Equine BodyWorks USA 

Thermal Imaging

1. How does infrared thermal imaging work?

   Infrared thermography shows differences in the amount of heat emitted from the horse’s body which are possible indicators of inflammation, irritation, disuse, poor circulation and physical stress and/or disease. The problems your farrier, vet, rider or trainer may first notice could be a hidden problem. Equine BodyWorks provides a cost-effective tool that will enable you Get the Inside View when monitoring your horse’s health and well being.

2. Does Equine BodyWorks make the diagnosis?

   Absolutely not. In keeping with veterinary practice laws, thermal imaging interpretation must be done by a licensed veterinarian, preferably one who is certified and/or experienced with thermography. EquineIR™ veterinarians through Integrated Equine Infrared perform all interpretations and provide all recommendations relating to findings.

3. What are the qualifications of the Equine BodyWorks staff?

   Your Equine BodyWorks Thermographer is a Level I Certified Thermographer and is a member of an International Network of Certified Thermographers who have been trained and certified in imaging protocols, standardized patient preparation, quality control in the imaging environment and professional reporting for Equine Thermography. Your thermographer’s role is to take high quality thermal images. These images are taken with every effort to control artifacts and provide the maximum usable information to the veterinarians for analysis comparison, interpretation and recommendations.

4. How does thermal imaging combine with my horse's normal preventive medicine program?

   Equine Thermal Imaging provides a valuable addition to existing diagnostic tools such as X-rays, CT, MRI and Ultrasound scanning offered by your vet. Thermal Imaging shows the animal’s physiological state by graphically mapping skin surface temperatures, measuring heat emitted from the body’s surface, as well as detecting circulatory and nervous system disruption. By providing a cost-effective tool in your arsenal of the diagnostics available to you, your trainers and vets, Thermal Imaging can help you to identify areas of stress, injury, or disease weeks before symptoms occur. Our EquineIR™ veterinarian’s report may be used by your veterinarian in concert with their own findings, along with your trainer’s knowledge of the animal, offering a unique opportunity for early intervention, treatment and monitoring of injuries or disease.

5. Do I receive a written report with images in Full Body scans for review by my vet and farrier?

   Yes. Our EquineIR™ veterinarians and farriers review the Thermal Images and produce a report, providing you with recommendations in 3-5 business days. In situations where you may wish to have your report faster, you may arrange for the report to be produced in 24 hours for an added charge. Equine Bodyworks can forward the report to anyone you designate, as we maintain copies of all scans and reports.

6. Does the infrared camera touch or contact my horse?

   No. Imaging is done 3-6 feet away from the horse. Equine BodyWorks utilizes the latest FLIR technology in high resolution hand-held thermal imagers, which measure heat being emitted from the horse’s body. These images are recorded digitally.

7. Do I need to bring my horse to a clinic?

   Thermal Imaging does not require that you trailer your horse to any off-site location or board them. The scanning is accomplished in 20-30 minutes.

8. Where does the imaging need to take place?

   Environmental control is critical to a successful scan. Sunlight, radiant heat from metal roofs or barn siding, fans and breezes and flooring in the barn can significantly alter a scan. Thermal Images may be taken in any clean, dry shelter with a level surface, out of the weather, out of direct sunlight and free of excess footing and/or bedding material. This can be a dry stall, out-building or barn aisle, or your vet’s examination room.

9. Does the weather affect the results of the scan?

   Yes, it can. During the summer months when ambient temperatures can exceed 85 degrees F, we request the scan take place as early in the morning as possible or in a climate-controlled environment. Cold weather, on the other hand, can require more exercise pre-scan exercise to obtain quality images of the legs and feet. And as for moisture, the patient must be dry, so horses that are wet, exposed to rain or snow cannot be scanned.

10. What is involved in my horse's preparation?

    In general, we need a clean, dry, groomed patient, free of topical medications or solutions. All leg wraps, padding and blankets should have been removed sufficiently early to allow the horse’s surface temperature to normalize with the environment. Typically, this will be approximately two (2) hours prior to a prescribed exercise regimen and the scheduled scan. We will send to you and discuss complete horse preparation instructions prior to the scan.

11. Does Equine BodyWorks use Thermal Imaging for saddle fitting?

    Yes, we do. Saddle fit is one of the most overlooked areas in your horse’s well-being. Many novices and even some professional riders forget that the saddle can cause serious injuries to your beloved horse. As your horse’s body changes through age, conditioning and training, saddle fitting becomes more important than ever. Rider symmetry, saddle fit and underlying physical problems can all affect the way your horse performs its stride, at the jump, and its overall disposition in the field or the ring. Thermography can help identify those problems and help you solve them as quickly as possible. Using Thermal Images, combined with a SaddleFit 4 Life® diagnosis if you wish, Equine BodyWorks can provide you and your horse's trainer with valuable information regarding how your saddle fits your horse’s back.