Analyze Diet
Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)2001; 162(3); 172-181; doi: 10.1053/tvjl.2001.0618

The role of thermography in the management of equine lameness.

Abstract: Equine thermography has increased in popularity recently because of improvements in thermal cameras and advances in image-processing software. The basic principle of thermography involves the transformation of surface heat from an object into a pictorial representation. The colour gradients generated reflect differences in the emitted heat. Variations from normal can be used to detect lameness or regions of inflammation in horses. Units can be so sensitive that flexor tendon injuries can be detected before the horse develops clinical lameness. Thermography has been used to evaluate several different clinical syndromes not only in the diagnosis of inflammation but also to monitor the progression of healing. Thermography has important applications in research for the detection of illegal performance-enhancing procedures at athletic events.
Publication Date: 2001-10-30 PubMed ID: 11681868DOI: 10.1053/tvjl.2001.0618Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
  • Journal Article
  • Review

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article discusses the increased use of thermography in managing lameness in horses. It covers improvements in thermal imaging technology and its importance in detecting and monitoring ailments such as inflammation and tendon injuries.

Role of Thermography

Thermography has become a beneficial tool in equine healthcare. The key principle behind this technology is how it:

  • Transforms surface heat into a visual display (thermogram).
  • Utilises colour gradients to represent heat emission variations.

Detecting Lameness and Inflammation

The research presents the advantages of thermography in detecting health issues in horses. Through the use of thermal imaging:

  • Detection of lameness and inflammations has become more accurate.
  • Sensitive units can identify flexor tendon injuries even before clinical signs of lameness appear.

Monitoring Progress of Healing

The authors emphasise the use of thermography not just in diagnosing injuries but also in monitoring horses’ healing process. The technique can provide:

  • Insight into the progression of recovery from injuries or inflammations.
  • Data that can help in refining treatments or adapting rehabilitative practices based on the healing progress.

Applications in Research and Sport Integrity

The authors also highlight the use of thermography in maintaining integrity in equestrian sports by:

  • Detecting any illegal performance-enhancing procedures in horse racing events.
  • Providing data that could be used to disqualify competitors who breach ethical standards.

Cite This Article

APA
Eddy AL, Van Hoogmoed LM, Snyder JR. (2001). The role of thermography in the management of equine lameness. Vet J, 162(3), 172-181. https://doi.org/10.1053/tvjl.2001.0618

Publication

ISSN: 1090-0233
NlmUniqueID: 9706281
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 162
Issue: 3
Pages: 172-181

Researcher Affiliations

Eddy, A L
  • Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
Van Hoogmoed, L M
    Snyder, J R

      MeSH Terms

      • Animals
      • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
      • Horses
      • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
      • Lameness, Animal / diagnosis
      • Lameness, Animal / etiology
      • Software
      • Thermography / veterinary

      Citations

      This article has been cited 39 times.
      1. Herlofson EAG, Tavola F, Engdahl KS, Bergström AF. Evaluation of primary wound healing and potential complications after perioperative infiltration with lidocaine without adrenaline in surgical incisions in dogs and cats.. Acta Vet Scand 2023 Jun 13;65(1):21.
        doi: 10.1186/s13028-023-00686-xpubmed: 37312211google scholar: lookup
      2. Riaz U, Idris M, Ahmed M, Ali F, Yang L. Infrared Thermography as a Potential Non-Invasive Tool for Estrus Detection in Cattle and Buffaloes.. Animals (Basel) 2023 Apr 21;13(8).
        doi: 10.3390/ani13081425pubmed: 37106988google scholar: lookup
      3. Werema CW, Laven LJ, Mueller KR, Laven RA. Assessing Alternatives to Locomotion Scoring for Detecting Lameness in Dairy Cattle in Tanzania: Infrared Thermography.. Animals (Basel) 2023 Apr 17;13(8).
        doi: 10.3390/ani13081372pubmed: 37106935google scholar: lookup
      4. Zaha C, Schuszler L, Dascalu R, Nistor P, Florea T, Imre K, Rujescu C, Sicoe B, Igna C. Evaluation of Thermal Changes of the Sole Surface in Horses with Palmar Foot Pain: A Pilot Study.. Biology (Basel) 2023 Mar 10;12(3).
        doi: 10.3390/biology12030423pubmed: 36979115google scholar: lookup
      5. Gulliksen SM, Framstad T, Kielland C, Velazquez MA, Terøy MM, Helland EM, Lyngstad RH, Delgado AJO, Oropeza-Moe M. Infrared thermography as a possible technique for the estimation of parturition onset in sows.. Porcine Health Manag 2023 Feb 1;9(1):3.
        doi: 10.1186/s40813-022-00301-xpubmed: 36721224google scholar: lookup
      6. Martins JN, Silva SR. Use of Infrared Thermography to Assess Body Temperature as a Physiological Stress Indicator in Horses during Ridden and Lunging Sessions.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Nov 23;12(23).
        doi: 10.3390/ani12233255pubmed: 36496777google scholar: lookup
      7. Aragona F, Di Pietro S, Arfuso F, Fazio F, Piccione G, Giudice E, Giannetto C. Correlation between Ocular and Rectal Temperature with Intra Ocular Pressure in Horse during Exercise.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Jul 21;12(14).
        doi: 10.3390/ani12141850pubmed: 35883399google scholar: lookup
      8. Domino M, Borowska M, Kozłowska N, Trojakowska A, Zdrojkowski Ł, Jasiński T, Smyth G, Maśko M. Selection of Image Texture Analysis and Color Model in the Advanced Image Processing of Thermal Images of Horses following Exercise.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Feb 12;12(4).
        doi: 10.3390/ani12040444pubmed: 35203152google scholar: lookup
      9. Zheng S, Zhou C, Jiang X, Huang J, Xu D. Progress on Infrared Imaging Technology in Animal Production: A Review.. Sensors (Basel) 2022 Jan 18;22(3).
        doi: 10.3390/s22030705pubmed: 35161450google scholar: lookup
      10. Domino M, Borowska M, Kozłowska N, Zdrojkowski Ł, Jasiński T, Smyth G, Maśko M. Advances in Thermal Image Analysis for the Detection of Pregnancy in Horses Using Infrared Thermography.. Sensors (Basel) 2021 Dec 28;22(1).
        doi: 10.3390/s22010191pubmed: 35009733google scholar: lookup
      11. Werema CW, Laven L, Mueller K, Laven R. Evaluating Alternatives to Locomotion Scoring for Lameness Detection in Pasture-Based Dairy Cows in New Zealand: Infra-Red Thermography.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Dec 6;11(12).
        doi: 10.3390/ani11123473pubmed: 34944250google scholar: lookup
      12. Kroustallas FG, Papadopoulos GA, Chalvatzi S, Skampardonis V, Leontides L, Fortomaris P. Infrared Thermography Evaluation of Feet Temperature and Its Association with Claw Lengths and Anisodactylia in Purebred Sows of Three Greek Herds.. Vet Sci 2021 Dec 6;8(12).
        doi: 10.3390/vetsci8120309pubmed: 34941836google scholar: lookup
      13. Gelasakis AI, Kalogianni AI, Moschovas M, Tsimpouri E, Pnevmatikos T, Bossis I, Arsenos G, Simitzis P. Evaluation of Infrared Thermography for the Detection of Footrot and White Line Disease Lesions in Dairy Sheep.. Vet Sci 2021 Oct 5;8(10).
        doi: 10.3390/vetsci8100219pubmed: 34679049google scholar: lookup
      14. O' Brien C, Pegg J. A Preliminary Investigation into Ridden Water Submersion Training as an Adjunct to Current Condition Training Protocols in Performance Horses.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Sep 7;11(9).
        doi: 10.3390/ani11092629pubmed: 34573594google scholar: lookup
      15. Mota-Rojas D, Wang D, Titto CG, Gómez-Prado J, Carvajal-de la Fuente V, Ghezzi M, Boscato-Funes L, Barrios-García H, Torres-Bernal F, Casas-Alvarado A, Martínez-Burnes J. Pathophysiology of Fever and Application of Infrared Thermography (IRT) in the Detection of Sick Domestic Animals: Recent Advances.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Aug 5;11(8).
        doi: 10.3390/ani11082316pubmed: 34438772google scholar: lookup
      16. Proios I, Kusenda M, Seiler C, Siewert C, Seifert H, Kaske M. Postoperative wound assessment in cattle: How reliable is the back hand palpation?. Ir Vet J 2021 Jun 16;74(1):16.
        doi: 10.1186/s13620-021-00195-1pubmed: 34134768google scholar: lookup
      17. Mieszkowska M, Adamiak Z, Holak P, Głodek J, Jastrzębska E, Wolińska K, Mieszkowski M. The Effect of Horse Shoeing with Egg Bar Shoes and Shoes with Wedge Pads on the Results of Thermal Imaging of the Equine Distal Limb.. Animals (Basel) 2021 May 21;11(6).
        doi: 10.3390/ani11061479pubmed: 34063756google scholar: lookup
      18. Idris M, Uddin J, Sullivan M, McNeill DM, Phillips CJC. Non-Invasive Physiological Indicators of Heat Stress in Cattle.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jan 2;11(1).
        doi: 10.3390/ani11010071pubmed: 33401687google scholar: lookup
      19. Domino M, Romaszewski M, Jasiński T, Maśko M. Comparison of the Surface Thermal Patterns of Horses and Donkeys in Infrared Thermography Images.. Animals (Basel) 2020 Nov 24;10(12).
        doi: 10.3390/ani10122201pubmed: 33255408google scholar: lookup
      20. Deak FLGB, Chacur MGM, de Souza CD, Andrade IB, Cornacini GF, Garcia AR, Gabriel LRA. Effects of physiological stage and season on infrared thermograms of different body areas of dairy cows raised under tropical conditions.. Anim Reprod 2019 Oct 23;16(2):311-316.
      21. Witkowska-Piłaszewicz O, Maśko M, Domino M, Winnicka A. Infrared Thermography Correlates with Lactate Concentration in Blood during Race Training in Horses.. Animals (Basel) 2020 Nov 9;10(11).
        doi: 10.3390/ani10112072pubmed: 33182281google scholar: lookup
      22. Silveira YGD, Kajiura C, Bernardes FJL, Maria SP, Fernandes MP, Frasson MT, Cassino P, Moreira SH, Gómez JLÁ, Pazzini JM, Nardi AB, Moraes PC. Use of thermography in skin grafts after the application of therapeutic ultrasound in Wistar rats.. Acta Cir Bras 2020;35(7):e202000703.
      23. Weimer SL, Wideman RF, Scanes CG, Mauromoustakos A, Christensen KD, Vizzier-Thaxton Y. Broiler stress responses to light intensity, flooring type, and leg weakness as assessed by heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratios, serum corticosterone, infrared thermography, and latency to lie.. Poult Sci 2020 Jul;99(7):3301-3311.
        doi: 10.1016/j.psj.2020.03.028pubmed: 32616223google scholar: lookup
      24. Repac J, Alvarez LX, Lamb K, Gillette RL. Evaluation of Thermographic Imaging in Canine Hindlimb Muscles After 6 Min of Walking-A Pilot Study.. Front Vet Sci 2020;7:224.
        doi: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00224pubmed: 32426382google scholar: lookup
      25. Cândido MGL, Tinôco IFF, Albino LFT, Freitas LCSR, Santos TC, Cecon PR, Gates RS. Effects of heat stress on pullet cloacal and body temperature.. Poult Sci 2020 May;99(5):2469-2477.
        doi: 10.1016/j.psj.2019.11.062pubmed: 32359582google scholar: lookup
      26. Kornicka-Garbowska K, Pędziwiatr R, Woźniak P, Kucharczyk K, Marycz K. Microvesicles isolated from 5-azacytidine-and-resveratrol-treated mesenchymal stem cells for the treatment of suspensory ligament injury in horse-a case report.. Stem Cell Res Ther 2019 Dec 18;10(1):394.
        doi: 10.1186/s13287-019-1469-5pubmed: 31852535google scholar: lookup
      27. Sung J, Loughin C, Marino D, Leyva F, Dewey C, Umbaugh S, Lesser M. Medical infrared thermal imaging of canine appendicular bone neoplasia.. BMC Vet Res 2019 Dec 3;15(1):430.
        doi: 10.1186/s12917-019-2180-6pubmed: 31796069google scholar: lookup
      28. Seuser A, Kurnik K, Mahlein AK. Infrared Thermography as a Non-Invasive Tool to Explore Differences in the Musculoskeletal System of Children with Hemophilia Compared to an Age-Matched Healthy Group.. Sensors (Basel) 2018 Feb 8;18(2).
        doi: 10.3390/s18020518pubmed: 29419797google scholar: lookup
      29. Yang JM, Lee JH. Is Kinesio Taping to Generate Skin Convolutions Effective for Increasing Local Blood Circulation?. Med Sci Monit 2018 Jan 14;24:288-293.
        doi: 10.12659/msm.905708pubmed: 29332101google scholar: lookup
      30. Garcia EFV, Loughin CA, Marino DJ, Sackman J, Umbaugh SE, Fu J, Subedi S, Lesser ML, Akerman M, Schossler JEW. Medical infrared imaging and orthostatic analysis to determine lameness in the pelvic limbs of dogs.. Open Vet J 2017;7(4):342-348.
        doi: 10.4314/ovj.v7i4.10pubmed: 29296594google scholar: lookup
      31. Schuster A, Thielecke M, Raharimanga V, Ramarokoto CE, Rogier C, Krantz I, Feldmeier H. High-resolution infrared thermography: a new tool to assess tungiasis-associated inflammation of the skin.. Trop Med Health 2017;45:23.
        doi: 10.1186/s41182-017-0062-9pubmed: 28919835google scholar: lookup
      32. Van Nuffel A, Zwertvaegher I, Van Weyenberg S, Pastell M, Thorup VM, Bahr C, Sonck B, Saeys W. Lameness Detection in Dairy Cows: Part 2. Use of Sensors to Automatically Register Changes in Locomotion or Behavior.. Animals (Basel) 2015 Aug 28;5(3):861-85.
        doi: 10.3390/ani5030388pubmed: 26479390google scholar: lookup
      33. Alsaaod M, Schaefer AL, Büscher W, Steiner A. The Role of Infrared Thermography as a Non-Invasive Tool for the Detection of Lameness in Cattle.. Sensors (Basel) 2015 Jun 18;15(6):14513-25.
        doi: 10.3390/s150614513pubmed: 26094632google scholar: lookup
      34. Amezcua R, Walsh S, Luimes PH, Friendship RM. Infrared thermography to evaluate lameness in pregnant sows.. Can Vet J 2014 Mar;55(3):268-72.
        pubmed: 24587511
      35. Pérez de Diego AC, Sánchez-Cordón PJ, Pedrera M, Martínez-López B, Gómez-Villamandos JC, Sánchez-Vizcaíno JM. The use of infrared thermography as a non-invasive method for fever detection in sheep infected with bluetongue virus.. Vet J 2013 Oct;198(1):182-6.
        doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2013.07.013pubmed: 24053993google scholar: lookup
      36. Hildebrandt C, Raschner C, Ammer K. An overview of recent application of medical infrared thermography in sports medicine in Austria.. Sensors (Basel) 2010;10(5):4700-15.
        doi: 10.3390/s100504700pubmed: 22399901google scholar: lookup
      37. Gloster J, Ebert K, Gubbins S, Bashiruddin J, Paton DJ. Normal variation in thermal radiated temperature in cattle: implications for foot-and-mouth disease detection.. BMC Vet Res 2011 Nov 21;7:73.
        doi: 10.1186/1746-6148-7-73pubmed: 22104039google scholar: lookup
      38. Rainwater-Lovett K, Pacheco JM, Packer C, Rodriguez LL. Detection of foot-and-mouth disease virus infected cattle using infrared thermography.. Vet J 2009 Jun;180(3):317-24.
        doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2008.01.003pubmed: 18308596google scholar: lookup
      39. Holmes LC, Gaughan EM, Gorondy DA, Hogge S, Spire MF. The effect of perineural anesthesia on infrared thermographic images of the forelimb digits of normal horses.. Can Vet J 2003 May;44(5):392-6.
        pubmed: 12757130