My puppy's belly is hot. What causes warm puppy belly and what to do?

103F is just barely a fever in a dog. Normal is under 102.5F. I would let Wemwem calm down for a couple hours and recheck the temperature. A slightly increased temperature isn't very concerning if there isn't any other signs of illness.

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Puppies do sleep a lot, so if Callan is just sleeping in between running around and playing normally this might be normal puppy behaviour. If Callan is very low energy all the time, and you feel the tummy is bloated, then I recommend a visit to the vet. You cannot tell their internal temperature without a rectal thermometer and 'feeling' them gives very inaccurate results of temperature. Possible causes of a puppy not feeling well include intestinal worms, a tummy ache from a change in food, a virus, and other more serious causes include severe viruses such as parvovirus, intestinal obstructions, congenital malformations, etc. Best of luck with Callan, I hope he is up and running around and playing again soon!

Yes, 102.3 would be considered in the normal range for a puppy's temperature. His skin can feel warm for a variety of different reasons, depending on where you are feeling, the temperature of the surrounding environment, etc. - this is not a reliable indicator of whether or not a fever is present. The rectal temperature is always the best way to check :)

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This does not mean necessarily that there is an issue. However, this may be due to an infection or perhaps something like inflammation. If he is doing fine then it is probably ok to continue to monitor him for now. However, if there is something wrong with him such as not eating or vomiting, have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Best of luck!

If you think he has a fever you need to take his temperature rectally so you can know for sure. He may feel warm to the touch but I would be surprised if he had a fever and was still eating/drinking. With a fever they often go off food and water. If his abdomen is painful to the touch then he should be examined by your veterinarian. There are many different things that can cause abdominal pain. If he is acting OK and you find he does not have a fever then I don't think it's an emergency but try to get him examined as soon as you can. Hope this helps. If you have more questions you can always opt for a private consultation where we can chat back and forth. That way you can ask as many questions as you'd like. Best wishes.

A fever is possible. You can take a rectal temperature. He may a fever if it is over 102. If he has a fever, it should be checked out by a vet. There are no recommend at home treatments for fever in dogs that are safe. Do not attempt to cool him since you can easily make puppies hypothermic. Either way, I would recommend that he get checked out by a vet to see if there is a possible reaction to his current ringworm treatment.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Chops. I'm concerned that his belly being warm can be due to a fever. I think he needs to see a vet as soon as possible for his illness, and if you can take him into one today, that would be great for him. Best of luck.