USE OF INFRARED THERMOMETRY AND EFFECT OF OTITIS-EXTERNA ON EXTERNAL EAR CANAL TEMPERATURE IN DOGS

Objective-To compare infrared thermometry with rectal thermometry as a method of assessing core body temperature in dogs and to assess the e ffect of otitis externa on external ear canal temperature (EECT). Desi gn-Prospective study. Animals-650 dogs without history or clinical sig ns of otitis externa and 85 dogs with recurrent or chronic otitis exte rna. Procedure-Rectal temperature was measured, using a mercury thermo meter. External ear canal temperature was measured, using an infrared tympanic thermometer.Results-Measurements of body temperature at the 2 sites did not agree. Sensitivity and specificity of infrared thermome try in detecting fever, as determined by rectal thermometry, were 69.7 and 84.6%, respectively. Use of methods to predict rectal temperature from EECT did not improve the accuracy of infrared thermometry. Otiti s externa significantly influenced EECT. Clinical implications-Use of infrared thermometry as a replacement for rectal thermometry in assess ing core body temperature in dogs was unsatisfactory. The 2 methods fo r measuring body temperature were not interchangeable in dogs.