Accidental hypothermia during anaesthesia in dogs and cats

The rectal temperature of 15 cats and 18 dogs was recoded during anaesthesia and surgery. There was a mean decrease of 3-4 degrees C in animals weighing less than 10kg and of 1-5 degrees C in animals weighing on average 30-2kg. In four dogs which were protected from accidental hypothermia by the use of a circulating warm water blanket, the mean decrease in rectal temperature was 0-5 degrees C.