Maintenance of core body temperature in anaesthetised pigeons (Columba livia domestica): A comparison of two thermal devices

Active thermal devices are used to prevent hypothermia during anaesthetic procedures. Two thermal devices, one conductive and one convective, were compared for their effect on maintenance of core body temperature (CBT) during 1 h of general anaesthesia in pigeons (Columba livia domestica). In a randomised crossover trial, CBT decreased significantly less with the conductive device than when the convective device was used (2.5 ± 0.7 °C and 3.8 ± 0.9 °C, respectively; P < 0.01). Moreover, CBT was maintained above a clinically acceptable level of 38.3 °C in 82% of pigeons when the conductive device was selected, compared to 14% of pigeons with the convective device. The use of the conductive device is therefore recommended in preference to the convective device when performing anaesthetic procedures in birds.