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| Our silent running cameras are well tolerated by horses. |
Equine Thermography is invaluable in detecting injuries in ligaments and tendons, and as an aid to optimising recovery time, and getting your horse back to work as soon as possible and practicable. But, there may be problems brewing even before you can see or feel anything, which thermal imaging can detect.
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| Detect tissues under stress before anatomical disruption occurs. |
Research1 conducted by Dr Turner on racehorses in the USA has shown that Veterinary Thermal Imaging can identify tendon lesions up to three weeks before your horse exhibits clinical symptoms; while the tissues are just under a state of stress and before major anatomical disruption occurs. Horses are naturally prey animals, and mask injury to prevent predation. You might get the feeling that your horse is a little bit 'off', their performance may decline, their temperament change, but there’s nothing there that you can really pinpoint – yet. But, Veterinary Thermal Imaging can.
The human hand can detect temperature differences of around 2oC, whilst a temperature differential of just 1oC can result from sympathetic dysfunctions, meaning they may be overlooked in the early stages. The camera we use to produce equine infrared images is 40 times more sensitive than the human hand, accurate down to 0.05oC, and takes over 70,000 individual temperature readings in each thermogram. The high resolution, quality images accurately allow your vet to pinpoint the exact anatomical structures which require further examination.
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Left knee of a pony with intermittent lameness: heat over medial collateral ligament.
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Right knee showing a normal thermal pattern for this pony.
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When bringing a performance horse back into work, starting fitness programmes, or resuming jumping after a break in the season, Equine Thermography is an indispensible tool in ensuring early detection of problems, and maintaining peak performance.
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Pin firing of a thoroughbred's right fore tendon.
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Veterinary Thermal Imaging are pleased to have partnered with a number of high class competition and racing yards to provide this ongoing service.
1Thermographic assessment of racing Thoroughbreds. TA Turner J Pansch J Wilson. Proc Conference on Equine Sports Medicine and Science 2002 p207
