Determining Changes in Thermal Patterns in Canines based on Coat Type using Infrared Thermographic Imaging

• Published in: The FASEB Journal
• Main Authors: Kwon, Claire, Brundage, Cord
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2019
• Subjects: Canis lupus
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1096/fasebj.2019.33.1_supplement.842.13

Infrared thermography detects variations in surface temperatures. This imaging modality has been used to approximate body temperature, inflammation, and wellness. In mammals, the insulatory effect of hair coat type is likely to have disparate effects on surface temperature and patterning. To measure the difference in surface temperatures based on coat type in dogs ( Canis lupus familiaris ), an infrared thermographic imaging camera (i.e. FLIR B400) was used. Thermographic images were taken of the right and left sides of privately‐owned dogs (n = 50) Each animal acclimated in an indoor environment (23 ± 2.0 °C) for 15 minutes; images were taken at a minimum distance of 0.4 m. Mean surface temperatures were analyzed across the lateral surface of each animal. No difference in surface temperature was identified based on the laterality (P = 0.983). Mean surface temperatures were then categorized based on each dog's hair coat type: short coat (SC), long coat (LC), curly coat (CC), and double coat (DC). SC animals had a significantly higher surface temperature (31.57 ± 0.32 °C) than LC or DC animals (28.11 ± 0.95 °C for LC and 28.29 ± 2.00 °C for DC respectively; P < 0.001). Dogs characterized with a CC had an intermediate surface temperature of 29.96 ± 1.94 °C. Variability in surface temperature was independent of rectal temperature (P > 0.05). This evidence suggests that coat type should be considered when evaluating the surface temperature of canids and elevations in surface temperature should be interpreted within the context of an animal's coat characteristics. This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal .