Performance of a non-contact veterinary infrared thermometer and reference intervals of equine temperature at different body sites.
Authors: Alberghina Daniela, Tombolani Carlotta, Quintavalla Fausto
Journal: Frontiers in veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary Rectal thermometry remains standard practice for equine temperature assessment, yet it requires restraint and carries injury risks for both handler and horse. Alberghina and colleagues evaluated non-contact infrared thermometry across three age groups (foals aged 4–12 months, Shetland ponies aged 8–12 months, and adult horses aged 2–30 years) by comparing readings from rectal, ocular, gingival, and perineal sites in 126 animals, establishing reference intervals for each measurement location. Whilst ocular temperature proved unreliable due to ambient temperature influence—particularly in Shetland ponies—perineal infrared readings showed strong positive correlation with rectal temperatures (p <0.0001) with only a 2°C bias that could be corrected with a standardised factor, and crucially remained unaffected by environmental conditions. The authors identified that foals have significantly higher rectal temperatures than adults (p <0.001), an important distinction for age-appropriate interpretation. For practitioners, perineal infrared thermometry offers a practical, welfare-friendly alternative to rectal measurement that requires no animal restraint whilst maintaining diagnostic accuracy when using an appropriate correction factor—particularly valuable in field settings, emergency situations, or with fractious animals where traditional methods pose safety concerns.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Infrared perineal thermometry offers a practical non-invasive alternative to rectal temperature measurement, reducing stress and safety risks for both horses and handlers during routine health checks.
- •Account for age-related temperature variations—foals run approximately 0.5–1°C higher than adults—and apply a +2°C correction factor when using perineal infrared readings to estimate rectal temperature.
- •Avoid relying on ocular (eye) infrared thermometry in outdoor or variable ambient conditions, as readings are unreliable; perineal sites are more stable and clinically useful.
Key Findings
- •Foals demonstrated significantly higher rectal temperatures than adult horses (p < 0.001), with age being the primary influencing factor.
- •Perineal infrared temperature correlated strongly with rectal temperature (p < 0.0001) with a bias of 2°C and was unaffected by ambient temperature.
- •Ocular temperature correlated with rectal temperature (p < 0.01) but was significantly influenced by ambient conditions, particularly in Shetland ponies.
- •Reference intervals for temperature at multiple body sites (rectal, ocular, gingival, perineal) are established across age groups, enabling non-invasive alternatives to rectal thermometry.