Measurement of horse core body temperature

Horse core body temperature (CBT) was monitored by three methods to compare three distinct physiological locations (blood temperature, BT; rectal temperature, RT; and telemetry-based gastrointestinal temperature, GT). Calibrated results indicate that CBT was different for each location (0.5°C greater GT vs. RT; 1.0°C greater GT vs. BT). The diurnal CBT average, minimum, and maximum were 38.0, 37.6, and 38.5°C, respectively; and the telemetry-based system for measuring GT applied in this study is an acceptable alternative method for monitoring core body temperature in horses.