Animals are excellent at hiding pain as a survival mechanism. However, this skill, which benefits animals in the wild, is rather unhelpful for their domesticated counterparts. Many pet owners and veterinarians have been frustrated when the lack of physical symptoms of a pet’s illness makes identification and diagnosis a challenge. At East Valley Animal Hospital (serving Gilbert, Chandler, and Mesa) we are no strangers to this issue. That’s why we’re excited to announce that we’re now using veterinary thermal imaging when diagnosing our furry patients.
What is Veterinary Thermal Imaging?
When assessing a pet in pain, we start by taking vital signs such as temperature, pulse and respiration. Abnormalities in vital signs often signal that a patient is experiencing pain, illness or disease. However, further testing is often necessary to get to the bottom of the issue. While there certainly are diagnostic tools to help narrow the field and identify the problem, they are often costly and time-consuming. This is where veterinary thermal imaging comes into play.
Thermal imaging allows us to get a more accurate picture of what is going on in a pet’s body and pinpoint where they are experiencing pain or issues—and it’s completely non-invasive! It works by measuring the heat radiation an animal emits, which then produces an infrared image that serves as a map depicting hot and cold areas of the body. Extremely hot or cold temperatures give an efficient and immediate assessment of inflammatory, vascular, nervous system and soft tissue-related conditions, helping locate key areas to concentrate on in the body.
The of Benefits of Digatherm
In order to offer this service, we’ve chosen technology from one of the leading veterinary thermal imaging manufactures on the market, Digatherm. Here’s how Digatherm can help when your pet is experiencing pain:
- Gives a visual physiological map of the area being examined
- Eliminates the guesswork by providing a precise region for further examination
- Non-invasive—no further discomfort is added
- Non-contact—allows your animal to be monitored from a distance
- Does not require sedation like other diagnostic tools such as an MRI or CT scan, reducing cost and risk
- Quick, easy, and can lead to speedier, more accurate diagnoses
Schedule Thermal Imaging for Your Pet in Gilbert
If you suspect your pet is experiencing pain or has been to see other veterinarians but doesn’t have a clear diagnosis yet, let us help identify and treat their condition. Schedule a thermal imaging appointment with East Valley Animal Hospital today.
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use. Image by Alexandr Ivanov from Pixabay (9/30/2019)