This presentation discusses temperature regulation in mammals. It explains that mammals maintain a narrow body temperature range through metabolic heat production and heat loss mechanisms. When an animal's temperature rises above or falls below normal ranges, it can indicate illness. Common causes of fever include infection, while hypothermia may result from insufficient energy intake. The presentation provides normal temperature ranges for several species and outlines procedures for taking a rectal temperature with a mercury thermometer.

1. Presentation on
TEMPERATURE

2. Introduction
 Temperature is a degree of hotness
or coldness the can be measured
using a thermometer.
 Hyperthermia, fever, septicemia and
toxemia are closely related in their effects
on the body.

3. BASICS OF TEMPERATURE
 The rate of heat loss must equal the rate of
heat gain.
 Heat gain
 From the environment (radiation, conduction,
convection)
 due to metabolic activity (maintenance, exercise, growth,
lactation, gestation, feeding)

4. BASICS OF TEMPERATURE
(Continued)
 Heat loss
1. To environment (radiation, conduction,
convection, evaporation)
2. Due to metabolic activity (milk removal,
fecal elimination, urinary elimination)

5.  CONTROL OF BODY TEMPERATURE - Mammals are ‘warm blooded’ or
endothermic. This means that they regulate or control their own body
temperature within a narrow range.
Temperature

6. How do mammals warm themselves up?
• By shivering, The muscle movements releases
heat
• Heat produced by metabolism varies directly with the
level of feed intake. The more an animal eats, the
greater the heat increment of feeding.
• By panting. Panting removes excess heat from the body
when the moisture in the dog’s mouth and tongue
evaporates, taking heat with it.

7.  Infectious diseases and other illnesses affect this regulatory system
and cause the animal’s body temperature to alter from its normal
range
 Checking an animal’s temperature can therefore give us a good
indication of that animal’s health status
Temperature

8. Below are the normal temperature ranges for some animals:
 Cattle 100.5-102.5°F
 Buffalo 99.5-102.5°F
 Horse 99.5-101.5°F
 Goat 101.5-104.8 °F
 Sheep 100.8-103.8°F
 Dog 100.9-101.6°F
 Cat 100.4-101.3°F
 Rabbit 101.3-104°F
Normal temperature ranges

9. A high body temperature is called PYREXIA and may be caused by:
 Infection
 Convulsions (fits)
 Pain
 Excitement
Temperature

10.  An abnormally low body temperature is said to be SUBCLINICAL
and can occur in anaesthetised or unconscious animals
 Extreme external temperatures can also affect an animal, causing
HYPOTHERMIA (low body temperature caused by external
conditions) or HYPERTHERMIA (high body temperature caused by
external conditions e.g. heat stroke)
Temperature

11. Hypothermia
 Lower than normal body temperature, which
occurs when excess heat is lost or insufficient
is produced
 Insufficient energy intake and starvation
 parturient paresis,
 acute ruminal acidosis (grain overload)
 During anesthesia and sedation

12. Neonatal hypothermia
 Moved from a stable thermal environment
to variable and unstable thermal
environment.
 Wet coat
 Limited tissue substrates

13. Hyperthermia
Physiological
elevation
Pathological
elevation
Fever
Elevation of body
temperature
Types of the elevation of bodyTypes of the elevation of body
temperaturetemperature

14. HYPERT HERMIA
(HEAT STROKE OR HEAT EXHAUSTION)
Hyperthermia is the elevation of body temperature
due to excessive heat production or absorption, or to
deficient heat loss, when the causes of these
abnormalities are purely physical.

15. Hyperthermia Fever
Arising from changes within the body
or by changes in environment
Resulting from pyrogen
Set-point remains unchanged or
damaged, or effector organs fails
Ability to regulate set-point
remains intact, but is turned up at
a high level functionally
Body temperature may rise to a very
high level
Rise of body temperature has an
upper limit
Treatment with water-alcohol bathing Treatment with antipyretics and
measures and drugs to eliminate
the causes
Hyperthermia VS Fever

16. Procedure for taking the temperature using a mercury thermometer
 Restraining:
 In Dogs, muzzle is used.
 In Cats, ear bands are used.
 In large animals ensure that the
animal doesn't move around too
much while you are taking his
temperature. Tie him up to a
wooden fence or place in crush.

17. Procedure for taking the temperature using a mercury thermometer
 Check thermometer reading – shake down if necessary
 Lubricate thermometer with Vaseline or KY jelly
 Grasp the tail with your left hand
 Gently insert the thermometer into the patient’s rectum with a
twisting motion. The thermometer should be directed against the wall
of the rectum to avoid insertion into the faecal mass
 Hold the thermometer in the rectum for 1 minute
 Gently remove the thermometer and wipe it clean. Avoid touching
the bulb

18. Procedure for taking the temperature using a mercury thermometer
 Hold the thermometer horizontally and rotate it until the mercury level
is visible
 Read and record the temperature, noting and reporting any
abnormalities
 Shake down the thermometer to ensure that the mercury returns to
the bulb