We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
POST-MORTEM DECREASE IN TEMPERATURE IN THE ORBIT OF DOGS FOR USE IN DETERMINING TIME OF DEATH.
- Authors
Listos, Piotr; Gryzinska, Magdalena; Batkowska, Justyna
- Abstract
Determination of time of death is a complex process taking into account numerous biological and environmental factors. These have to do with the changes taking place in the body immediately after death, mainly rigor mortis, lividity and the decrease in body temperature with the passage of time in specific ambient temperature and humidity conditions. Until recently body temperature was measured only in the rectum because the mechanisms of heat loss had been precisely established. Currently body temperature is measured in other tissues as well, including the soft tissues of the orbit. The aim of this study was to evaluate the suitability of post-mortem measurement of the decrease in temperature in the orbit for determining the time of death of an animal (a dog) while taking into account the dynamics of changes in temperature measured in the rectum. The carcasses of twenty dogs were examined. The temperature in the orbit and rectum was measured every half hour for 12 hours from the time of death. The body mass of the dog was found to affect the rate of the decrease in temperature in the orbital soft tissues. Because the dynamics of changes (decrease) in temperature in the orbit and rectum were uniform, temperature measurement at this site may be a valuable alternative method for determining time of death. Slight changes in ambient temperature and humidity did not affect the rate of cooling of the body.
- Subjects
PROOF &; certification of death; RIGOR mortis; BODY temperature; POSTMORTEM changes; LABORATORY dogs
- Publication
Slovenian Veterinary Research / Slovenski Veterinarski Zbornik, 2016, Vol 53, Issue 2, p85
- ISSN
1580-4003
- Publication type
Article