General and systemic states of animals
General and systemic states of animals are involving multiple causative factors like temperature, shock, dehydration, etc.
Body temperature
Body temperature is measured by a clinical thermometer. It has got mercury containing bulb which communicate with a thin capillary channel. Thermometer is calibrated from 97-108 °F.
For human the mercury bulb is elongated and thin. The temperature is measured under the tongue or the arm pit. But in animals, it is stumpy type of bulb and temperature is measured by placing the bulb in rectum.
Normal Body temperature in animals
| Species | Temperature |
|---|---|
| Horse | 99-101.5 °F |
| Ox | 100-103 °F |
| Sheep | 102-104 °F |
| Goat | 101.5-104.5 °F |
| Dog | 100.5-102.2 °F |
| Pig | 100-104 °F |
| Poultry | 104.8-107.6 °F |
| Cat | 100.5-102.2 °F |
Usually a variation of 0.50 °F allowance is given for very small and large animals. Smaller the species, higher the temperature.
Female, pregnant, and young animals have a higher temperature than male, non-pregnant and old animals.
There are disease conditions where in early morning temperature is higher than evening temperature like TB in horses.
Care should be taken while recording the body temperature in animals:
- Mercury column should be below the normal temperature
- Thermometer should be sterilised by merging in Dettol solution prior to use
- Bulb end should be lubricated with liquid paraffin or glycerin or soap especially in case of small pup and kitten
- Bulb of thermometer remains same contact with rectal mucus membrane
- Should be kept inside for at least 1-2 minutes
A physiological rise in temperature can also take place after feeding, exercise, parturition, and when the animal is excited.
Following are some pyrexia conditions that can be used to detect temperature variations:
- 1-1.5 °F more than normal: Mild pyrexia
- Up to 3 °F more than normal: Moderate pyrexia
- More than 3 °F than normal: High fever
- More than 6 °F than normal: Hyper pyrexia
