The effects of active peripheral skin warming on perioperative hypothermia in dogs.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates the efficacy of three perioperative warming protocols to improve control of body temperature in anesthetized dogs. STUDY DESIGN: A randomized controlled clinical trial. ANIMALS OR SAMPLE POPULATION: Thirty-two client-owned dogs. METHODS: We prospectively studied dogs entering the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary Teaching Hospital for orthopedic or dental procedures and assigned them to one of three perianesthetic warming protocols. Group 1 (n = 10) had a single circulating warm water mattress applied over the trunk (single-trunk warming). Group 2 (n = 12) had two circulating warm water mattresses, one placed over and one under the trunk (double-trunk warming). Group 3 (n = 10) had warm circulating mattresses applied only around the feet and legs of all available limbs (peripheral warming). The warm water mattresses were prewarmed and maintained at 40 degrees C (104 degrees F) and applied immediately after induction of general anesthesia. All dogs had a layer of thick terry cloth toweling beneath and above the trunk. Body temperature measurements were recorded every 15 minutes for the first 2.5 hours of anesthesia. RESULTS: The lowest mean temperature for dogs in group 3 was 37.4 +/- 0.2 degrees C (99.5 degrees F), compared with 36.4 +/- 0.2 degrees C (97.4 degrees F) and 36.7 +/- 0.2 degrees C (98.0 degrees F) in groups 1 and 2, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Dogs in the peripheral warming group maintained significantly higher core body temperatures than dogs in either trunk warming groups throughout the 2.5-hour study period. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: To maintain body heat in dogs during anesthesia, it is more effective to warm the feet and legs than to warm the trunk.