What's Normal?
In order for you to judge whether your poodle is ill, you need to have some sense of what normal is. If you observe your poodle carefully on a daily basis, you'll be able to identify when something is “off.” Sometimes it's just a feeling you have. Listen to it. If the problem doesn't seem serious enough to involve the veterinarian, make a note of it in your calendar. This way, if symptoms do worsen, you'll know when you first started noticing that something was up.
Body Temperature
Normal body temperature is between 100.5 and 102.5°F for dogs, with 101.3°F being the average. To take your dog's temperature, lubricate the end of a thermometer with some petroleum jelly, KY Jelly, or butter, then lift his tail and insert the thermometer into his rectum until the silver end is covered. Hold it there for a minute or two. (If you're using a digital thermometer, wait for it to beep.) Make sure your dog doesn't sit down so you don't risk breaking the thermometer while it's still inside him.
If your dog's temperature is below 99°F or above 104°F, contact your veterinarian immediately, or visit the nearest emergency facility.
Fact
Don't like the idea of taking your dog's temperature rectally? An ear thermometer, called Pet Temp, has now been developed for dogs. (A human child's thermometer won't work because the dog's ear canal is shaped differently.) If you're willing to spend the money, temperature-taking can become a little easier.
Respiratory Rate
A dog's rate of breathing varies according to his level of exertion, but at rest the average dog breathes twenty-four breaths per minute. Normal resting breath ranges from ten to thirty breaths per minute, with Toy Poodles generally breathing more rapidly than Miniatures or Standards.
Dogs pant to cool themselves down. This is normal. But rapid breathing (not panting) can be a sign of pain, fever, or distress. Difficult or labored breathing is also a sign of something serious, including heart or lung problems.
To measure your poodle's respiration rate, watch his side or chest and count how many times he breathes in fifteen seconds. Then multiply that by four to calculate breaths per minute.
