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Rad Dork
Posts: 5218
 
Location: Oklahoma | Is thermography a legitimate way to check arthritis?
I have a 16 year old gelding that I ran from when he was 8 until he was about 10. Decided I didn't want to ride anymore and turned him out and only rode him maybe once every year. I decided that I wanted to start running again and I had plans on trying to bring him back. He had a bad case of thrush and was sore from that, but I took him to the vet after the thrush was clearing up because he was a little off in his movements. Turns out his back right hock was inflammed and vet did x-rays and found some arthritis. The vet said on a scale of 5 he was a 2/5. Gave me the option of injecting him once for him be comfortable in the pasture, or some back again for a series of injections and he'd be better able to handle something like trail riding. I opted for the one time injection. I wish I knew what it was, but the invoice doesn't give any specifics and I'm pretty sure it went directly into the joint. This was end of February and vet told me he should be good for about six months. I turned him back out in about mid March once we kicked the thrush and the only maintance he gets is his trims.
Fast forward to a few weeks ago when I was taking my current barrel horse in for a shockwave treatment. I asked the vet (he's an equine specific vet and someone that I trust more with a performance horse) about a second opinion on the 16 year old and he told me to bring him on in and he'd take a look at him. I took him in on Friday and the vet trotted him (I honestly can't remember if he even flexed him first, but I don't think it would make sense NOT to..) in circles both ways, hoof tested his feet and used a thermographic device to look at his legs. He found no inflammation in his legs and one of his hooves were a bit senstive, but he said that could be attributed to him being barefoot and I told him that hoof was one that was most affected by the thrush early this year. He told me that it would be A-OK to start conditioning him and bring him back in a couple of months and see where he's at. He told me that on a scale of 5 he didn't think that he was anywhere near a 2, much less a 1... he thinks he would be at a .5 right now.
It seems too good to be true, so I guess I'm asking if it is! I rode him Saturday night (never breaking a walk) and he seemed to really feel good... he wanted to prance more than walk. I would love for him to be a back up horse (even though by the time he was in shape my good horse should be back), but that's not really my priority. I just want him to be comfortable, but the vet says he sees no reason why he can't be running again.
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 Worst.Housekeeper.EVER.
 
Location: Missouri | IME, the thermograph can show "hot" areas, meaning areas of inflammation. It cannot diagnose. It's a tool to show the vet where to look. If he did not take x-rays, imo, the only thing it says is that the sourrounding tissue is not currently inflamed.
However, I'm guessing most of us are running or have run a horse with arthritis. I wouldn't be scared if he is feeling good. Sounds like the injecting helped! That's great news!
Edited by just4fun 2014-10-06 7:51 PM
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 928
Location: Bigfoot Country | Thermography will only show surface temperature, period. So if he was standing in the sun, or hit his ankle in the trailer on the way there, it might so a temp difference. Very inconclusive. Thermography must be done in climate controlled area, no wind, no sun, and horse must be in that environment for at least 30 min for his skin to acclimate. Remember, thermography shows a difference within a tenth of a degree, so if not properly done, you can get false positives.
That said, I would think you could start the horse slow and see how it goes, if he comes up sore, well there's your answer. A lot of horses have arthritis and work great. Good luck! I hope he feels great! | |
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 Expert
Posts: 1261
| There was someone scanning horses after we had warmed up prior to a race one morning to show people how it worked he looked at my mare from behind and said every thing looked very even and great. Well about 4 months later she was diagnosed with severe osteoarthritis in both hocks. So I would say no! But thats just my experience and it wasn't a full on exam like what you would get if you paid. | |
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Rad Dork
Posts: 5218
Location: Oklahoma | wishes4kissez - 2014-10-06 6:14 PM There was someone scanning horses after we had warmed up prior to a race one morning to show people how it worked he looked at my mare from behind and said every thing looked very even and great. Well about 4 months later she was diagnosed with severe osteoarthritis in both hocks. So I would say no! But thats just my experience and it wasn't a full on exam like what you would get if you paid.
This is what worries me. I know the arthritis is there, I guess it just wasn't inflamed. Just wondering if he's "okay" to ride even with it there, but I guess that's what the injection was for. | |
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