Resting rectal temperature of Vietnamese potbellied pigs
Lord, L.K.; Wittum, T.E.; Anderson, D.E.; Riffle, D.; Lathrop, S.L.; Lauderdale, M.A.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 215(3): 342-344
1999
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-1488 PMID: 10434970 Document Number: 498765
85 Vietnamese potbellied pigs on a single farm and 27 potbellied pigs examined at a veterinary teaching hospital for routine veterinary care were used to determine resting rectal temperature. Rectal temperatures at the time of initial examination were obtained from medical records for the potbellied pigs examined at the hospital. Mean rectal temperatures for both groups of potbellied pigs were the same. Overall unadjusted mean rectal temperature was 37.6+or-0.8 degrees C (range, 35.1 to 39.6 degrees C). However, diurnal variation in rectal temperature was found among the farm population of potbellied pigs. After adjustment for age and repeated sampling, rectal temperatures recorded during the morning were significantly lower than temperatures recorded during the afternoon and evening (mean difference, 0.5 and 0.9 degrees C, respectively), and rectal temperatures recorded during the afternoon were significantly lower than temperatures recorded during the evening (mean difference, 0.4 degrees C). There was a significant inverse linear relationship between age and rectal temperature. It is concluded that rectal temperatures of Vietnamese potbellied pigs may be lower than the lower limit of the reference range reported for domestic pigs. Because of diurnal variation in rectal temperatures, it is important to compare temperatures obtained at the same time of day when assessing patients.