Optimal Environmental Temperature for Laboratory Dogs

Optimal environmental temperature of the rearing, operation and recovery rooms for laboratory dogs were investigated. Among animals reared for 10 days at 13, 23 and 33°C, any difference was observed in neither body temperature and weight nor values of RBC, WBC, hematocrit, total protein, ALP, BUN, GOT and GPT. However, in the hot environment, respiratory and heart beat rates were much higher at 31°C or above. In the cool environment, such temperature-dependent response in respiratory and heart beat rates was not so remarkable, but dogs curled themselves up and shivered in the limbs at 14°C or below. In anesthetized dogs, body temperature and respiratory and heart beat rates became low and the cases of death were observed at 20°C or below. The time required for pawing and stand-up was longer, and the mortality rate was higher in lower temperatures. On the basis of our observations, optimal environmental temperature of the rooms for rearing and those for operation and recovery should be within ranges from 17 to 28°C and from 23 to 28°C, respectively.