Aplicabilidade da termografia na recuperação de equinos de explosão

Abstract

The objective of this research was to evaluate if thermography is an indicative tool for recovery in equines of explosion. Four Quarter Horse animals were used, aged 4 to 7 years; average weight of 450 kg and body score 3.0. Three races were performed at a distance of 75 meters each, with intervals of 2 minutes and average speed of 18.75 km / h. The superficial temperature of the axilla, chest and croup was verified; besides the measurement of heart rate, respiratory rate and rectal temperature. The collections were performed during rest, immediately after the race, 5, 20- and 50-minutes during recovery. The experimental design was randomized blocks. There was no statistical variation (P> 0.05) for the axilla, croup and chest temperatures. An increase in heart rate immediately after the test (140.75 bpm) was observed in relation to the moment at rest, decreasing to 44.5 bpm at 50 minutes post-race. The respiratory rate presented higher values in the moments immediately after the test and with 5 and 20 minutes after the test (mean of 46.75 movements / minute) compared to rest and 50 minutes after the race (mean of 24.37 movements per minute). It was concluded that thermography is an efficient tool in the verification of the recovery of horses that were well conditioned and acclimatized in the conditions studied.