COMPARISON BETWEEN THE RECTAL TEMPERATURE AND THE TYMPANIC MEMBRANE TEMPERATURE AT NORMOTHERMIC CATS (Felis catus)

Abstract

The veterinary tympanic thermometer of infrared rays is an alternative apparatus for the measurement of the body temperature, but it has not been appropriately explored to check its equivalence with the rectal temperature measurement using a traditional clinical thermometer. The tympanic and rectal temperatures were compared in 41 normothermic cats. Data of the environmental temperature and humidity were collected for match with the thermal data of the animals. The rectal temperature was substantially warmer than the tympanic temperatures of both, right and left ears. Right tympanic and left tympanic temperature did not differ. There was no correlation between of the different body regions temperatures. Microclimatic factors were not associated to the variation of both, the rectal and tympanic temperature. The inequality between the rectal and tympanic temperatures can be due to anatomical and physiological characteristics of those body regions. Despite the highest cost of the tympanic thermometer, it seems more advantageous in relation to the traditional clinical thermometer, due the fast and practical application in the clinical checking of cats.  

KEY WORDS: Felis catus, rectal temperature, thermometer, tympanic temperature.