Comparison between rectal and body surface temperature in dogs by the calibrated infrared thermometer

Because dogs tolerate conventional rectal temperature measurements poorly, a calibrated infrared thermometer was tested for assessing canine body surface temperature. Body surface temperature of 204 dogs was estimated on various sites (digit, snout, axilla, eye, gum, inguinal region, and anal verge)...

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Main Authors: Blaž Cugmas, Primož Šušterič, Nina Ružić Gorenjec, Tanja Plavec
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2020-06-01
Series:Veterinary and Animal Science
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2451943X20300338
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author Blaž Cugmas
Primož Šušterič
Nina Ružić Gorenjec
Tanja Plavec
author_facet Blaž Cugmas
Primož Šušterič
Nina Ružić Gorenjec
Tanja Plavec
author_sort Blaž Cugmas
collection DOAJ
description Because dogs tolerate conventional rectal temperature measurements poorly, a calibrated infrared thermometer was tested for assessing canine body surface temperature. Body surface temperature of 204 dogs was estimated on various sites (digit, snout, axilla, eye, gum, inguinal region, and anal verge). Having rectal temperature as the gold standard, temperature difference, Spearman's correlation coefficient, hyperthermia and hypothermia detection sensitivity and specificity, and stress response score was calculated for each measurement site. Although the canine body surface temperature was considerably lower than the rectal temperature, there was a moderate correlation between both temperatures. Spearman's coefficients were 0.60 (p < 0.001) for the inguinal region with a single operator and 0.50 (p < 0.001) for the gum with multiple operators. Measurement site on the gum additionally guaranteed hyperthermia detection sensitivity and specificity up to 90.0% (95% CI: [66.7 100]) and 78.6% (95% CI: [71.6 85.2]), respectively. Measurements with the infrared thermometer provoked a statistically significant lower stress response (mean stress scores between 1.89 and 2.48/5) compared to the contact rectal measurements (stress score of 3.06/5). To conclude, the correct body surface temperature measurement should include a calibrated thermometer, reliable sampling, and the control of external factors such as ambient temperature influence. The transformation of body surface temperature to the recognized rectal temperature interval allows more straightforward data interpretation. The gum temperature exhibited the best clinical potential since the differences to rectal temperatures were below 1°C, and hyperthermia was detected with the sensitivity of up to 90%.
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spelling doaj.art-f6d837b38eca41899c3a394077d3fdf12022-12-21T18:53:55ZengElsevierVeterinary and Animal Science2451-943X2020-06-019100120Comparison between rectal and body surface temperature in dogs by the calibrated infrared thermometerBlaž Cugmas0Primož Šušterič1Nina Ružić Gorenjec2Tanja Plavec3Biophotonics Laboratory, Institute of Atomic Physics and Spectroscopy, University of Latvia, 19 Raina Blvd., LV-1586 Riga, Latvia; Corresponding author.Primavet Veterinary Clinic, 38 Ptujska Rd, SI-2327 Rače, SloveniaInstitute for Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, 2 Vrazov Sq., SI-1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaSmall Animal Clinic, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, 60 Gerbiceva Str., SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; Small Animal Veterinary Hospital Hofheim, 7 Katharina-Kemmpler St., DE-65719 Hofheim, GermanyBecause dogs tolerate conventional rectal temperature measurements poorly, a calibrated infrared thermometer was tested for assessing canine body surface temperature. Body surface temperature of 204 dogs was estimated on various sites (digit, snout, axilla, eye, gum, inguinal region, and anal verge). Having rectal temperature as the gold standard, temperature difference, Spearman's correlation coefficient, hyperthermia and hypothermia detection sensitivity and specificity, and stress response score was calculated for each measurement site. Although the canine body surface temperature was considerably lower than the rectal temperature, there was a moderate correlation between both temperatures. Spearman's coefficients were 0.60 (p < 0.001) for the inguinal region with a single operator and 0.50 (p < 0.001) for the gum with multiple operators. Measurement site on the gum additionally guaranteed hyperthermia detection sensitivity and specificity up to 90.0% (95% CI: [66.7 100]) and 78.6% (95% CI: [71.6 85.2]), respectively. Measurements with the infrared thermometer provoked a statistically significant lower stress response (mean stress scores between 1.89 and 2.48/5) compared to the contact rectal measurements (stress score of 3.06/5). To conclude, the correct body surface temperature measurement should include a calibrated thermometer, reliable sampling, and the control of external factors such as ambient temperature influence. The transformation of body surface temperature to the recognized rectal temperature interval allows more straightforward data interpretation. The gum temperature exhibited the best clinical potential since the differences to rectal temperatures were below 1°C, and hyperthermia was detected with the sensitivity of up to 90%.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2451943X20300338Body surface temperatureDogInfrared thermometerHealth statusRectal temperature
spellingShingle Blaž Cugmas
Primož Šušterič
Nina Ružić Gorenjec
Tanja Plavec
Comparison between rectal and body surface temperature in dogs by the calibrated infrared thermometer
Veterinary and Animal Science
Body surface temperature
Dog
Infrared thermometer
Health status
Rectal temperature
title Comparison between rectal and body surface temperature in dogs by the calibrated infrared thermometer
title_full Comparison between rectal and body surface temperature in dogs by the calibrated infrared thermometer
title_fullStr Comparison between rectal and body surface temperature in dogs by the calibrated infrared thermometer
title_full_unstemmed Comparison between rectal and body surface temperature in dogs by the calibrated infrared thermometer
title_short Comparison between rectal and body surface temperature in dogs by the calibrated infrared thermometer
title_sort comparison between rectal and body surface temperature in dogs by the calibrated infrared thermometer
topic Body surface temperature
Dog
Infrared thermometer
Health status
Rectal temperature
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2451943X20300338
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