Veterinary Thermal Imaging Is Coming To A Town Near You In 2011

This year will see a country-wide roll-out of the UK’s first all species Veterinary Thermal Imaging service, one that quickly pinpoints where an animal is in pain, limiting distress and offering lower costs to owners. Veterinary Thermal Imaging (VTI) provides a visual management tool for diagnosing, monitoring and treating injury, illness and disease. VTI works under a code of conduct prescribed by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and is a valuable extension to diagnostic tools such as X-rays, MRI scans and Ultrasound. The service is available to vets, other animal professionals and the owners of horses, dogs, cats, livestock, zoo and marine species. The procedure works by using a specially designed camera that detects heat emitted from the animal, turning it into electrical pulses. These pulses are assigned a colour, depending on the temperature readings, the various colours will flag up problem areas and pain. Helen Morrell, founder of VTI and a Veterinary Physiotherapist, said, “VTl is a great opportunity for UK animal professionals and owners to use a service that is non-invasive, emits no radiation, can be repeated as often as required and can eliminate the need for other expensive investigations. VTI is an effective, low cost, mobile solution that reveals where an animal’s problems lie, fast and without causing pain or distress. We don’t replace traditional veterinary services but rather enhance them.” She added, “Whilst most diagnostic tests focus on specific anatomical areas, and require a degree of disruption before anything can be picked-up, our method addresses the physiology of the animal which can change prior to any major anatomical disruption. This being the case, you can apply the stitch in time philosophy, hopefully saving money, stress and your animal’s discomfort.” A full VTI appraisal can cost less than an X-ray, pinpoints primary and secondary issues for treatment or further tests, determines the extent of an injury, allows an owner to monitor treatment progress and assess whether feed supplements, homeopathic or alternative therapies are working. It can even pinpoint the reason for behaviour problems, many of them being seated in pain. Established in 2010 in Oxfordshire, Veterinary Thermal Imaging Ltd is the first UK company specialising in Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging or Veterinary Thermal Imaging across all animal species.

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