Hypervitaminosis A & Thermography

RE: Hypervitaminosis A & Thermography

Wren — Wed, 05 Sep 2018 13:06:42 GMT

Thermography equipment is relatively cheap to purchase. I ask owners 'if this stuff really worked to pinpoint the site of lameness, do you not think that every horse vet would carry a machine in their car?'

RE: Hypervitaminosis A & Thermography

Robert FalconerTaylor — Wed, 05 Sep 2018 07:04:47 GMT

[quote user="Stuart Bond"]Thermography - the same above owner has handed me a 10-page document on Thermography, of which I've never even heard! Has anyone any actual data or further information - again struggling to find anything definitive other than the usual Google stuff.[/quote]

There was someone demostrating this at a seminar (for dog owners) last March - in the breaks basically inviting members of the audience to bring their dogs up for a 'diagnosis'. Inevitably, there were ques of owners waiting for 'the answer'. I spoke to the rep briefly and she was quite evasive when I asked about evidence in dogs with chronic pain, even though she was targeting small animal practices. However, I got hold of these refs from her, which rather confirm what has been said already here.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6UAb5NeKQP3R0dZLVRMLV9iaW9sTnktRXVxNS13Qld3cTd3/view

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mnL0DjrxsO9fiuAFeMVgy8CkMF-H0LzO/view

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6UAb5NeKQP3RFNob0ZRYzdKS1A5SHJlSHJ6Vlp6Z0xWUENv/view

RE: Hypervitaminosis A & Thermography

David Mills — Wed, 05 Sep 2018 00:25:40 GMT

1. What cardiac problems?

2. What renal problems?

3. What test for hypervitaminosis A?

As above, feel a more structured approach useful for this case. As presented you have a far out dx without much basic info.

RE: Hypervitaminosis A & Thermography

Sarah Keir — Tue, 04 Sep 2018 18:44:53 GMT

This is why you shouldn't eat polar bear livers! Too high in vitamin A

RE: Hypervitaminosis A & Thermography

Dinu Catilina — Tue, 04 Sep 2018 08:09:54 GMT

Hi Stuart

My humble opinion, no specialist of course.

If the dog's heart is not great will the owners consider surgery? If not, is the MRI really necessary? If it is IVDD or hypervitaminosis A, will it make a difference where exactly it is located? Are the forelimbs neurologically normal?

I would treat the dog symptomatically first and take radiographs at a later stage. Probably start with Pardale and Gabapentin as he already has renal failure. Truth is also that a BT with renal and heart failure has a very short life expectancy

I know nothing about thermography, sorry!

RE: Hypervitaminosis A & Thermography

Wren — Mon, 03 Sep 2018 20:03:25 GMT

Thermography is hugely beloved of horse owners, who present equine vets almost daily with pretty coloured pictures 'proving' where their horse's lameness stems from. The general scientific consensus is that it may be useful for locating problems close to the skin surface (ie pretty much zero in horses) ONLY if the image has been obtained in a temperature controlled draught free room where the animal has been standing still for roughly half an hour before the image has been obtained to let the skin temperature acclimatise. Which obviously never happens. Quite a lot of the practitioners are treading dodgy ground with regards to illegal diagnosis too. So long as it remains a grand or two cheaper than scintigraphy clients are going to keep handing over their cash unfortunately.

RE: Hypervitaminosis A & Thermography

Anthony Dennison — Mon, 03 Sep 2018 18:18:19 GMT

[quote user="Stuart Bond"] Apparently dietary modification is unlikely to reverse the bone formation significantly? Any help gratefully recieved[/quote]

Once bone is formed, it's not going to go away. How well behaved is the dog, could you give light sedation (possible ketamine and midazolam, quite cardiac friendly - don't know the severity of the issues) and you could get some cervical radiographs to look for this new bone growth.

[quote user="Stuart Bond"]

Thermography - the same above owner has handed me a 10-page document on Thermography, of which I've never even heard! Has anyone any actual data or further information - again struggling to find anything definitive other than the usual Google stuff.

[/quote]

Due to the build of an EBT, they're fairly thickset creatures, I'm not sure how much information thermography would give as the temperature gradients wouldn't be very significant (thick neck muscles will mask any vertebral specific heat) compared to it's use with detecting breast cancer in humans.

Could possibly try physio/k-laser to help with the neck pain?

RE: Hypervitaminosis A & Thermography

Arlo Guthrie — Mon, 03 Sep 2018 17:01:33 GMT

Obviously I'm singularly ill-qualified to advise myself, but noticed it's your maiden post, so just to say welcome Stuart Bond. I am sure someone will be along soon!