Page 188 - The Veterinary Care of the Horse

such as the horse’s head where multiple soft tissue and bony structures overlap as the images

can be reconstructed to show the three-dimensional structures in any plane. CT provides
VetBooks.ir much more detail than traditional X-rays.

Modern CT scanners can scan the head and neck of standing, sedated horses, which
avoids the risks of general anaesthesia. Detailed images of the teeth, sinuses,

temporomandibular joints (TMJ), brain, blood vessels and the bones of the skull are obtained,
which can help with the diagnosis of neurological disease, head trauma, sinus and dental
problems, tumours and the investigation of conditions such as headshaking.

Whole body scans may be performed on foals and small ponies but this and the imaging

of the lower limbs of horses requires general anaesthesia.

THERMOGRAPHY

What is thermography?

Thermography is a non-invasive imaging technique where infrared radiation emitted from the

skin surface of a horse is detected by a special hand held camera. This produces an image of
the horse that is made up of several colours, each of which represents a particular
temperature on the skin surface.

Normal thermographic patterns for the horse have been established. The variations that

occur in body temperature of a normal horse are bilaterally symmetrical. When tissue is
injured or diseased, the thermographic image reflects any change in blood flow. ‘Hot-spots’
which have an increased blood flow are usually associated with inflammation. Where the

local tissue perfusion decreases due to loss of blood supply, ‘cold-spots’ are recorded.

What is it used for?

Thermography may be used to detect:
• areas of superficial inflammation with an increased blood supply, e.g.

– tendonitis

– suspensory desmitis

– plantar ligament desmitis

– laminitis, corns, abscesses, bruises and fractures of the foot
– bucked shins, splints, stress fractures of the radius and tibia

– developing osteoarthritis