Arctic Aeromedical Laboratory. Aerospace Medical Division, Air Force Systems Command. Fort Wainwright, Alaska. Technical documentary report TDR-63-40. 8 p.
Arctic Aeromedical Laboratory. Aerospace Medical Division, Air Force Systems Command. Fort Wainwright, Alaska. Technical documentary report TDR-63-40. 8 p.
Rectal temperatures were measured on Husky sled dogs doing hard work (sled pulling) at ambient temperatures of 0° C and lower. Even in efforts that seemed maximal, rectal temperature usually increased no more than 1° C above the mean resting temperature range of 38.5° to 38.9° C. In exceptional cases it increased as much as 2° C. The mean rectal temperature measured on 17 dogs at the end of a 30-mile (48. 3 km) championship race was 39.7° C. It is concluded that the dissipation of body heat produced during heavy work in the cold imposes no physiological strain on the Husky sled dog.