The Value of Infrared Thermography in the Diagnosis and Prognosis of Injuries in Animals

In veterinary medicine, as in complimentary human medical disciplines, it is often difficult to make the proper diagnosis because of factors such as changing symptoms or the lack of diagnostically recognizable symptoms. The search for answers in such situations, coupled with the patient’s inability to communicate, is often frustrating to the veterinarian and costly to the client. The result is that such elusive problems frequently go undiagnosed for long periods of time. Infrared thermography enters into the diagnostic arena with such a problem and we suddenly have a different perspective on the entire situation. After using an infrared thermal imaging camera to take an infrared scan of the patient, we have reliable information on the potential location of the problem, and can then focus the majority of our diagnostic effort on that particular suspicious area of interest. The client benefits because progress is being made with manageable costs; the veterinarian benefits by being able to plan the correct diagnostics and subsequent treatment while maintaining professional credibility. All parties have benefited from the introduction of thermography by using an infrared thermal imaging camera into the process-and most of all, of course, is the benefit to the animal patient. Once treatment has begun, with the use of an infrared thermal imaging camera to monitor the treatment process, the veterinarian can make any changes necessary at the appropriate time, and therefore, the patient will receive the most efficacious and humane treatment and will recover in the shortest possible time. This paper will present a number of demonstration cases on cats, dogs, and horses, where thermography was used to aid in the proper diagnosis and resulted in the proper assessment and prognosis of the animals involved.