Underlying Back Problems Diagnosed With Thermal Imaging
Equine Back Problems & Pain
If your horse starts to display uncharacteristic tendencies such as dipping, flinching or nipping when groomed or tacked-up, a poor or reduced performance, unevenness or unlevel gaits, is crooked to ride, carries his tail to one side, is disunited or bucking into canter or rearing or bucking when mounted, it may be due to pain under saddle. Marquis Thermal Imaging can pinpoint where any issues are, allowing your chosen professional to administer a course of treatment targeted at this spot, and for you to see the results. Follow-up sessions can ensure your horse returns to work at the optimal time, and allow you to easily monitor the treatment progress. Most bad backs in horses are actually a secondary problem. Marquis Thermal Imaging can help to identify the seat of the primary cause, so this can also be rectified.
Our Thermal Imaging cameras can detect the smallest of temperature changes. Very distinctive thermal patterns are present where joint injury or degeneration is present, or has been present in the horse. In chronic pain syndromes or chronic degenerative processes such as arthritis, there is initially an increase in blood flow which presents as an increase in joint temperature. Over time the horse will stop using the joint and the inflammation will decrease, but the pain remains. You will see constriction and the joint appears cooler than previously. The Thermal Imaging cameras used by us are extremely sensitive and can detect the subtle temperature changes associated with joint problems - one of the biggest causes of lameness in a horse.
Is Your Horse Being Naughty or In Pain? Not Sure?
Thermal imaging reveals stress through riding or lungeing . Most importantly is the horses vertebrae column. Riding and lungeing will have an impact on the spine, especially if the horse's spine is subjected to inverted rotation forces which will then reflect in the horses limbs. If a rider sits off center or rushes the horse forward onto the forehand, stress and inflammation will be seen in the legs, joints, tendons and spine. Stress in the lower joints can be pin pointed before they turn into boney changes. Changes in riding can made to aid in recovery for the horse.We recommend your riding Instructor be present or someone familiar with your riding style. A poorly fitted saddle could be your horses problem!
After your Scan we will send you a full report by email once the images have been processed, usually in a day or so.
Other Common Back Related Problems That Can Found
Pelvis Injury
Sacroilac Injury
Sacroilac Injury
This mare had a pelvis injury in the paddock. Not totally sure what happened. Visually the pelvis on the right sign in the flank region is indented and the pelvis assymmetrical. This was taken approximately 2 months after the injury. There is an extreme difference in temperature and pattern. Heat spots are shown. Also the right stifle region is effected. The view of the pelvis shows the glutues on right side and sacroiliac region is inflammed.
This mare received treatment and was bought back into work slowly. 8months later she had not recovered so she will be a brood mare. Thermal imaging was able to show areas of pain and inflammation.
Sacroilac Injury
Sacroilac Injury
Sacroilac Injury
This horse suffered a sacroilac strain. The rider was experiencing difficulty riding. The horse would kick out in walk and trot and was unable to canter. The rider was not sure if the horse was being naughty. On investigation the sacroiliac showed extreme inflammation and swelling was also present. The horse was treated by an osteopath, massage therapist and received light therapy from the owner. In a few months thr horse was ready to go back to work. Thermal imaging pin pointed the reason for the behaviour and enabled the rider to start a therapy program.
Hamstring Pull
Sacroilac Injury
Normal Thermal Back Pattern
This horse had injuried its hamstring. With Thermal Imaging it was easy to detect, with time off the horse was back to normal.
Normal Thermal Back Pattern
Normal Thermal Back Pattern
On the back, the normal dorsal stripe is the same width all the way down the back. We are looking for symmetry on both sides.
Nerve Damage
When interrupted, by pressure from vertebral disks, the dorsal cutaneous branch of the spinal segmental nerve sends off a warm ‘nerve root signature’, seen as a widening of the stripe, or an off-shooting horizontal line intersecting the dorsal stripe. Occassionally cooler patches are seen, or a mixture of the two.
Prepare Your Horse For Our Visit
How to prepare your Horse for Equine Infrared Thermal Imaging. The protocols to be followed when conducting Equine Thermography. How to prepare your Horse for Equine Infrared Thermal Imaging. The procedures are to be followed when conducting Equine Thermography Scan.
