Normal is 101 - 102 degrees F. Check the pulse either by feeling or hearing the heart beat with your hand or ear over the chest wall or by locating the pulse inside the rear leg. Check out the normal color of the gums and conjunctiva. Look at the chest movement and count the respiration rate. If there is an injury or sickness, it is always best to contact your veterinarian. However, in an emergency, or if you are away from home, having a simple first aid kit on hand and knowing how to use it could save your pet.
Hemostats are like fine locking pliers of clamps.
They are excellent for grabbing onto things like sticks, thorns, ticks or anything else that may be caught in your pets mouth or skin. A low temperature can indicate a very sick animal or hypothermia. In either case it is very important to warm the animal. A high temperature can indicate infection or hyperthermia. Temperatures above 106 or 107 can cause brain damage to your pet.