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 | $$$ | C | 3.7/5 |
| iProven Pet Thermometer | $ | A+ | 4.4/5 |
| Adtemp 422 | $ | A+ | 4.5/5 |
| Hurinan Animal Rectal Thermometer | $$$ | C- | 2.7/5 |
| AURYNNS Pet Thermometer | $$ | A+ | 4.5/5 |
* 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 …”
2iProven Pet Thermometer
The second-best dog thermometer is a must-have for every fur mom and dad. The iProven Digital Pet Thermometer is a thermometer that is comfortable with a flexible tip. It's fast and accurate, with a reading time of 20 seconds. The thermometer has a small, flexible tip to make monitoring your pet's temperature comfortable. That tip is also waterproof, meaning you can easily wash it.
The iProven Digital Pet Thermometer has a storage case that can remember your last reading. When it comes to battery, it will alert you when it’s about empty and automatically turn off.
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3Adtemp 422
ADC's Adtemp 422 is a digital stick thermometer designed specifically for veterinary applications. The American Diagnostic Corporation (ADC) is a top manufacturer of diagnostic medical products, personal instruments, and accessories for the healthcare industry. They've been dedicated to designing, manufacturing, and supplying stethoscopes, blood pressure instruments, and other core diagnostic products for over 35 years.
- Dog thermometer reviews: Read reviews of other pet owners
Their reading is so fast that they can come in about ten seconds. The housing has a lanyard attachment for enhanced removal. Other components include an audible tone, a big display, and last-reading memory.
ADC products are manufactured from high-quality materials with an uncompromising commitment to craftsmanship and durability. They offer proprietary features not found anywhere else, such as the gasket-sealed chest pieces, Adsoft Plus silicone ear tips, the Adcuff with Size Guide marking system, and outstanding gauge movements.
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4Hurinan Animal Rectal Thermometer
The Hurinan Animal Rectal Thermometer is a fast and accurate thermometer for animals. It is a small 3-inch-long probe that allows temperature collection, suitable for horses, dogs, cats, and poultry.
It is safe, easy to use, and cheap, and it can save you time and prevent stress for animals.
The smooth exterior can easily be cleaned with soap or alcohol. Moreover, the C and F are switchable, large, easy-to-view 4-bit LCDs for easy reading.
Hurinan is a trademark that does its best to provide high-quality service.
It has a low battery indicator memory. Also, your previous readings are safe and recorded in memory and will automatically close after 30 seconds.
Hurinan Rectal Thermometer is a professional veterinary thermometer that accurately provides temperature to any size of animal.
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5AURYNNS Pet Thermometer
The AURYNNS Fast Digital Thermometer is so quick it can give readings in about six seconds. This device is useful when dealing with a feisty pet and wanting quick results. Many experts and users recommend this thermometer to help read their pets’ temperature.
The device includes two AAA batteries and a very useful wrist strap. Also, you can switch between Fahrenheit and Celsius readings.
Furthermore, the AURYNNS Digital thermometer automatically shuts down after two minutes of inactivity. This is a great feature when you’re trying to save batteries. However, like other top brands, some pet owners said readings were “too slow,” nowhere near the manufacturer's promised six seconds.
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