Abstract
We develop a finite-temperature Hartree theory for the trapped dipolar Bose gas. We use this theory to study thermal effects on the mechanical stability of the system and density oscillating condensate states. We present results for the stability phase diagram as a function of temperature and aspect ratio. In oblate traps above the critical temperature for condensation, we find that the Hartree theory predicts significant stability enhancement over the semiclassical result. Below the critical temperature, we find that thermal effects are well described by accounting for the thermal depletion of the condensate. Our results also show that density oscillating condensate states occur over a range of interaction strengths that broadens with increasing temperature.