Body temperature of bitches in the first week after parturition measured by ingestible loggers

The objective of this study was to identify the physiological ranges of body temperature of bitches in the first 7 days after parturition by measurement with ingestible temperature loggers. Twenty bitches swallowed one ingestible temperature logger daily. Bitches were defined to be healthy by spontaneous parturition and leucocyte concentration. Mean core body temperatures of eight healthy bitches were (Mean ± SD) 38.8°C ± 0.40 on day 0 p.p., 38.9°C ± 0.47 on day 1 p.p., 38.9°C ± 0.35 on day 2 p.p. 38.7°C ± 0.31 on day 3 p.p., respectively. In the following days, the three remaining healthy bitches showed mean core body temperatures (Mean ± SD) of 38.8°C ± 0.30 on day 4 p.p., 38.6°C ± 0.35 on day 5 p.p., 38.5°C ± 0.27 on day 6 p.p. and 38.4°C ± 0.34 on day 7 p.p., respectively. Three out of the eight healthy bitches showed temperatures ≥39.5°C. Bitches with leucocytosis showed significant higher mean core body temperatures (39.0°C ± 0.49) than healthy bitches (38.8°C ± 0.39) during the first 3 days after parturition (p < 0.01). We conclude that the physiological ranges of body temperature of healthy bitches in the first days after parturition do not differ from those of healthy dogs in general, while the appearance of short episodes of febrile temperatures seems to be physiological. Puerperal bitches with leucocytosis show higher body temperatures increased by only 0.2°C.