Pilot Study: Correlation of the Surface Skin Temperature Between the Leg and Foot Using Thermographic Imaging in Captive Hawks.

Publisher: Association of Avian Veterinarians Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 9512497 Publication Model: Print Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1082-6742 (Print) Linking ISSN: 10826742 NLM ISO Abbreviation: J Avian Med Surg Subsets: MEDLINE

Original Publication: Boca Raton, FL : Association of Avian Veterinarians, c1995-

Hawks* ; Hindlimb* ; Skin Temperature*; Thermography/*veterinary; Animals ; Animals, Wild ; Pilot Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the thermal image temperatures of the tibiotarsal scaled region of the raptor leg and the plantar surface of ipsilateral foot while perching were correlated. The correlation between leg and foot temperature was sought to determine whether remote imaging of the legs can be used as a reliable predictor of foot temperature. The right and left tarsometatarsal region (Leg) and metatarsal pad (Foot) of 10 captive hawks, including 8 red-tailed hawks ( Buteo jamaicensis ), 1 Harris's hawk ( Parabuteo unicinctus ), and 1 Swainson's hawk ( Buteo swainsoni ) were imaged once daily over 3 consecutive days. To account for conditions of the metatarsal pad that might affect the thermal image, 3 groups were identified: Normal, Active when mild hyperemia was present, and Suspect when abrasions were noted. A significant correlation was evident when thermography readings of the tarsometatarsal region (R.Leg and L.Leg) of the unrestrained bird were compared with readings from the plantar surface of the ipsilateral metatarsal pad when restrained (R.Foot and L.Foot). The correlations for R.Leg versus R.Foot ( r = 0.81) and L.Leg versus L.Foot ( r = 0.74) suggest that temperatures of the tarsometatarsal region of perching hawks measured by infrared thermography may be useful to screen and monitor for the presence of thermal changes associated with inflammation of the metatarsal pad in captive hawk species.

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Keywords: Buteo jamaicensis; Buteo swainsoni; Harris's hawk; Parabuteo unicinctus; Swainson's hawk; avian; foot; hawk; inflammation; leg; raptor; red-tailed hawk; thermography

Date Created: 20200725 Date Completed: 20210507 Latest Revision: 20210507

20250114

10.1647/1082-6742-34.2.164

32702956