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Discussion on Alternate way to take temperature
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Posted on Sunday, Jun 13, 1999 - 2:17 am:
I have two donkeys that are housed together. One is recovering from a nasty bacterial infection. The vet told me that at the first sign of illness in the other donkey to start him on the same antibiotic regimen as the infection is serious in the other donkey. If he's running a fever, the vet says to start the antibiotics. The "well" donkey is Mr Attitude, and I can't imagine being able to take his temperature. His ears do seem a little warm, and they are warmer than the sick donkey's. Otherwise, he's okay. I've been giving him echinacea and rose hips. My question is, is there any way to estimate an equine's temperature without using a rectal thermometer?
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Posted on Monday, Jun 14, 1999 - 7:57 am:
Not accurately I am afraid. While many times I detect fever prior to taking the temperature, this method is frought with error. The times I pick it up are when the fever has peaked and probably coming down. While the fever is rising the skin will feel cool bacause the body's thermostat is trying to conserve heat by decreasing circulation to the skin. When the fever breaks the skin will be the hottest as the brain attempts to bring down the body temperature by opening all the blood vessels in the skin.
DrO
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