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Thermal Imaging Specialists
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Thermal Imaging for Equine Diagnoses
Over the millennia, horses have developed a natural tendency to mask any pain or lameness in order to provide protection for themselves in the wild. Unfortunately, for the veterinarian, this makes it difficult to detect, diagnose, and treat problems in horses. One tool that has emerged to help veterinarians is thermal imaging which can detect heat variations with a high degree of accuracy, so they can be used to analyse and understand problems in a horse's joints, tendons and hooves.
Infrared cameras provide an effective, easy-to-use and non-invasive diagnostic tool. Research has shown that subtle temperature anomalies revealed by infrared can provide an early indication of inflammatory changes in soft tissues. Thermal images can reveal the onset of inflammatory reaction in joints and tendons up to two weeks before the clinical appearance of lameness, allowing veterinarians to see neuro-vascular changes and evaluate the efficacy of vaso-active substances.
Equine thermography is a well-documented, powerful, non-invasive diagnostic modality that can aid veterinarians in detecting, confirming, and documenting problems BEFORE they develop into complications or more serous injury. Before these thermographic tools were available, veterinarians had to rely on observation or palpation to identify problems, but with equine thermography, certain abnormalities can be visible as a thermographic or infrared anomaly before the onset of damage. Practitioners who have used thermal imaging say an infrared camera is an invaluable tool for equine diagnoses.