Eventing Magazine - Tendon Injuires & Tendon Health

Our Senior Thermographer, Helen Morrell, featured in Eventing Magazine for a Question & Answer session on how thermal imaging can help to keep your horse's legs in optimum condition.  As well as offering advice on how to reduce the risk of tendon injuries, you can learn why tendon injuries don't heal well, how to protect your horse's legs and why it's important to keep your horse's legs cool during gallop work.

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Equine Thermography has been shown to detect tendon injuries in your horse up to three weeks before clinical signs.  More information about how Equine Thermography can improve the health of your horse's tendons can be found on our Ligament Injury page.

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Complete MOT

Whilst Veterinary Thermal Imaging is excellent for detecting leg problems, this is only the tip of the iceberg. Further uses include identifying and assessing;

- bad backs;
- joint damage;
- muscular problems;
- dental pain;
- skin conditions;
- nerve dysfunction;
- foot balance;
- saddle fitting;

all of which could be picked up within one hour-long Imaging session.
As thermal images are objective, and graphically map the extent of an injury and healing progress, owners can review and assess treatments together with their Vet and physiotherapist, getting the horse back into work as soon as possible.

Early Warning System

During a two-year study it was shown that Veterinary Thermal Imaging could effectively and accurately pick up subtle changes in temperature prior to major injury occurring in 95% of cases, and 2-3 weeks before the trainer or Vet became aware. Of those horses that underwent clinical examination for lameness, Veterinary Thermal Imaging again correctly predicted the site of the injury in 95% of cases.

Most horses don't have just one problem associated with lameness or a bad back. Often there are other secondary causes which may be overlooked, and cause the primary problem to reoccur unless they're also treated. Thermal Imaging is an excellent tool to identify these secondary problems so they can be managed too.

Man Versus Machine

Using military-derived technology and techniques perfected over 30 years, the physiology of your horse can be objectively assessed, identifying those brewing problems. All animals are thermally symmetrical, so deviation from this indicates altered physiological processes which overlay the site of an injury or disease. Graphically mapping the temperature across the skin's surface with Veterinary Thermal Imaging instantly pinpoints problem areas.

Vets and owners have been feeling and palpating legs for centuries to gauge differences in temperature linked to injury. With the advent and application of technology, the degree of accuracy and objectivity that can be attained is far superior. The human hand can detect a difference of 2 degrees Celsius, whereas the Thermal Imaging camera used in Veterinary Thermal Imaging is 40 times more sensitive. When you consider that only a 1 degree Celsius increase may result from some sympathetic dysfunctions, without Veterinary Thermal Imaging, problems could be overlooked rather than promptly treated, which saves money, time, distress and gives better prognoses.

The Infrared Thermal Imaging Camera is the size of a camcorder, silent in operation, non-contact, emits no radiation and Imaging can be repeated as often as required. This is ideal for owners, as it removes the hassle of travelling, the need for sedation, stress in the animal, and cost; a full anatomical report costs about the same as one x-ray.

Subchondral Bone Cyst

Nine month old filly referred by owner for routine thermal imaging ahead of in-hand championships. Sub-clinical lameness, exhibited as a loss of showy action when turned-out, with query as to whether this was due to bruising from a lodged stone or kick above knee the previous week.

Thermal Imaging showed a significant hot spot in the pastern. Report immediately referred back to owner’s West Midlands Equine Hospital, who attended for clinical examination the following day.
x-rays of the area indicated a rare Subchondral Bone Cyst and filly referred to specialist for surgery. Prognosis excellent; early intervention removed need to graft bone, and only a 1cm scar in the area remains.

Six monthly sessions of thermal imaging booked to pinpoint any others areas where cysts may have developed and x-rays may be required.

Graphic Illustration of a Tendon Injury (Lesion)

A dramatic illustration of how effective Equine Thermography can be.  This Irish Sports Horse showed no clinical signs of a tendon injury, but the owner and vet both knew he wasn't quite right. Thermal Imaging pinpointed the seat of the problem, whilst the tissues were just under a state of stress before a lesion appeared. The prognosis from early treatment is always much better.

More examples of Tendon Injuries can be seen on our website.

Bridging Saddle Identified with Thermal Imaging

This saddle was imaged as part of a routine scan of a complete horse and very dramatically highlights the advantages of thermal imaging in detecting a poorly fitted saddle.  The four distinct hotspots on the saddle (shown in red) indicate a bridging saddle and could be causing pain and discomfort to the horse.

Inflammation in the Stifle (Tibiofemoral Joint)

A 13 year old Novice eventer presented with reduced performance XC and was referred by a Welsh equine hospital for full anatomical scan.

Thermal Imaging of the dorsal gaskin identified inflammation in the stifle, which couldn’t yet be felt by hand. Remedial exercise programme and anti-inflammatories were prescribed.

Dermatomes on a Hafflinger Indicative of Nerve Damage

Areas of unusual colour banding on the legs, called dermatomes, were present on this six year old Hafflinger’s legs. She was failing to track-up properly. These indicated that one or more of the branches of her spinal cord were being constricted, with the pinched nerve sending out a signal to the part of the body it controls to vasoconstrict. This was resolved through chiropractic treatment. You can read more about Horse Nerve Damage and Injury on our website.

Welcome to Veterinary Thermal Imaging

Veterinary Thermal Imaging is the UK’s largest provider of Animal and Equine Thermography. Working under a code of conduct prescribed by the RCVS, Veterinary Thermal Imaging provide Veterinary Thermography services for owners after self-referral or following Veterinary or Physiotherapist instruction. In addition, we provide a consultancy services to both the private and public sector and are authorised distributors of FLIR Infrared Thermal Imaging Cameras.

All of our Veterinary Thermographers are high calibre individuals, with professional qualifications in animal and equine fields, coupled with years of experience in animal handling and welfare.

In this blog we'll be posting interesting case studies which have used our extensive knowledge in the field of Equine Thermography.

We hope you enjoy reading it!