Is rectal always right? Comparing axillary and inguinal temperature to rectal temperature in guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus)

This past summer I performed hands-on research with guinea pigs. Guinea pigs are a common companion prey species who become easily stressed in normal situations like when taking temperature recordings, a key health parameter, at the veterinary clinic. This stress can lead to increased body temperature and an inaccurate temperature recording. The goal of our study was to see if there was a less invasive than rectal temperature but still accurate way to measure body temperature by looking at axillary (armpit) and inguinal (groin) temperature instead. After a summer of hanging out with guinea pigs and data collection, we found that neither axillary nor inguinal temperature can replace rectal temperature in guinea pigs. Therefore, clinicians should continue to take rectal temperatures in guinea pigs to get the most accurate body temperature and provide the highest standard of care for their patients. This upcoming summer, I look forward to expanding this research by doing further guinea pig studies and looking at different temperature recording methods in rats!Ope