It has become increasingly apparent the benefits thermography can bring to the diagnosing conditions in animals. It is possible to detect irregularities on the skin, inflammations, frayed nerves, and muscle or ligament damage.
Thermography provides a non-invasive method to detect hot spots, as this technique provides a visual map of skin temperature gradients. Many veterinarians have discovered the benefits that thermal imaging provides in analysing and diagnosing animals with certain conditions.
An example of where thermography is widely used is in the diagnosing of horse conditions. Called Equine Thermography, here thermal imaging can detect musculo skeletal and other injuries several weeks before they are visually detectable. Today prospective horse buyers are now having horses checked by thermal imaging before they invest.
images courtesy of Flir Systems Ltd
This thermal image shows a sympathetic nerve dysfunction involving the left front leg of the horse. Without and equine thermal image this condition is rarely diagnosed and is a common cause of undiagnosed lameness in horses. This is because the affected leg is cool to the touch; and the contra lateral leg will feel warm in comparison, this is often thought to be the leg that has the pathology. This is an examination error that can lead to the wrong leg being treated.
Thermal imaging is currently used to diagnose a wide range of potential problems in humans and animals all over the world.