Comparison of Infrared Thermal Imaging with Two Canine Pain Assessment Tools in Dogs Undergoing Treatment for Chronic Back Pain

Historically, the evaluation and assessment of the clinical response to treatment for canine back pain is subjective and relies on owner and clinician assessment of pain. Sequential infrared thermal images (IRTIs) objectively measure the patient’s physiological response after a prescribed series of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) treatments. Qualifying participants had histories of pain and dysfunction associated with spinal osteoarthritis or intervertebral disk disease, or of non-specific uni- or bilateral back pain along the paravertebral epaxial muscles. Each patient was initially IRT imaged prior to PBMT treatment and then received multiple PBMT treatments delivered to the appropriate spinal area on days 1, 2, 3, and 4. Participants were reimaged on day 7. IRT images provided an objective assessment of the physiologic status of each patient after the PBMT regimen. The thermal changes in IRT images correlated with statistically significant changes in Colorado State University Canine Chronic Pain Scale scoring (CSU-CCPS) and owner assessment using the Canine Brief Pain Inventory (CBPI), which includes a Pain Severity Score (CBPI-PS) and Pain Interference Score (CBPI-PI). This proof-of-concept study demonstrates that IRTI provides an objective evaluation of response to PBMT treatment and correlates with observed and measured clinical response.