Digital Thermal Imaging – SEE Where it Hurts

• They can’t tell us where it hurts.
• It’s an affordable quick wellness screen.
• It discovers problems not seen or felt by the veterinarian.
• It locates pain and inflammation.
• Serial images evaluate response to therapy.
• It improves outcome with targeted treatment areas.
• It is completely safe with no radiation being emitted.

It is not uncommon for athletic dogs to be presented for decreased performance or mild lameness that is difficult if not impossible to pinpoint with traditional methods. Digital thermal imaging (DTI) can help identify the area of pain so that specific x-rays may be taken focusing on the inflamed area. All objects emit energy, bodies included; the energy is read by the machine and recorded by it’s wavelength color. Higher energy = shorter wavelenths = more heat. The colors associated with the wavelengths are recorded giving us a color image of the animal. We are able to appreciate increased warmth which indicates higher blood flow and inflammation. A decrease in warmth indicates lower blood flow, which can be found in areas of scar tissue, masses, thromboses, or nerve dysfunction.

DTI is the only simple screening tool that observes body function. I think this is a great addition to your pet’s yearly physical exam, especially the geriatric pets. If you are interested in visiting with us about a DTI for your pet, please contact us!