. Pet owners recommend this thermometer because it has the accuracy of a mercury thermometer without the accompanying dangers posed by the toxic substance. It reads fast, too, which is very important when you’re trying to keep a very restless pet still.
There are various colors available, and users find this helpful in assigning a different color for a different usage, such as blue for oral, or green for rectal. It is important, too, to designate a for-pets-only thermometer even though the VitalEarth Eco-Friendly Baby Thermometer and type can be used for humans.
This is second best dog thermometer because it has an easy-to-read display which illuminates in the dark, memory recall of last temp taken, an auto-shut off feature and a plastic case that stores it away when not in use. It is priced very reasonably, and even comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Reviewers complained that they did not get a reading within 30 seconds. Some buyers were also disappointed that there is no alarm to let you know when it is finished reading your pet's temperature.
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3Clinical Digital Thermometer by The Fitness Family
This digital thermometer boasts fast and accurate readings. It is FDA-approved for human use, and has been widely used for pets, too. Its features made this thermometer highly recommended by pet owners. This thermometer from The Fitness Family has a large display that makes reading easy and reads in 10 seconds.
It beeps when reading is complete and stores previously taken temperatures. This is the third best dog thermometer as it switches between Fahrenheit and Celsius reading depending on the user’s preference. It's also equipped with an auto power off feature, uses a bendable material on the tip and comes with 10 disposable probes and a pre-installed battery.
Pet owners agree that this thermometer is one of the easiest to use. It operates with a single press of a button, reads easily on a large display, and gives the user the option to display temp in Celsius or Fahrenheit. You don’t need calculators or conversion formulas or charts to get the temperature in the unit that you understand most.
It reads quicker than most brands of this type, and has a distinct beep that users say is lower in pitch and louder than others like it. Nothing beats the price, too, so it’s affordable to buy several pieces as spare.
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4Advanced Monitors Pet-Temp Ear Thermometer
Feeling your pet’s nose to get his temperature is unreliable, and doing the rectal or oral method can be quite difficult and stressful to you and your pup. Fret no more, this digital pet ear thermometer by Advanced Monitors reads temperature in 1 second with pin-point accuracy. Nothing can be easier or faster than that.
- Dog thermometer reviews: Read reviews of other pet owners
It works great not only when your pet is sick, but also during periods of breeding, pregnancy, vaccination, post-surgery and trauma. So, instead of struggling with your pet, a bit of cuddling will suffice – position the instrument towards the inner ear and a beep will sound off after you activate it, then another beep follows telling you it’s done. It’s that fast and simple, and dog owners simply find this product amazing.
Some pets may have an issue with the beeping, but that’s quite normal considering that animals have a very keen sense of hearing. Pet owners also need a little time to get used to the Advanced Monitors Pet-Temp Ear Thermometer. You have to read and follow the instructions on the manual, get the proper positioning of the thermometer when using it, and constantly practice. It’s important to get the hang of it before there’s an actual need to use it. Nothing could be worse than having to practice with a really sick dog.
For dog owners who have been using this and have relied on it for monitoring their dogs’ health and their own peace of mind, they say that it’s a great value for money. While it's easier on your dog than a rectal thermometer, it's much less convenient.
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5Intu-MedPet Digital Vet Thermometer
Pet owners and professionals who only trust taking rectal temperature over other measures will find this pet-specific digital thermometer the perfect gadget for the purpose. While you may prefer other ways of taking your pet’s temp, professionals and some pet owners perform prefer to perform it via the ear. That’s when this instrument from Intu-MedPet comes in very handy!
- Dog thermometer reviews: Read reviews of other pet owners
It also works for taking oral temperature, which can be done as fast as 6-8 seconds. This instrument comes with great features, such as: easy to read temperature display, reading that’s switchable to Celsius and Fahrenheit, long and powerful sensor probe that measures temperature orally or rectally with an accuracy of +/- 0.1 C, suitability for big animals (farm cows and horses) and fowl.
Long-time pet owners say that the Intu-MedPet Vet Digital Thermometer is more economical than other thermometers designed for pets. It even measures room temperature. If you’re raising puppies, this product should come in handy in helping monitor proper room temperature to keep them warm and comfortable. Buyers are quite impressed and are happy to find the price to be really affordable.
Reviewers do advise against using it as non-contact thermometer lest the results will be inconsistent. Unlike with the other ranked best dog thermometer choices, sadly, there are numerous reviews stating that this product does not give accurate temperature measurements.
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