Abstract
Several studies proposing axillary and auricular temperature measurements as alternatives to rectal temperature measurement for dogs have been examined. However, to date the reliability of these data has not been fully proven. To address this deficit, this study computed the correlation between the rectal and axillary temperatures of two hundred (200) dogs with the aim of examining the validity of using axillary temperature measurement as an alternative means to rectal temperature measurement for dogs. The axillary and rectal temperatures were measured simultaneously and recorded for each dog as well as the pulse rate; respiration rate; breed; length of hair coat; age and sex; body weight; Body condition score; and the adhesion of feces to the probe cover, all of which could be influential to the values measured. The results showed a significant correlation between the axillary and rectal temperatures taken. The regression line was expressed in y=0.9676x +1.3621(r2 =0.7775, p<0.001). In the range of the normal rectal temperature (from 37.5 to 39.0 degrees centigrade), the data to which the degree 0.15 to 0.10 was added to the axillary temperature showed almost the same values compared to that measured at the rectal position. These results showed that the temperatures were not affected by the other various factors recorded except the specific breed factor and age factor. The findings of this study suggest that axillary temperature measurement can be the
legitimate substitute for rectal temperature measurement as a common clinical method.
