Thermal Imaging

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emalou2

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I have unexplained slight lameness on both hind legs of my mare. im considering thermal imaging. Anyone else had it done and what were your thoughts?
 
I had it done when my mare was intermittenly (sp) lame for a while and nothing showed up on x rays and she was fine on lameness assessments. Thermal image showed heat in heals, mainly in left foot, after nerve blocks and MRI scan she was diagnosed with navicular. I'm pleased to say she's doing fine :)

Wherabouts are you because I would recommend Clare from the Inner Picture
www.theinnerpicture.com
 
Well i have used clare a couple of times and after having a thermal image done by equiscan there is no comparison. Clares camera only shows heat - its basically what the police use to find people or for industrial uses. Equiscan charge more BUT they send images off to be interpreted by a vet.
I had mine done by clare in november 2011 - said all ok and not the worst back she had seen - i was still not convinced as i was sure something not right and had intermitent lameness on left fore - clares camera showed nothing - I had equiscan do her 3 weeks later and had a half body done for £200 - which i really thought was expensive and really wasnt sure i was going to have it done. Bit the bullet and so glad i did - the images are amazing, they image before and after exercise - vets report said investigate for kissing spines, issue inside leg left fore and inflammation right shoulder joint.
Pushed for referral to Svend Kold who is the leading orthopedic surgeon and he found 8 impinging vertebrae, left fore splint rubbing on suspensory. and right shoulder joint was compensating for left fore.

So in summary if you can afford it go for a company who specialise such as equiscan. Wont be as much if you want specific limbs etc. But as much as i have used clare in the past it just doesnt compare to the equiscan one - plus they get a vet to do a full report on the images (they took over 30 images of my horse - took over 1.5 before and after exercise) so well worth the money - if i hadnt had it done would i have pushed for referral after clare said she didnt think any problems?
 
In all fairness to Clare it is used to show the distribution of heat and you get the pictures on a CD so can show them to your vet, it is not a diagnostic tool as such but helps to pinpoint problem areas, saddle fit etc and gives your vet a better idea of where the problem is. Each to their own but TBH you can't go far wrong spending £55 on a full scan IMO.
 
It's all very well getting a picture of the problem area but what is it that is causing the problem? Why do joints rub together? Many cases of unexplained lameness can be traced to constricted muscles which are no longer working 100%. So, depending on the weather, the work you did yesterday, etc. your horse may or may not show up lame on any given day. Unfortunately you cannot see muscular pain so we get x-rays done. Unfortunately many vets are not experienced at palpating horses for muscular pain for the simple reason they do not learn it at college and would need to be part of a fairly forward thinking practice to learn it on the job. Have you done a full lameness work up? Tight circles on hard ground left and right walk and trot and ditto in straight line? If you post the links on the forum it would be easier to see where the problem might lie.
 
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