Thermal imaging

[poiuytrewq]

What do we think of it? I've seen an advert for a imager to come out and do full body images which I find really interesting. I know pretty much what my boys problem areas are so probably won't learn a huge amount from it but would like to rule other things out.
Has anyone used it? What's generally the going rate?

 

[Copperpot]

I've used it. Both my horses got a full body scan a few years ago. It was free as the lady was training and I knew one had an old injury and wanted to see what showed up. Also used it again recently and had front feet and back done. My vet said it has it's uses, especially when you don't know exactly where the horse has problems.

I paid £60 for front feet and back.

 

[JillA]

I used it when I was trying to find out why my horse just didn't seem to be 100%. Showed up a few areas of pain/inflammation (hamstrings, loins, and also sensitive soles) - vet didn't think it was a tool to be relied on though. I found it useful for those non specific concerns you might have, but the caveat is it really only can highlight areas of inflammation, close to the surface rather than any deep seated ones.

 

[khalswitz]

Some vets can be funny about it - lots of them have read the 1996 paper and nothing since that, so dot really understand how practices have moved on...

It reads surface temp, so will show up musculoskeletal stuff but nothing internal. One my friends used it to monitor a recovering tendon injury, and her vet was very impressed with it for that, as it was really clear how the tendon was recovering. I've also heard its good for horses with intermittent/ hard to diagnose lamenesses, and horses who just aren't quite right.

I get a full scan done every three months (get a good deal because I do it regularly) and about a week after any big events for performance management - lets you see how their body is coping. My thermographer said there are studies which have shown thermography can pick up abnormal heat in tendons three weeks before clinic signs, so it is really good for monitoring performance animals. She scans Lot of sj, eventers and endurance horses, especially during fittening and during the season.

 

[Vodkagirly]

I watched a horse being scanned at the weekend. The company charge £49 per horse for the whole horse. I found it really interesting and the people were happy to answer questions and let me have a play with the camera.
My friends horse has had low level on/off lameness but currently sound nothing was found. Another who has had hock issues the scan showed issues on the knee.
For the price I would definetly consider it as a once over. One use they mentioned was alongside a vetting which I thought may be better than xrays.

 

[MerrySherryRider]

I found it quite useful with a ligament injury.

 

[MiniMilton]

I thought it was great. I suspected that there was something wrong with my horse for months despite him trotting up completely sound. Physio's, Osteo's etc dismissed it as all being in my head. It highlighted two areas of the back. I brought him to a veterinary hospital for x-rays and scans and it turns out he had 2 significant injuries in those areas. I wouldnt have known where to start investigating otherwise. My horse obviously has an extremely high pain threshold and was managing to work despite these injuries. He just felt different and looked a little depressed.