In just the past several years, canine cameras were heavy and cumbersome. Benefits ol lhetmal lmauing sports medicine and rehabilitation re- 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 spectahzed fringe medi- with liquid nitrogen and had to be at- people who work with performance and cine for only racing sled dogs and Grey- tached separately by a cable. Images had working dogs? For rn€, as a veterinarian, hounds to a recogntzed specialty for 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 separate cam era. Today's cameras tool that fits in a suitcase and 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 techniques have SLR camera, use batteries, have wireless and monitor soft tissue stress, function, been borrowed and adapted from the data connections, can take real-time vid- and injury. Typically, in veterinary medi- human world, as well as developed from eo, and store hundreds of detailed, digital cine, our imaging diagnostic tools only scratch to meet the specific needs of the images. Additionally, the accompanying evaluate structure (x-rays and ultrasound) canine athlete. In the diagnostic realm, software allows post-recording analysis and then mostly only that of bone with there are new techniques being used in and fine-tuning of temperature ranges to x-rays. Additionally, we can use ultra- ultrasonography, MRIs, and force plate increase detail and definition. sound to evaluate the structure, and thus analysis-tools with which most canine the level of injury or healing, of muscles, caretakers are familiar. However, there is tendons, and ligaments. These diagnostic one tool starting to grow in use that is not tools, however, are considered anatomi- well-known in the canine medical world. cal or structural rmaging. 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; images will look the for decades by 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 dependent on around for decades. It is the same type nerve function affecting blood supply af- of colorful, tracking imagery seen in the fecting radiated heat (or lack thereof). In "Pred- 1987 Arnold Schwarzenegger film the equine world, research (including a atori' but it didn t become practical and new study from the February t,2013 issue affordable as a medical tool until the ad- of the lournal of the American Veterinary vent of digital technology. Initial analog Medical Association) has shown thermal

30 Clean Run | |uly 13 imaging to be a valid and effective diag- Ihe lhermal lmaging Procedure nostic tool in not only identifying injuries before they get to a crisis stage, but also In the hands of a veterinarian or a properly- injuries not obvious to the examiner (due trained thermographic technician, thermal to maskirg by another injury). Both the imaging is simple to perform, fulI of in- human medical and wildlife worlds have formation and noninvasive. Currently Ve- been successfully finding uses for the tel Diagnostics in San Luis Obispo (www. technology as well. veteldiagnostics.com) is the only veterinary training recogntzedby the American Asso- Today's thermal imaging cameras, with ciation of Thermology and the only provid- their variety of lenses, can scan the entire er offering canine training. The majority of dog down to a single toe. Dealing with dogs have no problems with the procedure, the whole dog not only can make sure although a few dont like the reflection of that are really getting you to the injury the lens (or simply just dont like having a efficiently, but it can also ensure that any veterinarian behind them-go figure). The compensations that could affect perfor- entire dog, including feet, legs, groin, head mance addressed before later arc they and back, can usually be scanned in less have a chance to cause problems. In the than 20 minutes. If a scan is performed by u hands of someone who really under- thermographic technician, the images can stands movement mechanics and struc- only be interpreted by u licensed veterinar- ture relationships, using thermal imag- ian. If there are concerns about movement ing to monitor recovery after an injury stresses versus postural or standing stresses, can also help tailor rehab and training the dog can be put on a treadmill and vid- regimes to make sure that tissues aren t eoed with the thermal camera. This allows being stressed too early. Monitoring tis- evaluation of soft tissue over a set period sue's temperature responses to work can of controlled movement. It is important to make sure that conditioning is moving note that thermal imaging is not meant to at a pace that is appropriate for that par- be a replacement for a good physical exam ticular animal's recovery. and it is at its best usefulness integrated into

fuly 13 | Clean Run a complete exam that may include anatom- WhatGan that I like to see (everyone is a bit dif- ical imaging such as x-rays or ultrasound. ferent in their color preferences). The Ihemal lmaging $howfl crosshair in the middle is the tempera- Because thermal imaging is measuring So does ture shown in the upper right. On the heat given off by an animal, control of what thermal imaging in the performance dog like? camera itself or the software, I environmental factors (wind, rain, sun) look My practice within can move crosshair measure that could create mistakes (or artifacts) patients include not only agility dogs, both the to specific areas as well as the range. must be managed; something that is well- but also dogs that do flyball, obedience, herding, police/patrol, explosives/drug understood and can be worked around by Following are some examples of how detection, wild-land search-and-rescue, someone with appropriate understanding thermal imaging is used in our perfor- sled dog racing, and avalanche rescue, of the equipment. I have been able to ac- mance dog practice. quire very helpful images on site at com- so we see a wide variety of problems. Be- petitions provided animals and scans are 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 Achilles tendon insertion. Notice the red is a little primer on how to interpret the spot (indicating a warmer area) at the at- images from this particular camera. On tachment of the Ieft Achilles tendon to the right of the image is the temperature the hock that is not present on the other range scale that I used for that particular scan; I can change the upper and lower limits (depending on external environ- ment) as well as how sensitive I want the range to be (i.e., now many degrees between the upper and lower ranges). Above the upper temperature limit and the image will be white; below the lower limit and the image will be black. I can adjust this during a scan to give me the best possible detail in the color range

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side. The presenting complaint was that lameness after exercise or training. Non- A thorough exam of those areas found the dog's times would start slowing down steroidal medications had inconsistent swelling and marked pain of the toe with by the second or third duy of a trial. There effects and the referring veterinarian's ra- some discomfort upon flexion of the left was no pain on palpation but the dog diographs of the hind legs showed no ob- carpus (wrist). Radiographs of the toe would visibly stop jumping or slow down vious boney or joint problems. Thermal did not show any fractures so a severe after several minutes of running around. scan showed marked heat of the inside sprain with possible joint laxity was diag- X-rays showed no changes. This dog was toe of the right front leg (the limb on the nosed. The dog was treated with ice, cold managed with rest, acupuncture, and left side of the image) with some changes laser, support wraps, and homeopathic manual therapy. She was not allowed to in the Ieft 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 exercise for an additional eight weeks. the nails trimmed). 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 areas are also signs of had a three- month history of knock- problems. Areas can become cold if there ing bars when he approached from a left is pain (nerve reflexes will constrict blood turn. Eventually, his issues progressed to vessels in the area) or if there is edema him being unable to maintain his weave or bruising. In the scan on the following poles. At presentation for 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 puffy

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|uly 13 | Clean Run and painful to the touch; the culprit was down toward the stifle have cooled down ln GonGlusion thought to be bruising from some body- after the acupuncture treatment. Note that Thermal imaging can give performance slamming with other dogs in the house. It even though this dog has a thicker hair and working dog 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), usable images 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 are when problems are easier to address with less time off and less poten- tial for long-term or serious tissue dam- age. High-drive dogs can be difficult in that way because many 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' Using lhermal lmaging right) can provide significant clues. It "what t0 illonito] Ireatment shows us 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 attached to a thinking mind, it can acupuncture treatment for hip problems identify where to start looking. This not in an aging avalanche dog; note how in just only saves time and money (by not having half an hour (the photos are time-marked) to x-ray or ultrasound everything), but it the warmer areas around the left hip and can also point out compensation stress points that can be addresseC early-on with massage, stretchirg, chiropractic, acu- puncture, or rehabilitation therapies. lt

After receiving her veterinary degree from Purdue University in 1986, Dr. Hennemon completed certification in veterinary ocupuncture (IVAS) in 1991 and veterinary chiropractic (AVCA) in 1993. She is only one of 1 5 veterinorians in the US to hold odvonced veterinary ocupuncture certificotion. Her practice covers all of the US ond exclusively involves the use of integrative theropies in chronic diseose ond sports medicine (equine/canine). Dr. Henneman hos worked closely with SAR, police, and competitive dogs ond their handlersfor over l5years and she organized the security onimalsports medicine center atthe 2002 Wintet Olympics, incorporating thermol imaging and integrative therapies. As well as speaking at numerous conferences ond writing fot mogozines ond textbooks, she continues to be o troil veterinarian for the lditorod Sled Dog race.

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