Agreement of Axillary and Auricular Temperature with Rectal Temperature in Systemically Healthy Dogs Undergoing Surgery

Abstract

Obtaining a patient's temperature is an important part of a patient's physical examination. As human medicine transitions to noninvasive temperature measurements, so does veterinary medicine. Historically, temperature measurement has been obtained from rectal readings; however, alternative methods, such as axillary and auricular temperatures, are increasing in popularity. The purpose of the study was to compare these alternative techniques to the gold standard of rectal temperature. Temperatures were obtained three ways for each patient: rectal, axillary, and auricular. Results indicated a positive linear relationship between rectal and axillary temperatures (bivariate correlation coefficient [r] = 0.65, P < .001) and axillary and auricular temperatures (r = 0.55, P < .001). Agreement was strongest between rectal and auricular temperatures (r = 0.80, P < .001). The average discrepancy between axillary and rectal temperature was 1.2°C [2.1°F] with the highest difference being 4.0°C [7.3°F]. The average discrepancy between auricular and rectal temperature was 0.6°C [1.2°F] with the highest difference being 2.2°C [4.1°F]. Despite auricular temperatures having stronger agreement, Bland-Altman Limits of Agreement testing revealed that it was a poor predictor of rectal temperature. Based on these results, axillary and auricular temperatures should not be substituted for rectal temperature.

Comparing alternatives to canine rectal thermometry at the axillary, auricular and ocular locations

“…Mathis and Campbell (2015) found that temperature taken from dogs from an uncontrolled temperature environment exhibited inconsistent axillary measurement readings. A third study looked at dogs of assorted breeds (n = 50) admitted for various surgical procedures, such as tibial plateau leveling osteotomy, percutaneous laser disk ablation, and Hemilaminectomy (Cichocki et al, 2017). The dogs had axillary and rectal temperatures taken three times, once on the day of admittance into the hospital, once after the dog had recovered from surgery, and once more on the day the animal was discharged (Cichocki et al, 2017).…”

“…Core temperature is considered the gold standard of body temperature, as it closely reflects the temperature of the internal organs (Allegaert et al, 2014). The temperature at the hypothalamus is also a desired location to monitor, as this region is where body temperature is perceived (Cichocki et al, 2017). However, clinically, the most conventional method of taking a canine's temperature is through the rectal mucosa, as it continues to be a minimally invasive method that provides insight to core temperature (Kreissl and Neiger, 2015).…”

“…There are also concerns of inaccurate reflection of body temperature in dogs presenting with otitis externa (González et al, 2002). Despite this concern, studies have shown that inflammation caused by otitis externa does not necessarily affect the temperature readings from auricular thermometers (Cichocki et al, 2017). Auricular thermometers provide more accurate readings if made specifically for veterinary use, as its curved shape allows the thermometer to have closer access to the canine's tympanic membrane (Gomart et al, 2014).…”

“…The decreased hair density in this particular region allows for digital thermometers to measure the surface temperature of the skin. Temperature readings are taken by placing the digital thermometer centrally within the axillary region, as far dorsally as possible (Cichocki et al, 2017). Axilla temperatures, however, have a poor correlation to rectal temperature (Cichocki et al, 2017).…”

“…Temperature readings are taken by placing the digital thermometer centrally within the axillary region, as far dorsally as possible (Cichocki et al, 2017). Axilla temperatures, however, have a poor correlation to rectal temperature (Cichocki et al, 2017). Ocular surface temperature (OST) is a third region that has become an area of interest in obtaining body temperature.…”