Fevers (Horses & Cattle) 
“Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot!”
“Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot!”A temperature over 38.5°C in horses or 39.3°C in cattle means something’s brewing.
This time of year it can be hard to tell fever from hyperthermia — but both are an issue that need attention.
And with hot weather + biting insects, we see more viral fevers than usual:
• Ross River Fever in horses
• Bovine Ephemeral Fever (Three Day Sickness) in cattle
Fevers in sheep and goats matter too — we just see them less often around here.
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What you might notice:
• Dull, quiet behaviour
• Off feed
• Fast or shallow breathing
• Separating from the herd
• Lying down more
• Looking “just not right”
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Your role:
• Take a rectal temperature — guessing doesn’t cut it.
• Provide shade and plenty of water.
• Cold hose if they’re hot.
• For horses: Offer oral electrolytes to support hydration.
• For cattle: A 4-in-1 / Flopak can help support cows that are flat, febrile, or dehydrated.
• Don’t give leftover antibiotics — they won’t fix viral fevers and may mask important signs.
• Call early for advice.
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Fevers can be viral, bacterial, toxic, tick-related, or heat-induced.
Either way, rapid assessment matters — especially in this weather.
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I like sizzling beef—but let’s leave that for the Christmas BBQ. 
This blog post was provided by Dr Lauren Jones of Kentaro Veterinary Services servicing the Coffs Harbour District in NSW
