References
An examination of perioperative temperature fluctuations in canine patients undergoing routine neutering
Abstract
Objective:
To examine the fluctuations in body temperature in dogs undergoing routine neutering both during surgery and in the recovery phase.
Methods:
Utilising a convenience sampling approach, body temperatures of 17 healthy male and female dogs undergoing routine neutering were monitored during and after anaesthesia. Temperature recording was carried out with an auricular thermometer to minimise stress and discomfort. Data analysis was carried out using Microsoft Excel 2013 and Minitab 15.
Results:
Body temperature of 15 of the 17 dogs dropped below 37°C at some point during or after anaesthesia. Examination of median temperature results revealed a drop from the time of preparation for surgery, through to the time of discharge up to 6 hours after the end of general anaesthesia. At discharge the body temperature of five dogs was still lower than 37°C. Body temperature did not return to preanaesthesia levels during the recovery stage for 16 of the 17 patients.
Conclusion:
Following anaesthesia dogs are likely to demonstrate a lower than normal body temperature and should therefore be monitored throughout recovery. Longer hospitalisation may be required to ensure patients are only discharged once their temperature has returned to baseline level.
Veterinary nurses are well aware of the fact that the body temperature of any cat or dog undergoing surgery will fall during the anaesthesia. However, most work has concentrated on temperature fluctuations during the peri-operative phase rather than in the hours post operatively (Armstrong et al, 2005). The aim of this study was to examine the level and duration of body temperature fluctuations during the intra-operative and post-operative phases, in dogs undergoing elective neutering in a general practice setting.
Normal thermoregulation in cats and dogs occurs in response to metabolic processes of the major organs such as the liver and brain (Armstrong et al, 2005). A drop in core body temperature below 37°C is defined as hypothermia (Matsuzaki et al, 2003; Pottie et al, 2007). Hypothermia can be described as either primary or secondary. Primary hypothermia occurs from exposure to an extremely low environmental temperature whereas secondary hypothermia is a low core body temperature resulting from trauma, illness, anaesthesia or toxicity.
Register now to continue reading
Thank you for visiting The Veterinary Nurse and reading some of our peer-reviewed content for veterinary professionals. To continue reading this article, please register today.