Comparison of body temperature in cats using a veterinary infrared thermometer and a digital rectal thermometer.
The purpose of this study was to determine if the temperatures obtained using a veterinary infrared (IR) thermometer agreed with a digital rectal thermometer in a group of research cats, half of which had transient fevers. The thermometers were weakly correlated (r=0.62). The mean difference was 0.13 degrees F (0.07 degrees C), and the limits of agreement were 2.6 degrees F (1.43 degrees C) and -2.5 degrees F (-1.36 degrees C), which were unacceptable for clinical purposes. The results of this study indicate that, while the IR thermometer was easy to use, it cannot be used interchangeably with the rectal thermometer.
Kunkle
Gail A
GA
Blanche Saunders Dermatology Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610-0126, USA.
Nicklin
Constance F
CF
Sullivan-Tamboe
Deborah L
DL
D000818:Animals; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002415:Cats; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013821:Thermometers / Q000592:standards / Q000662:veterinary*; D014432:Tympanic Membrane / Q000502:physiology