Injuries often result in increased temperature to overlying skin due to inflammation (increased blood circulation to the inflamed area). Thermography is a veterinary diagnostic that uses skin temperature to help localize injury.

A thermal imaging camera is pointed at the patient and a color image is generated on the camera's liquid crystal display. The infrared radiation from the camera produces brightly colored patterns based on temperature variations in the skin. Red typically indicates warmer areas and blue indicates cooler areas. In short, thermography provides a visual map of skin temperature.

Thermography is commonly used in lameness diagnosis. It offers a rapid survey of the skin temperature over a large part of the animal, which may lead a clinician to a more focused examination. While that knowledge has value, other diagnostics and careful clinical exam are necessary to assign significance to the results of this diagnostic.

Thermography should always be performed by a veterinarian using a suitably sensitive device intended for medical application.