My dog or cat's head feels hot. Could this mean they have a fever?

Unfortunately the only reliable way to measure the temperature remains intrarectally with a thermometer. If she is otherwise fine and not showing any sign at all, I would not be worried about her. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Cats paws can feel warm to us because a cat's normal body temperature is higher than ours, between 99.5 - 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. If you have any worries that your cat is running a [fever](https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-common-causes-of-fever-in-pets), you can always get a [rectal temperature](https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-take-your-pet-s-temperature-in-7-easy-steps/) (if he will let you!). But if he is acting normal and there is no [vomiting](https://www.petcoach.co/cat/condition/vomiting/), decreased appetite or diarrhea, he is probably fine.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Nose and tongue temperature is not a test for a fever. I would recommend taking his temperature rectally to check for a fever. Normal dog temperature is 100-102.5. If he has a fever, I would take him to a vet to determine why. If he doesn’t, you can offer him ice cubes or soft rubber toys for the teething. Good luck and kisses to Buchy!

This temperature is normal for a dog. Their normal body temperature is 99-102.5 Fahrenheit. He does not have a fever so no need to give him medication. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

As with people, if a dog has a fever (temperature above approximately 39.2C, note temperatures taken rectally are most accurate in dogs) then they will most likely have an infection, or will be over heated (in cases of heat stroke for example). A fever would not be considered normal and if you are concerned about your dogs temperature I would recommend making an appointment with your veterinarian to have Bruno examined as soon as possible.

Hi there. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Unfortunately, you did not provide a lot of information so I am not sure how much I can help you. There are many reasons why a dog would be rubbing the top of his head. The top two reasons would be an allergy or parasites (like fleas, mites, etc). You really cannot go by feeling the top of the head to say it feels hot like implying he may have a fever. The only way to really get a good sense of a dog's temperature is to take it rectally. I can tell you that most dogs that have a fever will act sick - lethargic, not eating, hiding, not drinking, etc - so if the is not acting sick then I would not really be worried about his head being hot to the touch at this stage. If the head rubbing continues I suggest you get him to your vet for an exam so you can find the underlying cause and get him the proper treatment. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Some pet's core body temperature is naturally on the higher end of the spectrum which is between 99.5-102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. Pets that are hyperactive and have a lot of energy will often register higher than normal temps at certain times of activity, but the pet is otherwise healthy. In other words if your pet is overall happy healthy tail wagging then there is not cause for alarm for a transient suspected high temp. Also [a rectal temperature can be taken](https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-take-your-pet-s-temperature-in-7-easy-steps/) on your pet to confirm actual core body temperature.