Hypothermia is characterized by what?

• A. Excessive heat gain
• B. Normal body temperature
• C. Excessive heat loss and decrease in body temperature
• D. Lack of appetite

Answer: (C)

Hypothermia means the body's core temperature is too low because heat is being lost faster than it can be produced. The defining feature is excessive heat loss leading to a decreased body temperature. Descriptions of excessive heat gain would point to hyperthermia, not hypothermia, and a normal body temperature isn’t hypothermia. Appetite changes can occur with illness, but they don’t define hypothermia. In wildlife rehab terms, animals exposed to cold, wet, or windy conditions can lose heat quickly, and recognizing the drop in core temperature helps you start appropriate warming and supportive care.