Thermal burns in four dogs during anesthesia.

Thermal burns occurred in four anesthetized dogs as a result of using latex surgical gloves filled with warm water to treat hypothermia. The burns were on relatively hairless skin that had been in contact with the gloves. Small containers full of warm water are a relatively inefficient source of heat, but if the temperature of the water exceeds 45 degrees C and the container contacts the animal's skin, thermal injury can result.