Comparison between rectal and body surface temperature in dogs by the calibrated infrared thermometer

Highlights • Dogs poorly tolerate rectal temperature measurements with a contact thermometer. • Existing alternative approaches used uncalibrated infrared thermometers. • Gum and inguinal temperature are correlated moderately to rectal temperature. • Hyperthermia was detected with sensitivity and specificity up to 90.0% and 78.6%. • Future studies should include a calibrated thermometer and control external factors.