Infrared Thermography in Equine Practice
Authors: Čebulj Kadunc Nina, Frangež Robert, Kruljc Peter
Journal: Veterinarska stanica
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Infrared Thermography in Equine Practice Infrared thermography captures thermal radiation emitted from the horse's body surface to create detailed temperature distribution maps, enabling non-invasive visualisation of physiological and pathological changes reflected in skin temperature patterns. The technique detects alterations in superficial heat that correspond to underlying variations in blood flow and metabolic activity—changes triggered by exercise, inflammation, infection, trauma and environmental factors—making it applicable across diagnostic and welfare assessment contexts. Thermography shows particular utility in evaluating inflammatory conditions and tracking healing progression over time, whilst its use in detecting performance-enhancing procedures at competition offers valuable integrity safeguards. However, the authors emphasise critical limitations: thermal imaging should complement rather than replace conventional diagnostic methods such as clinical examination, ultrasound, radiography and lameness assessment, as surface temperature changes alone cannot definitively distinguish between different underlying pathologies or confirm specific diagnoses. For equine professionals integrating thermography into practice, this means the technology works best as an adjunctive screening tool—identifying areas of concern warranting further investigation—rather than as a standalone diagnostic solution.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Consider thermal imaging as a non-invasive screening tool for inflammation and soft tissue injury, particularly useful for early detection before lameness becomes apparent
- •Use thermography to objectively monitor healing progression during rehabilitation, but always correlate findings with clinical examination and other diagnostic imaging
- •Understand that thermal imaging cannot replace ultrasound, radiography, or clinical assessment—it should complement your existing diagnostic approach
Key Findings
- •Infrared thermography is a non-invasive method that detects surface temperature changes reflecting blood flow and metabolic rate changes in horses
- •Thermography can be used to diagnose inflammatory conditions and monitor healing progression in equine patients
- •The technique has applications in research for detecting illegal performance-enhancing procedures and assessing equine welfare
- •Thermography should be used as a complementary diagnostic tool rather than as a standalone diagnostic method due to inherent limitations