Chapter 20 Imaging in Canine Sports Medicine 515Thermal imaging is used to assess for soft tis-
sue injuries including muscle strains, sprains,
tendinopathies, and arthritis (Figure 20.14).
Thermography may also identify functional
fitting problems with both competitive and
rehabilitation support or cart harnesses
(Figure 20.15).
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Figure 20.13 Cranial thoracic limbs of an avalanche
search‐and‐rescue dog demonstrating environmental
vasoconstriction (thus colder temperatures) of the
mid‐radius distal to the feet. The lighter blue color of the
craniolateral right carpus is in an area that showed
discomfort on flexion. A water artifact can also appear
similar to this due to evaporative cooling at the skin
surface.
Figure 20.14 Cranial thoracic limbs of a distance sled
racing dog during the prerace check‐in; the dog was not
lame when working. Thermography was used to evaluate
the extent of right medial carpal inflammation discovered
on physical examination. Inflammation of the right front
medial digits and left front lateral digits was also found
by thermography and confirmed by palpation. The client
opted not to start the dog in the race based on physical
and thermographic findings.
Figure 20.15 Dorsal lumbosacral view of a distance
sled racing dog with mild back tenderness (head is to
the left). The dog had not been in the harness for over
12 hours. The focal red area in the mid‐top of the image
was the dog’s right ilial crest which showed marked
sensitivity on palpation; additionally, the heat pattern
along the entire dorsal spine was asymmetrical and a
deviation from the normal canine back thermal pattern.
The X‐back harness pattern can still be seen in addition
to possible compensatory heat along the dog’s right
(top of image) lateral gluteal area.