We all wish our horses could tell us where it hurts because it would make our lives so much easier. Unfortunately this is not possible, in fact as prey animals it is part of their natural behavior to go to great lengths to mask any signs of pain, injury or discomfort. Therefore, it is notoriously difficult to detect an injury until it has possibly turned into something much more serious… But we can be shown where the pain is through Thermography. It allows us to See the pain, which allows us to treat the horse more effectively.
What is thermography?
Thermography is the use of a thermographic imaging camera that houses the science of infrared imaging to give a visual representation of an object’s temperature. By using a color scale, we can clearly see the heat variations of an object/person/animal in the image, this image is called a thermogram.
How we use thermography in the equine world
Thermography is useful to the horse owner, veterinarian, and equine therapist as it can detect very slight changes in temperature. The human hand can detect a temperature increase of approximately 2-3º while an infrared camera can detect differences of 0.5º.
DETECTION
Thermography can highlight an area of inflammation before there is clinical evidence such as lameness or swollen joints and may explain a reduction in horse performance or behavioral changes.
By detecting an area of injury or illness early, we greatly reduce the risk of significant injury or illness by allowing it to be treated before a condition develops into something much more serious.
PREVENTION
It’s better to prevent than to cure. Regular scanning of a horse, even if no problems are present, or scanning a horse after an event is invaluable for early detection of potential problems – identifying an injury as soon as possible is the key to preventing further trauma.
RECOVERY MONITORING
By scanning a horse while it is recovering, we can assess how an injury responds to treatment, and when the horse returns to work, we can observe how the injury reacts to work, allowing you to adjust the workload.
Thermography can play an important role in the healing process, continuous monitoring of an injury using thermographic imaging allows us to assess how an injury is responding to treatment and allows the workload of the horse to be adapted so that it does not return to work sooner. it is safe to do so.
Benefits
-Non-invasive
-No contact
-Quiet (ideal for young or nervous horses)
-Does not require sedation
-No radiation used
-Mobile: the horse is scanned in the comfort of its own environment
-Comprehensive report including full descriptions and image interpretation, designed to be used in conjunction with your vet.
-The latest infrared imaging equipment and computer software are used
The following problems can be identified with thermology:
-Infection
-Tendon damage
-Stress or ligament damage
-back bread
-Muscular and joint problems
-Arthritis
-Sacroiliac bread
-Secondary or compensatory problems
-bruises
-Nerve damage
-Circulatory problems
What are the limitations of thermography?
Thermography, when used correctly following strict protocols, is extremely reliable in identifying a region of interest by locating areas of inflammation. It cannot give an absolute diagnosis, however it will focus on the area that is causing the problem, perhaps reducing the need for some expensive investigative procedures by a vet. Further diagnostic tools can then be quickly applied to ensure the correct course of action is taken to minimize further injury.