In just the past severalyears, canine cameraswere heavy and cumbersome. Benefitsof lhemal lmaging sports medicine and rehabilitationre- The camera contained a chamber with search and knowledge has exploded, spinning mirrors that had to be cooled So what does this really mean to the going from a specialized fringe medi- with liquid nitrogen and had to be at- people who work with performance and cine for only racing sled and Grey- tached separatelyby . cable.Images had working dogs?For rn€, as a veterinarian, hounds to a recognized specialtyfor all to be taken off of a TV monitor screen it means that I now have a small, efficient canines, whether hiking weekend war- with a separatecamera. Today's cameras tool that fits in a suitcaseand can be re- riors or high-level agility dogs.New sur- are about the size of a large flashlight or charged off of my car battery to identify gical and rehabilitation techniqueshave SLR camera,use batteries,have wireless and monitor soft tissuestress, function, been borrowed and adapted from the data connections,can take real-time vid- and injury. Tlpically, in veterinary medi- human world, as well as developedfrom eo,and storehundreds of detailed,digital cine, our imaging diagnostic tools only scratchto meet the specificneeds of the images.Additionally, the accompanying evaluatestructure (x-raysand ultrasound) canine athlete. In the diagnostic realm, software allows post-recording analysis and then mostly only that of bone with there are new techniquesbeing used in and fine-tuning of temperatureranges to x-rays. Additionally, we can use ultra- ultrasonography, MRIs, and force plate increasedetail and definition. sound to evaluatethe structure, and thus analysis-tools with which most canine the level of injury or healing, of muscles, caretakersare familiar. However, there is tendons,and ligaments.These diagnostic one tool starting to grow in usethat is not tools, however, are considered anatomi- well-known in the caninemedical world. cal or structural imaging. In other words, It's not a new tool but rather one that ex- they tell us what the structure is doing pands a technology that has been in use but not the function; imageswill look the for decadesby the military and construc- same whether the animal (or human) is tion-infrared thermal imaging. alive or dead. Thermal imaging, on the other hand, is considered a physiologic Thermal imaging has actually been or functional imaging. It is dependenton around for decades.It is the same type nerve function affectingblood supply af- of colorful, imagery seenin the fecting radiated heat (or lack thereof). In 1987Arnold Schwarzeneggerfilm "Pred- the equine world, research (including a atori' but it diddt become practical and new studyfrom the February1,2013 issue medical affordableas a tool until the ad- of the lournal of the American Veterinary vent of digital technology.Initial analog Medical Association)has shown thermal

30 CleanRun I fuly 13 imaging to be a valid and effectivediag- Ihelhermal Imaging Pruceilurc nostic tool in not only identifying injuries before they get to a crisis stage,but also In the handsof a veterinarianor a properly- injuries not obviousto the examiner(due trained thermographictechnician, thermal to maskirg by another injury). Both the imaging is simple to perform, full of in- human medical and wildlife worlds have formation and noninvasive.Currently Ve- (www. been successfullyfinding uses for the tel Diagnosticsin San Luis Obispo technologyas well. veteldiagnostics.com)is the only veterinary training recogntzedbythe American Asso- Today'sthermal imaging cameras,with ciation of Thermologyand the only provid- their variety of lenses,can scanthe entire er offering caninetraining. The majority of down to a single toe. Dealing with dogshave no problemswith the procedure, the whole dog not only can make sure although a few dont like the reflection of that you are really getting to the injury the lens (or simply just dont like having a efficiently,but it can also ensurethat any veterinarianbehind them-go figure). The compensationsthat could affect perfor- entire dog, including feet,legs, groin, head mance later are addressedbefore they and back, can usually be scannedin less have a chanceto causeproblems. In the than 20 minutes.If a scanis performedby u hands of someonewho really under- thermographictechnician, the imagescan standsmovement mechanicsand struc- only be interpretedby u licensedveterinar- ture relationships,using thermal imag- ian. If there are concernsabout movement ing to monitor recovery after an injury stressesversus postural or standingstresses, can also help tailor rehab and training the dog can be put on a treadmill and vid- regimes to make sure that tissuesaren t eoedwith the thermal camera.This allows being stressedtoo early.Monitoring tis- evaluationof soft tissueover a set period sue'stemperature responses to work can of controlledmovement. It is important to make sure that conditioning is moving note that thermal imaging is not meant to at a pace that is appropriatefor that par- be a replacementfor a good physicalexam ticular animal'srecoverv. and it is at its bestusefulness integrated into

fuly 13 | Clean Run a completeexarn that may includeanatom- WnatGan that I like to see (everyoneis a bit dif- ical imaging such as x-rays or ultrasound. ferent in their color preferences).The Themallmaging Showfl crosshairin the middle is the tempera- Becausethermal imaging is measuring So what does thermal imaging in the ture shown in the upper right. On the heat given off by an animal, control of performance look like? My practice camera itself or within the software, I environmental factors (wind, rain, sun) dog can move both the crosshairto measure that could create mistakes (or artifacts) patients include not only agility dogs, specificareas as well asthe range. must be managed;something that is well- but also dogs that do flyball, obedience, herding, police/patrol, explosives/drug understoodand canbe worked around by Following are some examplesof how detection,wild-land search-and-rescue, someonewith appropriateunderstanding thermal imaging is used in our perfor- , and avalancherescue, of the equipment.I havebeen able to ac- mancedog practice. quire very helpful imageson site at com- sowe seea wide varietyof problems.Be- petitions provided animals and scansare fore we look at some clinical examples This is an agility dog with a strained performed out of the sun and wind. of what thermal imaging can show,here Achillestendon insertion.Notice the red is a little primer on how to interpret the spot (indicatinga warmer area)at the at- imagesfrom this particular camera.On tachment of the left Achilles tendon to the right of the imageis the temperature the hock that is not presenton the other rangescale that I usedfor that particular scan;I can changethe upper and lower limits (depending on external environ- ment) as well as how sensitiveI want the rangeto be (i.e.,now many degrees between the upper and lower ranges). Above the upper temperaturelimit and the imagewill be white; below the lower limit and the image will be black. I can adjust this during a scanto give me the best possible detail in the color range

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32 Clean Run I fuly 13 Finally...it's happening! Veterinary medicine is startingto look at performanceand workingdogs as theathletesthat theyare.

side. The presenting complaint was that lamenessafter exerciseor training. Non- A thorough exam of those areasfound the dog'stimes would start slowing down steroidalmedications had inconsistent swellingand marked pain of the toe with by the secondor third d.y of a trial. There effectsand the referring veterinarian'sra- some discomfort upon flexion of the left was no pain on palpation but the dog diographsof the hind legsshowed no ob- carpus (wrist). Radiographsof the toe would visibly stopjumping or slow down vious boney or joint problems.Thermal did not show any fractures so a severe after severalminutes of running around. scan showed marked heat of the inside sprainwith possiblejoint laxity wasdiag- X-rays showedno changes.This dog was toe of the right front leg (the limb on the nosed.The dog was treatedwith ice, cold managedwith rest, acupuncture,and left side of the image)with somechanges laser, support wraps, and homeopathic manual therapy. She was not allowed to in the left wrist (leg image on the right). remedies.The dog returned to compe- go back into work until the hot spot was tition 16 weeks later with no problems gone and the tendon was monitored after (and the owner was better about keeping exercisefor an additional eight weeks. the nailstrimmed).

This is a cranial view (from the front) Heat is not the only abnormality that of an agility dog's front legs. This dog can show up. Cool areasare also signs of had a three- month history of knock- problems.Areas can becomecold if there ing bars when he approachedfrom a left is pain (nerve reflexeswill constrict blood turn. Eventually,his issuesprogressed to vesselsin the area) or if there is edema him being unable to maintain his weave or bruising. In the scan on the following poles. At presentationfor the scan,he page,you can see a cooler, green area in had started to manifest a slight, vague this agility dog's flank which was putry

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|uly 13 | Clean Run and painful to the touch; the culprit was down toward the stifle have cooled down InGonolusion thought to be bruising from some body- after the acupuncturetreatment. Note that Thermal imaging can give performance slamming with other dogs in the house.It even though this dog has a thicker hair and trainers and caretak- manifested by the dog suddenly jumping coat (a common criticism of thermal ac- ers (including their veterinarians) a new so flatly that he was knocking down rails curacy), usableimages were still attained. tool for not only diagnosing an existing and refusing the A-frame and dogwalk. soft tissue injury, but actually catchirg problems in the early stages.To a sports medicine practitioner, those early stages of injury arc when problems are easierto addresswith less time off and less poten- tial for long-term or serious tissue dam- age. High-drive dogs can be difficult in that way becausemany wont tell us that they have an issue cooking until they are already three-legged or cant move their necks or backs. Thermal imaging either as a regular part of maintenance or even when an animal is 'ADR' (ain t doin UsinglhemallmaUing right) can provide significant clues. It t0[l0nit01 lreatment shows us "what we didnt know we didnt knowl' The abnormal temperature hints Often I use thermal imaging to monitor of cool or warm may not tell exactly what acupuncture or chiropractic treatments. the problem is, but in properly trained Here are two pictures, before and after hands attachedto a thinking mind, it can acupuncture treatment for hip problems identiff where to start looking. This not in an aging avalanchedog; note how in just only savestime and money (by not having half an hour (the photos are time-marked) to x-ray or ultrasound everythhg), but it the warmer areasaround the left hip and can also point out compensation stress points that can be addressedearly-on with massage,stretching, chiropractic, acu- puncture, or rehabilitation therapies.l*

After receivingher veterinarydegree from PurdueUniversity in 1986 Dr. Hennemancompleted certification in veterinaryacupuncture (IVAS) in 1991and vetefinary chiropractic(AVCA) in 1993.She is only one of | 5 veterinartansin the USto hold advoncedveterinary acupuncturc certification. Her practice coversall of the USand exclusivelyinvolves the useof integrativetherapiu in chronic diseaseond sportsmedicine (equine/canine). Dr. Hennemonhos worked closely with SAR,police, and competitivedogs and their handlersfor over 15 yeorcand sheorganized the securityanimal sportsmedicine center at the2(n2 WinterOlympics, incorporating thermal imaging and integrativetheropies. As well as speakingat numerousconferences and writing for magazinesond textbooks,she continues to be o trail veterinarianfor the lditarod SledDog race,

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