Over millenia of evolutionary time, horses have evolved with an
ingrained tendency to mask pain and lameness to protect themselves
in the wild. This makes the veterinarian's task of detecting,
diagnosing, and treating a problem with a horse, whether
recreational, racing, or show, extremely challenging.
Researched and perfected over years of study and practice,
today's infrared cameras are extremely effective non-invasive
diagnostic tools. Subtle thermal anomalies detected by an infrared
camera can be sensitive indicators of early inflammatory change in
soft tissues. Thermographs can detect the onset of inflammatory
reaction in joints and tendons up to two weeks prior to clinical
appearance of lameness, and enable the practitioner to instantly
visualize neurovascular changes and demonstrate the efficacy of
vaso-active substances.
Equine thermography is a well-documented, powerful, non-invasive
diagnostic modality that can help the veterinarian detect, confirm,
and document a problem BEFORE the onset of complications and a more
serous injury. Before thermography, veterinarians could rely only
on observation or palpation to locate a problem, but with equine
thermography, an abnormality can be defined as a thermographic or
infrared anomaly that identifies stress before the onset of damage.
Practitioners who have used infrared thermography say that every
equine practitioner should have an infrared camera for equine
diagnosis.
