Rectal temperature (RT) measurement has long been considered the gold standard for assessing body temperature in mammals, including our feline friends. However, this method is not without its drawbacks, particularly for cats, as it can cause stress and defensive behavior. This has led to a growing demand for more stress-free clinical techniques that still provide accurate medical care. A novel approach involves using subcutaneous temperature-sensing identification microchips, which not only comply with legal requirements but also offer a measure of subcutaneous temperature (MT).

A recent clinical study set out to evaluate the effectiveness of these microchips by comparing MT with RT in different cat populations. The study included normal cats (58), hospitalized cats (26), and sedated or anesthetized cats (36). Each cat underwent three temperature readings using both the MT and RT methods. The research focused on determining the correlation and differences between MT and RT for each individual cat and across each group.

The results were promising. A strong positive correlation was found between MT and RT across all groups, with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.7 to 1.0, which is statistically significant (p < 0.0005). While there were mean differences (d) between the MT and RT readings, these differences were consistently small and not biologically significant. The narrow limits of agreement between MT and RT measurements suggest that MT could be an acceptable alternative to RT in cats.

The study concludes that MT, as measured by subcutaneous temperature-sensing microchips, could potentially offer a less stressful and more convenient alternative for assessing body temperature in cats. However, it's important to note that this study predominantly involved normothermic animals. To fully validate the efficacy of MT measurements, further research involving larger groups of cats in varying health conditions is necessary. This would help to better understand trends and assess variation over time, paving the way for more comfortable and stress-free veterinary care.

Read full article here: Correlation of temperature-sensing microchip and rectal temperature measurements in cats