Very Common
Supplies you may need
Items and equipment you will need to perform this skill.
Skill
Procedures that you should be able to competently and safely perform on a horse.
LEARN HOW TO
Take Photo & Send to Your Vet
Summary
A good picture is worth 1000 words. Many equine conditions certainly can be better described through photos than words.
In many cases, you can assist your vet and improve communication by sending them clear photos of what you see. I regularly receive photos from my clients. My inbox is usually full of equine ears, teeth, manure, feeds, insects and parasites, wounds, swollen limbs, skin tumors, and just about anything else you can think of.
I usually find these images to be of great value in my discussion with my client, improving the efficiency of communication.
But, like every form of communication, there are limitations and pitfalls. Certain types of subtle problems are very hard to capture in a photo. Sometimes the photo doesn’t reveal the whole problem, and sometimes I cannot assess the severity of the problem with a photo alone.
Poor-quality images, bad lighting, poor resolution, and poor cropping can make the photos very hard to read or put into context. Likewise, very high resolution images may be very memory intense and be hard to send and receive via phone or e-mail.
If you are going to take the time to send your vet a photo of an equine health problem, take and send several good quality images. The following tips should help you provide the best possible photos.
In many cases, you can assist your vet and improve communication by sending them clear photos of what you see. I regularly receive photos from my clients. My inbox is usually full of equine ears, teeth, manure, feeds, insects and parasites, wounds, swollen limbs, skin tumors, and just about anything else you can think of.
I usually find these images to be of great value in my discussion with my client, improving the efficiency of communication.
But, like every form of communication, there are limitations and pitfalls. Certain types of subtle problems are very hard to capture in a photo. Sometimes the photo doesn’t reveal the whole problem, and sometimes I cannot assess the severity of the problem with a photo alone.
Poor-quality images, bad lighting, poor resolution, and poor cropping can make the photos very hard to read or put into context. Likewise, very high resolution images may be very memory intense and be hard to send and receive via phone or e-mail.
If you are going to take the time to send your vet a photo of an equine health problem, take and send several good quality images. The following tips should help you provide the best possible photos.
PROCEDURE
PROCEDURE
Use a high-quality camera with good resolution. If your phone camera takes poor quality images, use a dedicated digital camera instead. Move the horse to a setting with good light. Be sure the sun or light source (an open barn door or window) is behind you. If the light is not excellent and directly on the point of interest, then you should use a flash. This is especially true for skin and eye conditions. Keep in mind that sometimes a flash will spook the horse.
For close-ups of skin and eye problems, touch the screen where you want the camera to focus, right before taking the shot. You can also zoom by pinching and expanding your fingers on the screen, to get more detail and a higher-quality image.
It is a good idea to photograph the problem from multiple angles, because it can be difficult to assess the shape and depth of a problem from just one perspective.
For wounds and swellings, it can be helpful to have several photos from different distances. It can be hard to appreciate the precise location and nature of a problem if images are too close. You want to have a recognizable anatomic landmark in the image.
On the other hand, close-up detailed shots can be helpful too. Its best to have both.
TIPS FOR SAFETY AND SUCCESS
Talk to your vet about their preference regarding this form of communication. Some encourage it, others do not. Some charge for a consultation, some do not. Talk to your vet about whether to send the image to their phone or e-mail address, and alert them that the images are coming.Always include basic information including your name, your horse's name, age, sex and breed, as well as a brief description of the problem.
Photos are especially helpful for wounds, swellings, growths etc... Take and send a video if your horse is exhibiting lameness, behavioral issues or anything else that is better demonstrated through moving pictures.
One of the worst things you can do to your vet is send a very memory intense photo or e-mail that clogs their e-mail. Use a file format that keeps the image sizes down to 1-2 megabytes, preferably less than 500k, while still retaining good resolution. Send the images separately or in small groupings, depending on their size.
Add additional information about the problem in the e-mail or text message, and be sure to follow up with a phone call, to confirm receipt.
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