Reasons for low temperature in a kitten. If the temperature is elevated. The temperature indicator is affected

A cat, like a person or dog, has a normal temperature. Only in the mustachioed pet it is significantly higher than in humans. So, for an adult cat the norm is 37.8-39.2 degrees, and for a young animal 38.3-39.7 degrees. However, a cat may have a low or high temperature. Today we will talk specifically about low body temperature, which is also called hypothermia. It is typical mainly for small kittens and older individuals.

Experts divide hypothermia into 3 types:

• mild – body temperature fluctuates between 32-35 degrees;
• moderate – 28-32;
• deep - below 28 degrees.

Main causes of low temperature

In most cases, a cat develops a low temperature due to hypothermia. But this is not the only reason. An animal may also suffer from hypothermia for other reasons. Distinguish following reasons low temperature in a cat:

1. Peculiar infections and viruses that provoke low temperature because they destroy the pet’s immunity.
2. General malaise and weakened body.
3. Loss of appetite and weight loss.
4. Consequences of anesthesia.
5. Malignant tumors.
6. Kidney disease, which occurs mainly in old age;
7. Various injuries.
8. Violation of metabolic processes. This happens due to a lack of a number of different vitamins and useful substances. Symptoms of this type of disorder are: hair loss, slow growth, deformation of limbs, deterioration of claws, low temperature.
9. Consequences after poisoning.
10. Dehydration. Already after the body loses 10% of water, severe pathological changes. The following signs indicate that your cat is not getting enough water: general weakness, dryness of the mucous membranes - the oral cavity, nose and conjunctiva, as well as retraction eyeballs, low temperature.
11. Enteritis is common name diseases that are characterized by inflammation of the intestinal epithelium. Most often, this disease occurs in a young kitten, but it is also dangerous for adults if they have poor nutrition, terrible conditions of detention or they experienced some kind of stress. In addition, the virus of this disease leaves the body along with feces and poses a threat to surrounding pets.
12. Severe bleeding, both internal and external. Of course, external bleeding is easy to notice, but the presence of internal bleeding can only be guessed by stool or urine.
13. Heart diseases. The symptoms of this type of disease directly depend on the type of disease. A mustachioed pet may exhibit arrhythmia, shortness of breath, or blue discoloration of the mucous membranes, and low temperature.
14. Disease nervous system. In this case, the behavior of the animal changes radically. It becomes completely indifferent to various games and amusements.

Symptoms that indicate hypothermia

A sign that a cat has a low temperature may be unusual behavior of the animal. It is typical for an animal to have a low temperature:

1. trembling of the whole body;
2. loss of mood, the mustachioed pet is very lethargic;
3. the cat is looking for a warm place;
4. wool rises;
5. breathing slows down;
6. The heart rhythm is also disturbed.

How to normalize an animal's temperature

If your pet suffers from low body temperature, then it is necessary, first of all, to warm it up. To do this you should:

• if the cat is outside, bring it into the house;
• if the animal gets wet from rain or snow, it is dried with a hairdryer and wrapped in a towel;
• wrap in a warm blanket and place a heating pad on it, heated to 39 degrees;
• the mustachioed pet is soldered off warm milk or warm broth;
• periodically measure the temperature, it must be under control;
• if the temperature begins to return to normal, then the cat needs to be fed a little.

When normal internal temperature in cats is not restored, you should definitely call a doctor or take your pet to him.

Take the cat to the clinic immediately if its temperature drops to 36 degrees and continues to drop rapidly.

The veterinarian will carry out a full examination of the animal and will be sure to correctly diagnose the cause of the low temperature, and will also help treat your pet.

The veterinary clinic may:

1. Give your pet a warm enema.
2. Place a dropper with a warming solution.

Undesirable effects of hypothermia

Hypothermia should not be taken too lightly. At prolonged low temperatures, a cat may experience such undesirable consequences, How:

• inflammation of the membranes of the brain;
• pneumonia;
• kidney disease.

As you can see, a low temperature in a cat, like any other disease, requires special care for the animal. Therefore, if you find the above symptoms, you should definitely consult a doctor. Such a seemingly simple disease should not be left to chance, otherwise it can even lead to the death of the animal.

In cats, like in other animals, with any ailment, the temperature rises or falls. This is the first signal that your pet needs immediate assistance. The cat tolerates any temperature deviation from the norm very poorly. As a rule, the animal does not eat or drink anything and lies quietly in a secluded place. What to do if your cat’s temperature rises or falls, and why can this happen? Let's talk about this now.

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Fever

The normal temperature for a cat is considered to be 38-39.2 degrees Celsius. An increase in this indicator by a degree or more already indicates that the pet is unwell. The first symptom of the onset of the disease can be called lethargy and when the pet does not eat anything long time. Also, the cat may constantly lie down and refuse any communication. Although, there are cases when the symptoms are opposite - the pet, on the contrary, is overly active, has increased thirst and eats constantly.

High fever in cats can also provoke symptoms such as vomiting, dilated pupils, constipation, irregular pulse and breathing. There may also be discharge from the ears, eyes and nose. In most cases elevated temperature It only causes a couple of symptoms in a cat. A sick animal's fur often becomes dull and bristles in different directions.

When signs of fever appear in a cat, it is necessary to carry out an examination in order to quickly understand its cause. It’s worth starting with the fur and seeing if there is any discharge from the animal’s nose. You also need to look into the oral cavity. U healthy cat it is pale pink, there is no stomatitis or ulcers. Feeling the abdomen will help determine the condition of the gastrointestinal tract. After all, it is precisely because of such diseases that a sick pet does not eat anything.

We measure the temperature

A cat's fever can be measured using a rectal thermometer. If this is not the case, you can use the usual one. It will be more convenient if the animal is standing, but you can measure the heat of a sitting or lying cat. Next, you need to lubricate the tip of the thermometer with Vaseline or ordinary oil. Then lift the furry tail and carefully insert it into the rectum about three centimeters. For more information on this procedure, see the video below.

In a couple of minutes you can get exact numbers. The kitten's temperature is 40 degrees, what should I do? Try to find out what the reason is, although in any case you will have to take him to a specialist. When a cat’s fever rises to 40 degrees, postponing a trip to the veterinarian is dangerous. So, high performance temperatures negatively affect the pet’s health, causing problems such as dehydration or cerebral edema.

Reducing the temperature correctly

You should not try to reduce a fever of 40 degrees or higher at home with antipyretic drugs intended for humans. Only in the most extreme cases, if the veterinarian arrives not soon, but heat in cats the temperature rises above 40 degrees, the pet is given Analgin. However in the best possible way will bring down the fever physical methods, for example, putting ice on your inner thighs or neck. Alternatively, you can wrap your pet in wet gauze.

The most the right decision if the cat's temperature rises, there is only one thing to do - urgently take the pet to the veterinary clinic.

Why is it better not to make house calls? veterinarian, and immediately go to the clinic with a pet who has a fever? The fact is that the animal’s high body temperature could be caused by a variety of viruses. They can only be determined upon delivery. necessary tests. This way, you can gain valuable time to save your pet’s life.

How else can you bring down the temperature?

1. The cat doesn't eat anything, so the best option will happen if you offer him a drink.
2. Use a fan to reduce the heat, but you will have to be careful to make sure your pet doesn't get blown out.
3. Lubricating the seals' paw pads with vodka can also help reduce the fever. The period of wiping during this treatment is once an hour.
4. At heatstroke You shouldn’t try to bring down the fever; be sure to take your cat to the doctor.

Reduced temperature

Hypothermia in a pet is also not a good thing. In most cases, this process occurs if the cat’s body feels weak due to a viral disease, and this is how immunosuppression manifests itself. Also, low temperature can be observed in pets who suffer from diseases of the kidneys, heart, endocrine and nervous systems. With hypothermia, the pet feels weak, depressed, does not eat or drink, and trembles. Pallor of the mucous membrane and skin are also signs of illness.

Stabilizing the temperature of cats

First aid for your beloved pet should be aimed at raising the temperature. To do this, it is necessary to cover the patient with heating pads with hot water. If this method does not help, you should take your pet to veterinary clinic. Since your cat eats little or not at all during illness, give him something to drink.

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The importance of such a parameter as a cat’s body temperature cannot be overestimated. Hyper- or hypothermia, in the presence of other warning signs, will tell about the animal’s malaise, prompting the owner to take action.

Normal cat body temperature

Normal temperature cats fit into the average range of 38–39 degrees. Higher or lower numbers do not always indicate problems in the body. In order not to panic ahead of time, you need to:

• know the normal temperature for your pet;
• understand the nature of its daily fluctuations;
• understand the reasons for the decrease/increase (if they are caused by illness);
• learn to measure temperature;
• be able to provide first aid.

Temperature of adult cats

When measuring a healthy cat, you may see readings slightly higher or lower than the generally accepted 38–39°, such as 37.2 degrees or 39.4 degrees. Each animal has its own temperature, which does not go beyond the norm, which, however, should not be above 40° and below 37° (such values ​​are already associated with pathology). So, the figure 39.2° will be quite standard for adult cat with a usual temperature of 39°, but will serve as an alarm bell if the animal’s daily temperature is 38°.

This is interesting! Cats, especially young and active ones, are always somewhat “hotter” than cats. More warm body and in cats expecting offspring. Old animals are a little “colder” than active ones due to inhibition of metabolic processes.

In addition, throughout the day, the cat’s body temperature varies by half a degree (in both directions), decreasing during sleep and in the morning, but increasing after eating, outdoor games or in the evening.

Kitten temperature

Newly born animals have their own norms, which is due to the unstable mechanism of thermoregulation. The body temperature of a newborn is in the range of 35.5–36.5 degrees, but gradually increases as they grow older. Values ​​of 38.5–39.5° appear on the thermometer at approximately 3–4 months, as soon as the kitten’s body learns to regulate body temperature.

Breed Features

One persistent misconception is that hairless cats (Canadian Sphynxes, Peterbalds, Ukrainian Levkoys, Don Sphynxes, Bambinos, Elves, Kohans and Dwelfs) have elevated body temperatures. In reality, these cats are not hotter than their “woolen” counterparts, and the feeling of an overheated body arises due to the lack of a layer between the human palm and the cat’s skin. Coat ordinary cats it just doesn’t allow us to feel the real warmth of their bodies.

How to measure temperature correctly

To monitor temperature, you will need to arm yourself with familiar instruments (thermometers) and study the nuances of the upcoming manipulation.

Types of thermometers

If the thermometer is a contact type, let it be personal for your cat. Mercury thermometers are divided into clinical and rectal(with reduced tip). Clinical takes longer to measure, up to 10 minutes, while rectal shows the result after 3 minutes.

Important! Mercury thermometers have a single, but significant drawback: they are easy to break, especially if the animal is restive. Owners of hyperactive cats should pay attention to electronic or infrared devices However, they are not cheap.

• Universal electronic thermometer(price 100–2000 rubles depending on the model) - produces results in a few seconds or minutes, but assumes an error of 0.1–0.5 degrees.
• Rectal electronic thermometer - thinks much faster, showing the temperature within 10 seconds.
• Non-contact infrared thermometer- works (depending on the brand) at a distance of 2 to 15 cm, displaying the result in 5–10 seconds, with a probable error of about 0.3 degrees.
• Infrared ear thermometer(price 2 thousand rubles) - programmed for a cycle of measurements (8–10), after which the maximum value is displayed on the display. Since the device comes into contact with the skin, its tip is wiped with alcohol before and after the procedure.

Temperature measurement

The manipulation is performed rectally (in the cat's rectum). At this time, be confident and do not shout at the “patient”, but talk to him calmly. It is ideal if you have someone to assist you.

The procedure looks like this:

1. Prepare a table or cabinet where you will take measurements: doing this on your hands is inconvenient and dangerous.
2. Wipe the tip of the thermometer with alcohol liquid, then lubricate it with medical petroleum jelly or vegetable oil(the cream contains perfume fragrances).
3. Shake the mercury thermometer to the 35° mark.
4. Secure the cat in a standing position or lay it on its side. You can wrap the paws in cloth and/or put a veterinary collar on them to help prevent scratches and bites.
5. Lift the tail and carefully insert the tip (2-3 cm) into the anus with rotational movements.
6. After the time specified in the instructions, take out the thermometer, wipe it with alcohol and record the readings.

Important! The measurement result may be incorrect (increasingly) if the cat actively resists the procedure, involuntarily warming up the body. If the mercury thermometer is in anus if it breaks, take it to the clinic.

Actions in case of deviation from the norm

An attentive owner will always understand that something wrong is happening to the cat: they will tell him about it external signs, differing between hyper- and hypothermia.

At reduced temperatures the following are noted:

• bradycardia;
• decreased activity and lethargy;
• hypotension;
• blanching of mucous membranes;
• slow breathing, sharp inhalation/exhalation.
• trying to find a warm place.

At elevated temperatures the following are observed:

• tachycardia;
• chills and fever;
• loss of appetite and refusal to drink water;
• drowsiness and apathy;
• dehydration (with prolonged fever);
• diarrhea and/or vomiting with bad smell(in severe cases).

In general, you should be wary of any deviations from temperature norm, since they can signal various diseases, sometimes very serious.

If the elevated temperature

An increase in temperature can be caused by both diseases and other (non-physiological factors):

• viral diseases - cats usually have distemper (panleukopenia), calicivirus, rhinotracheitis and coronavirus;
• inflammatory processes - often occur when wounds or postoperative sutures become infected;
• overheating - kittens, old and weakened cats that are forced to stay in the heat for a long time, for example, in a car or in a stuffy room, often suffer from it;
• stress often provokes a failure of thermoregulation. The reasons may be a trip in transport, a visit to the veterinarian, a change of owner or place of residence.

This is interesting! The temperature often rises by about 1 degree after vaccination, when the body produces antibodies against viruses, or sterilization (as a reaction to surgical intervention).

Actions at elevated temperatures

If going to the vet is not possible, use the following methods to reduce the fever:

• humidify the air in the room;
• give the cat cool water (if it refuses, drink it from a syringe without a needle or pipette);
• moisten open areas skin with water;
• wrap in a wet towel;
• Place ice behind your ears, neck, or inner thighs.

Self-treatment, especially with the use of medications designed for human body, not allowed. Antibiotics and antipyretics can negatively affect the cat’s body, causing allergies or liver/kidney problems.

If the low temperature

The reasons why a cat's temperature drops are: internal pathologies And external factors, such as:

But most common cause A decrease in temperature causes hypothermia, which occurs after a cat has been in the cold for a long time.

Actions at low temperatures

If hypothermia is caused by hypothermia, your pet needs to be warmed up quickly:

• wrap in a blanket/plaid;
• place in a warm, wind-free place;
• give warm liquid to drink (you can use a pipette);
• Cover with heating pads or hot water bottles.

If your efforts are ineffective, take the cat to the hospital. There, most likely, she will be given a warm enema and put on a drip with saline solution.

Varies in the range of 37.2-39.4 ℃, average values ​​38-39 ℃. The exact numbers are individual for each animal. It is important for owners to find out the pet’s performance in natural state, it depends on which values ​​are considered increased and decreased.

So, the number on the thermometer 39.3 ℃ will be a minor increase for a cat with a daily reading of 39 ℃, but for a cat with a normal temperature of 38 ℃ it will be severe symptom. Values ​​below 37 ℃ and above 40 ℃ are considered a worrying sign, regardless of the individual norm.

During the day, the values ​​​​change in the range of half a degree:

• decreases during sleep and in the morning;
• in the evening, after physical activity and food are rising.

The thermoregulation mechanism in kittens develops gradually, so other temperature values ​​are considered normal for them. In newborns, they range from 35.5 to 36.5 ℃, then gradually increase to 38.5-39.5 ℃, and after 3-4 months they become like those of adults.

In older cats metabolic processes in the body slow down and the temperature drops; in pregnant cats it rises. The indicators do not depend on the amount of wool. Hairless cats appear hotter due to the lack of hair between the animal's body and the human palm.

External signs of temperature change

In medicine, an increase in temperature is referred to as “hyperthermia”; a decrease is called “hypothermia”.

These conditions are accompanied by changes in behavior and well-being:

It is a mistake to determine the temperature by the condition of the nose. The lobe becomes warm and dry in healthy animals during sleep and in old age.

Causes of elevated temperature

Hyperthermia occurs due to external and internal irritants, most often under the influence of the following factors:

• Viral diseases. The immune system reacts to pathogenic microorganisms By increasing the temperature, bacteria die faster. In cats, panleukopenia or distemper, rhinotracheitis, calcivirosis, and coronavirus are more common. It is possible to protect your pet from these diseases, except for the last one, by vaccination.
• Inflammation. Pathogenic bacteria enter the body when wounds and stitches after injury or surgery heal slowly or are carelessly treated.
• Overheat. Heat transfer is impaired in a stuffy, hot room, car or under direct sun rays. Kittens and older cats are more likely to suffer from overheating.
• Stress. Thermoregulation disorder sometimes begins in stressful situations: when traveling in transport, changing place of residence, visiting a veterinarian.
• Temperature jump within 1 degree occurs after sterilization and vaccinations. In the first case, this is a reaction to surgery, in the second, it is protection against viruses that enter the body with the vaccine. Increased performance lasts for 3 days; If the fever does not subside for longer, it is better to take your pet to the veterinarian.

Reasons for the drop in temperature

With hypothermia, blood flow is directed to the heart and brain, and is reduced in other parts of the body, resulting in a slower metabolism.

The owner can know for sure about hypothermia and identify other causes without veterinary education and special examination will not work.

How to measure

The temperature is determined using a pharmacy thermometer in the rectum. Digital Thermometer It is safer to use, but the measurement error is 0.1-0.5℃.

Mercury rectal thermometer shows accurate results, but due to its fragility it is dangerous for the animal. If you have no experience, it is better to use the electronic version. A clinical mercury thermometer is not suitable: its tip is too thick, and the measurement time increases to 5-7 minutes.

Cats cannot tolerate unpleasant manipulations and fiercely resist, so they cannot do without an assistant.

The measurement procedure is as follows:

• the pet is fixed on the table in a standing position or on its side;
• the tip of the thermometer is disinfected with alcohol and lubricated with Vaseline;
• insert into anal passage by 1 cm, for kittens by 0.5 cm;
• mercury rectal thermometer hold for 3 minutes, electronic until signal;
• After use, wipe the thermometer with alcohol.

An infrared ear thermometer is also suitable for cats. The device does not call discomfort, shows the result in 5-10 seconds, but allows for errors in case of ear inflammation.

First aid

In case of hyperthermia (high temperature), the cat is taken to the veterinarian; If you can’t show your pet to a doctor, bring down the fever by at least tenths of a degree.

The condition can be alleviated by the following actions:

• increase indoor air humidity;
• moisten the wool with water or wrap it in a wet towel;
• put ice on the inside of the thighs, neck or behind the ears;
• give him something to drink cool water; if the pet refuses, use a pipette or syringe without a needle.

It is not allowed to treat the cat on your own or give medications. “Human” antipyretics and antibiotics cause kidney problems.

In case of hypothermia (low temperature) due to hypothermia, the pet is warmed up:

• placed in a warm place without a draft;
• wrapped in a blanket;
• cover with heating pads or containers with hot water;
• give warm drink using a pipette.

If these measures do not help, the pet is taken to the clinic. There they give a warm enema and a drip with heated saline. If the cat is not hypothermic, but the temperature drops, the animal is wrapped up and taken to the doctor.

Temperature deviation from the norm - clinical symptom masses of diseases that only a doctor can identify and cure. The task of the cat owner is to find out normal indicators pet, see it in time dangerous changes By external symptoms, be able to measure and help competently.

Constant body temperature is one of the defining characteristics of a living warm-blooded organism. The normal body temperature of dogs and cats is 38-39 C. The center of thermoregulation is medulla. There are several mechanisms that ensure constant body temperature. These include sweating, intense breathing open mouth, trembling. A feature of the structure of the skin of dogs and cats is the absence sweat glands on larger surface bodies. They are present only in the skin of the nose and paw pads. Therefore, to cool the body, an additional mechanism is needed, which is open-mouth breathing. From mucous membranes oral cavity evaporates a large number of hot water vapor, which helps cool the entire body. Shivering, being essentially a muscle contraction, is designed to increase body temperature.

An increase in body temperature (hyperthermia) is often not only a protective mechanism of the body - a reaction to the introduction of foreign agents (viruses, bacteria, protozoa), but also a sign of an inflammatory process.

A decrease in body temperature in cats and dogs (hypothermia) below the physiological norm is a threatening sign that should alert owners. Often the temperature drops in weakened kittens and puppies when viral diseases, in which immunosuppression occurs. Reduced temperature bodies in cats and dogs in old age may be observed with chronic diseases kidneys and/or liver and does not manifest itself symptomatically. Physiological norm is a decrease in temperature in females during the prenatal period (about a day before birth, the temperature decreases by 1 degree). When animals are kept in cold rooms or outdoors at subzero air temperatures, a decrease in body temperature also occurs. The temperature decreases with polytrauma, bleeding, and also during anesthesia.

The processes occurring in the body during hypothermia are associated with a decrease in metabolic rate. Low temperature in dogs and cats is accompanied by symptoms such as weakness, bradycardia (slow heart rate), rare shallow breathing, hypotension (decreased blood pressure), slowing down intestinal motility, reducing diuresis. In general, we can talk about in a state of shock body.

Treatment consists of gradually warming the animal using heating pads and administering an intravenous infusion warm solutions, relief of symptoms of the underlying disease. Constant monitoring of body temperature by thermometry is necessary (it is better to use electronic thermometer with a flexible tip that is inserted into anal hole per length of the metal tip) and oxygen therapy until the condition stabilizes. The main treatment is aimed at eliminating the causes of hypothermia.

TO preventive measures Hypothermia in newborns and young animals may include maintenance temperature regime indoors, prevention viral infections. Required for adult animals reasonable approach to normalize festivities (especially at sub-zero air temperatures); for dwarf and smooth-haired breeds, it is advisable to use special clothing.