Your daily dose of doggy goodness!
Every day, we celebrate our shared love of dogs and hopefully brighten your day. Enjoy!
Dog of the Day:
Ziggy!
Meme of the day: We do it for the pups!
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The Warm Head Phenomenon: Why Your Dog’s Forehead Feels Hot
There’s a comfort in the simple act of petting your dog. As your hand strokes their fur, you might notice a distinct warmth emanating from their head. For many pet owners, this can be a fleeting moment of curiosity or even a slight worry. So, why exactly does your dog's forehead feel so warm sometimes?
The good news is that most of the time, a warm head is completely normal and no cause for alarm. Think of it as a little peek into your dog's fascinating biology and recent activities.
The Most Common—and Harmless—Reasons
Your dog's body is a masterful machine for generating and managing heat, and their head is often a natural byproduct of these processes:
A Naturally Higher Temperature: This is the big one! A dog's normal, healthy body temperature is higher than a human’s, typically ranging from 100.0∘F to 102.5∘F (37.7∘C to 39.2∘C). When your hand, which averages 98.6∘F (37∘C), touches your dog's skin, it's naturally going to feel warm.
Thin Skin and Close Blood Vessels: The skin on a dog's head is often thinner than in other areas, and the blood vessels are closer to the surface. When blood flows close to the skin, it releases heat, which is a part of their cooling system. This is a form of heat loss through radiation, and it’s why your pup’s ears might also feel warm.
Recent Activity and Excitement: Did your dog just finish a rousing game of fetch, a brisk walk, or a bout of the zoomies? Exercise creates heat! Even intense excitement or a moment of stress can increase blood flow and body temperature, making their forehead feel warmer as the heat dissipates.
Cuddles and Naps: A sunbath on the couch, sleeping under a blanket, or even a long cuddle session with you can temporarily raise the surface temperature of their head through simple heat transfer.
When a Hot Head is a Health Hint
While a warm forehead is usually a sign of a happy, active dog, it’s always wise to know when that warmth might signal something more. Unlike humans, a dog’s forehead is not a reliable indicator of a fever, but a persistently hot head, especially when paired with other symptoms, warrants closer attention.
Reasons that might indicate a medical concern include:
Cause | What it Means | Accompanying Signs to Watch For |
Overheating | The body is struggling to cool down due to heat or overexertion. | Excessive panting, drooling, lethargy, glazed eyes, or unsteadiness. This is a medical emergency. |
Fever (Infection/Illness) | The immune system is raising the body's core temperature to fight off an infection (bacterial, viral, etc.) or inflammation. | Lethargy, loss of appetite, shivering, vomiting, or diarrhea. |
Local Inflammation | A specific problem near the head or face. | Redness, swelling, scratching, or discomfort in the ears (ear infection), around the eyes, or in the mouth (dental issues/abscess). |
Stress or Anxiety | A physiological response to a stressful situation. | Pacing, shaking, hiding, or excessive restlessness. |
How to Tell the Difference (And What to Do)
Relying on how your dog's forehead feels is only one part of the puzzle. The most important tool is your observation.
Check Their Behavior: If your dog's head feels warm, but they are otherwise acting like their normal, happy self—eating, drinking, and playing—they are likely fine.
Look for Other Clues: If the warmth is due to a medical concern, it will usually be accompanied by other visible symptoms.
The Only Accurate Measure: The most accurate way to check your dog’s core temperature is with a rectal thermometer. If the temperature is over 103∘F (39.4∘C), or if your dog is exhibiting severe symptoms, call your veterinarian immediately.
Ultimately, your dog’s warm forehead is often a sweet reminder of their robust biology and a perfectly normal part of their day. A little heat on the head is simply the feeling of a healthy, blood-pumping canine friend. By staying observant of their normal behavior, you can easily distinguish between a warm head from a good nap and one that needs a vet's attention.
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Dog Food and Supplement Recalls
Here are the recent recalls and advisories:
Viva - Ground Beef for Dogs and Ground Chicken for Dogs and Cats for potential Salmonella and Listeria contamination.
Savage Pet - Cat Food Chicken for potential bird flu exposure.
Wild Coast Raw - Frozen Boneless Free-Range Chicken Formula raw pet food for cats, for possible bird flu exposure.
The Smile Section
Family Photo of the Day:
Cooper!
We want to feature your pup!
We want to share your pup with our pack. Email us your favorite doggy pic or video with your pup’s name, and we'll try to feature it as a family photo in one of our upcoming newsletters or on our Facebook page.
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Meme of the day: @itsme.tommy.to
