![]() ![]() Several IR thermometers have been developed specifically for veterinary use. 5–, 7 Because the anatomy of the external ear canal in veterinary patients differs from that of humans, an IR tympanic thermometer designed for human use measures primarily the external ear canal temperature of the veterinary patient rather than the tympanic membrane temperature, thereby decreasing the accuracy of the device. 2, 6 Infrared thermometers that were originally developed to measure the tympanic and inner external ear canal temperature in humans may give inaccurate or inconsistent results when used in animals because of the wide angle of view, the limited depth of insertion, and the difference in ear canal anatomy in animals as compared to humans. This technology utilizes pyroelectric sensors to detect the heat emanating from the tympanic membrane and inner surface of the external ear canal to obtain what is considered to be a more accurate measurement of core body temperature. Infrared thermometry was introduced in the mid1980s and was originally developed for human use. 5 Using the tympanic membrane and the deep, or inner, external ear canal, infrared (IR) thermometry may be a promising alternative to rectal temperature measurement in veterinary medicine. ![]() 4 Physiological temperature differences exist between different body sites in humans tympanic and esophageal temperatures are considered to be equivalent to core body temperature, while rectal temperature may sometimes exceed core temperature or lag significantly from these other body sites. 4 Conversely, the tympanic membrane is well vascularized by the internal carotid arteries that also perfuse the hypothalamus, the gland responsible for body-temperature regulation. When body temperature is measured rectally, accuracy and repeatability of the measurement can be affected by the distance from the upper thorax, muscular exertion, and the presence of feces. 1–, 3Ĭore body temperature can be defined as the blood’s temperature in the pulmonary artery or brain. However, obtaining a rectal temperature can be stressful and potentially injurious to the patient and veterinary staff, as well as time consuming and a source of cross-contamination. Traditionally in veterinary medicine, rectal temperature measurement has been the most common method of obtaining a patient’s body temperature. Measurement of body temperature is a routine part of the clinical assessment of a patient. ![]()
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