The accuracy of tactile assessment of canine nose temperature to identify rectal hyperthermia and hypothermia in dogs presenting on an emergency basis.

The goals of this study were to evaluate whether touch can identify a warm nose as opposed to a cold nose, to examine the correlation between thermographically measured nose temperatures and rectal temperatures, and to calculate the accuracy of tactile assessment of nose temperature in detecting rectal hyperthermia and hypothermia in dogs. A total of 100 dogs presenting to an emergency room was prospectively enrolled. Tactile nose assessment was carried out on triage. Noses were subjectively categorized as warm, cold, or intermediate (neither warm nor cold). Thermographic nose temperatures were recorded using a thermal imaging camera. Tactile assessment categorized noses as warm, intermediate, or cold (P < 0.01). There was no correlation between thermographically measured nose temperature and rectal temperature (r = 0.02). Tactile assessment of noses as warm had a sensitivity of 29.4% and a specificity of 79.5% for detecting rectal hyperthermia; calculated test accuracy was 71%. Tactile assessment of noses as cold had a sensitivity of 54.5% and a specificity of 62.9%; calculated test accuracy was 62%. It was concluded that nose temperatures do not correlate with rectal temperatures. Tactile assessment of nose temperature is inaccurate for identifying rectal hyperthermia or hypothermia.