This article complements the thermography articles in the Horse Sense column in the September 19th, 2015 issue

THERMOGRAPHY has achieved, through confirmation with other diagnostic modalities, a recognised valid diagnostic value for certain types of equine pathology. For example, early detection of superficial digital flexor tendonitis, bucked shins, back problems and muscle damage, acute foot problems like sub-solar infection, sole bruise, and laminitis. However, it is also important to consider the poor diagnostic value of thermography in pathologies of deeper structures.

Once the inherent high sensitivity and low specificity of thermography is acknowledged, more field applications could be implemented ahead of further veterinary examination. In fact, I believe that some of the new advanced pocket size instruments could be used efficiently in equine care, in a positive fashion, with all the similar considerations as for the familiar use of another medical instrument, the thermometer!

EXAMPLES

> A routine daily screening of the legs and feet of horses in a training yard would be easily implemented without upsetting the busy schedule or stressing the animal, but could draw the attention of a particular area, with consequent hands-on examination and eventual veterinary investigation.

>In a similar situation, the non-invasive and non-contact properties of the technology would be very useful for a quick daily screening of foals in a stud farm, where hot spots may be detected in clinical healthy foals before evident lameness or swelling, and so enable early veterinary intervention if required too.

>Another well recognised and very useful application of thermography is for saddle-fit.

A properly fitted saddle goes a long way towards the health of the equine athlete, and back problems can be avoided in the beginning with a properly fitted saddle.

>Another effective use would be the evaluation of foot balance through heat detection of the horse’s shoes. A quick exam could be carried out before and after corrective shoeing.

>It can be used for research purposes. In equine sports medicine, recent studies have focused on the thermal pattern of the back muscle of young thoroughbreds showing their adaptation to training. The regular examination of back muscles of the horse established a thermography pattern response to the intensity of the training and the gradual adaptation to it.

Although thermography gives us a visual rendering of variations of temperature of the surface of the horse, either increased or decreased, depending on the metabolic status of the region of interest, it is the easily highlighted hot spots in acute cases that seem to be of great benefit to equine medicine.

Dr. Oscar Mazzarello, VetSurg, CertEqSportsMed, Grange Equine Veterinary Clinic.

Web: equinevet.ie