Estimation of a reference interval for eye temperature in dogs.

Eye temperature RI of 35.0–38.5°C offers a practical, low-stress screening tool for dogs.

This cross-sectional study conducted at a municipal shelter over two months aimed to establish a reference interval (RI) for eye temperature (ET) measured via handheld thermal camera in apparently healthy dogs, alongside a comparative RI for rectal temperature (RT). Inclusion criteria required dogs to be apparently healthy, with exclusion of animals showing illness history, respiratory symptoms, or ocular discharge. Standardized thermal imaging procedures were applied to 78 dogs, with concurrent rectal temperature measurements obtained from the same individuals. Statistical analysis employed a robust method with bootstrap-derived 90% confidence intervals, appropriate for sample sizes between 40 and 120. The estimated 95% RI for ET was 35.0 to 38.5°C (90% CI: 34.7–35.4°C lower limit; 38.2–38.8°C upper limit). The 95% RI for RT was 37.5 to 39.7°C (90% CI: 37.3–37.8°C lower limit; 39.5–39.9°C upper limit), which aligns with established veterinary norms, supporting the validity of the study population. The authors note that ET thermography may offer a practical, rapid, and low-stress alternative for initial temperature screening, though it is not intended to replace conventional RT measurement. Temperatures falling outside these reference intervals should prompt individual clinical evaluation. Limitations include moderate sample size and shelter-specific population, which may affect generalizability to broader canine populations.

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