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In the 1996 Atlanta Olympics Thermography entered mainstream equine sports medicine in the detection of tendon, ligament and musculoskeletal inflammation. And since then equine Thermography has gone from strength to strength.
Most experienced horse owners/trainers are able to identify heat in a leg or foot by using their hands, but there are often symptoms of discomfort or poor performance where the horse shows no physical signs of injury. The human hand cannot identify changes in temperature of less than 2 degrees, however, a thermal camera can detect changes of less than 0.5 degree, making it easy to identify problem areas.
Thermal images do not act as a diagnostic modality alone but is widely used to localize the area for which further investigations such as x-rays or ultrasounds can be used to confirm a diagnosis by a vet.
More in depth information is available in the article, Equine Thermography by Heidi Billing.
These can be preformed at regular intervals on competition or racehorses to "track" their progress or training regime. Images can be compared and slight changes in symmetry noted and discussed with the trainer, rider, owner and vet.
Thermography can detect signs of inflammation before problems become apparent in all areas of the horse, joint, tendon, splints, hoof and muscle injuries can all be identified anywhere from 2 to 13 weeks prior to clinical lameness.1
The early detection of an injury can save a horses' career and even their life.
Thermography is a valuable diagnostic tool to use in cases of non-specific lameness or poor performance. Thermography can pick up on secondary inflammation areas which may have been masking where the initial primary injury was, and because you are looking at images of the whole horse there might be a complex situation where the problem is not just in one area but multiple areas on the horse. It is important to note that hot areas are easy to pick up on but it is also the cold areas that can give the most information as to muscle wastage and just as useful for detecting injury as the hot areas. For Thermography to be used for diagnostic purposes it is important to have a vet that is experienced at looking at thermal images and the heat patterns.
Re-purchase imaging can be preformed either by the seller or the buyer of a horse in conjunction with a veterinarian report can be of immense value to either parties.
The ease of use and safety of Thermography has a role in the treatment of injuries as well. Not every horse responds identically to the same treatment, whether it is a drug, a physical treatment, or simply a change in their training routine. Thermography can enable you to monitor a treatment on a weekly basis to determine if the treatment is effective or needs to be changed.2
The role of the Thermographer is to take images at the best angles and under the most stringent condition, Heidi Billing (nee Richardson) is a qualified Medical imaging technologist, who attended an intensive international Veterinary Thermography course in Roswell, New Mexico, USA with Dr Donna L Harper (DVM) in July of 2007. Horsewell Equine Rehab is privileged to be associated with Dr Harper who is well known in the international veterinary community for her work with thermography and we are extremely excited to have Dr Harper reporting on the thermal images taken at Horsewell Equine Rehab as she is one of only four DVMs in North America certified by the Amercian Academy of Thermography.
Please contact Heidi for more info on 021 406515
