Comparison of the Surface Thermal Patterns of Horses and Donkeys in Infrared Thermography Images.
Authors: Domino Małgorzata, Romaszewski Michał, Jasiński Tomasz, Maśko Małgorzata
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
Infrared thermography is increasingly used in equine practice for diagnostic purposes, yet its application to donkeys remains poorly characterised, limiting practitioners' ability to interpret thermal images accurately across species. Researchers imaged 18 donkeys and 16 horses, measuring skin thickness and hair coat length alongside thermal imaging, then analysed 15 regions of interest grouped into 10 broader anatomical zones to identify consistent thermal patterns within and between species. Whilst thermal patterning proved largely similar between horses and donkeys, horses demonstrated substantially higher average surface temperatures (22.72±2.46°C versus 18.88±2.30°C in donkeys)—a difference attributable to variations in skin thickness and hair density rather than fundamental physiological differences. Thermal patterns correlated with broader anatomical zones rather than isolated points, and donkeys exhibited greater uniformity in their patterns, suggesting species-specific reference values and interpretation protocols will improve diagnostic reliability when using IRT in donkey practice. For farriers, vets, and other practitioners using thermography to assess joint inflammation, soft tissue injury, or vascular compromise, these findings underscore the importance of establishing donkey-specific baseline data rather than extrapolating from equine standards.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Infrared thermography baseline patterns differ between horses and donkeys, so species-specific reference ranges should be used for diagnostic interpretation
- •Thermal patterns are best analyzed by anatomical region groups rather than individual points, which may improve diagnostic consistency in clinical practice
- •When comparing thermal images between equid species, account for lower baseline temperatures in donkeys to avoid misinterpreting normal variation as pathology
Key Findings
- •Horses had significantly higher average surface temperatures (22.72±2.46°C) compared to donkeys (18.88±2.30°C)
- •Thermal patterns were similar between species but organized by groups of regions of interest (GORs) rather than individual regions
- •Donkeys demonstrated higher uniformity in thermal patterns compared to horses
- •Differences in surface temperature between species are likely related to variations in skin thickness and hair coat characteristics