Thermographic evaluation of horses with podotrochlosis.

This research involves the study of thermal images of horses with and without podotrochlosis, a foot disease in horses, to understand temperature changes and patterns before and after exercise. It revealed that in horses with podotrochlosis, an increase in temperature of the limbs post-exercise is less than that of normal horses, indicating lower blood flow.

Objective of the Study

• This study aimed at determining and comparing thermal patterns, temperature distribution, and temperature changes in horses with and without the foot disease, podotrochlosis, by employing a thermographic scan before and after exercise.

Methods Used in this Study

• Initially, the forelimbs of 10 clinically normal horses were thermographically scanned, both before and after exercise. A peculiarity in the method was that hair on one of the limbs of the horse was clipped.
• The researchers then used this data to assess thermal patterns, temperature distribution, and changes in temperature after exercise.
• Next, the same process and evaluation were performed on 8 horses known to have podotrochlosis.

Findings from the Study

• The results obtained showed that clipping of the hair on the horse limb did not bring any noticeable changes to the thermal patterns. Although, the researchers observed that the clipped limbs did have higher temperature than the unclipped ones.
• Furthermore, it was noted that the temperature of the limbs of horses with podotrochlosis did not dramatically increase after exercising as compared to the limbs of normal horses.
• This observed failure to increase skin temperature in podotrochlosis affected horses after exercise was associated with radiographic proof of enlarged vascular foramina in the navicular bone, which is a condition indicating low blood flow.

Conclusion from this Study

• The study concluded that the failure to increase skin temperature after exercise in horses with podotrochlosis is an outcome of low blood flow, justifying the presence of an enlarged vascular foramen.
• The results of the study can be effectively utilized for diagnosing and managing the condition of podotrochlosis in horses by monitoring temperature changes and blood flow.