Dynamic changes in ear temperature in relation to separation distress in dogs.

Riemer, Stefanie; Assis, Luciana; Pike, Thomas W; Mills, Daniel S (2016). Dynamic changes in ear temperature in relation to separation distress in dogs. Physiology & behavior, 167, pp. 86-91. Elsevier 10.1016/j.physbeh.2016.09.002

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Infrared thermography can visualize changes in body surface temperature that result from stress-induced physiological changes and alterations of blood flow patterns. Here we explored its use for remote stress monitoring (i.e. removing need for human presence) in a sample of six pet dogs. Dogs were tested in a brief separation test involving contact with their owner, a stranger, and social isolation for two one-minute-periods. Tests were filmed using a thermographic camera set up in a corner of the room, around 7m from where the subjects spent most of the time. Temperature was measured from selected regions of both ear pinnae simultaneously. Temperatures of both ear pinnae showed a pattern of decrease during separation and increase when a person (either the owner or a stranger) was present, with no lateralized temperature differences between the two ears. Long distance thermographic measurement is a promising technique for non-invasive remote stress assessment, although there are some limitations related to dogs' hair structure over the ears, making it unsuitable for some subjects.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

05 Veterinary Medicine > Department of Clinical Research and Veterinary Public Health (DCR-VPH) > Veterinary Public Health Institute > Animal Welfare Division
05 Veterinary Medicine > Department of Clinical Research and Veterinary Public Health (DCR-VPH) > Veterinary Public Health Institute
05 Veterinary Medicine > Department of Clinical Research and Veterinary Public Health (DCR-VPH)

UniBE Contributor:

Riemer, Stefanie

Subjects:

500 Science > 570 Life sciences; biology
500 Science > 590 Animals (Zoology)
600 Technology > 630 Agriculture

ISSN:

0031-9384

Publisher:

Elsevier

Language:

English

Submitter:

Homare Yamahachi

Date Deposited:

20 Sep 2019 14:39

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 15:28

Publisher DOI:

10.1016/j.physbeh.2016.09.002

PubMed ID:

27609307

Uncontrolled Keywords:

Ear temperature Infrared thermography Noninvasive stress monitoring Pet dogs Canis familiaris Physiological stress responses Separation stress

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.130232

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/130232

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