Winning Touch Equine Services
With thermal imaging we can pinpoint problem areas early and begin treatment.
Using an infrared camera, thermal imaging looks at blood flow and circulation. The camera detects circulation changes in your horse’s body.
When trauma or injury occurs, chemical reactions occur that increase blood flow to the area. Thermal imaging detects the inflammation occurring as a “hotspot”. Meanwhile, abnormally cool areas may also be detected indicating poor circulation, arthritis, nerve damage, oedema or muscle wastage.
Your Horse Magazine, December, 2018.
Winning Touch Equine Services can save you time and money using thermal imaging. Used as a diagnostic tool, thermal imaging can localize trauma quickly. A complete scan, including 21 images, takes around 20-minutes with the images provided to you and your veterinarian.
For your peace of mind, thermal imaging is completely non-invasive and pain free.
Thermal imaging can be used to identify a host of issues including:
~ Ligament and tendon damage
~ Back and spine issues
~ Laminitis and navicular syndrome
~ Muscle strain
~ Nerve damage
~ Bone injuries, splints and stress fractures
~ Arthritis Sacroiliac injury
~ Saddle fitting
Your Horse Magazine, December 2018
Proper saddle fit is one of the most important things you can do for your horse. An ill-fitting saddle is often the cause of lower limb injuries or performance issues.
If a saddle hurts, the horse will change the way they move to protect the body. This can lead to weight imbalance and, in turn, cause back, joint or tendon issues.
Saddle fit imaging should be done at least every 2 years and more frequently for young horses that are growing and changing shape. Good saddle fit will ensure your horse's best performance.
Thermal imaging can also detect rider balance issues. Imaging can clearly show if a rider is sitting lopsided in the saddle. Correcting a rider’s posture may be a simple way to relieve a horse’s sore back.
Besides detecting injury and trauma, thermal imaging is an effective monitoring tool for working or competition horses. Getting a full body scan to act as a baseline, we can later identify small changes before they become larger issues.
Will you be able to give me a diagnosis?
Thermal images show variations in temperature across the surface of the horse. This means they cannot show internal structures or be used to provide a diagnosis. They do however give us clues as to where there may be an issue. Many times, a horse may not show any sign of lameness, but they may start exhibiting behaviours that make us wonder if something is wrong, such as refusing to pick up the correct lead, stiffness turning in one direction, refusing jumps or bucking. Increased heat in an area shown on a thermal image can indicate pain and inflammation which can then be investigated further with help from your veterinarian.
How long does a session take?
Sessions take about an hour
Is there anything I need to do before the session?
Your horse will need to be kept out of sunlight for at least 2 hours prior to the session and we will need an area to work in that is out of the sun. Your horse will also need to be clean, dry and free of any type of fly spray.
