Imaging

The practice veterinary team has its full range of modern, portable diagnostic imaging used routinely within a first-opinion equine practice. Our vets are happy to discuss options for imaging, including performing this at your premises, where suitable facilities are available, or at the hospital, with costs based on the initial assessment of an individual patient and the owner's wishes.

Radiography

The equine practice team has its own portable digital x-ray machine enabling radiography to be performed at your premises. This avoids the need to transport them to hospital facilities. X-rays can be taken rapidly on an emergency basis or as part of routine lameness and other diagnostic investigations, including imaging of the feet and lower legs.

Depending on the area that needs to be imaged, in some cases, the more powerful x-ray unit at the hospital may be needed. This includes images of the chest, upper limbs and back.

Endoscopy

Our portable flexible fibre-optic endoscope complete with a large digital screen enables us to perform an on-site assessment of the upper airways including the larynx and guttural pouches as part of medical investigations such as nasal discharge, respiratory noise, or poor performance.

We can also perform endoscopy of the stomach and other regions, such as the bladder using our hospital endoscopes. We can also perform dynamic endoscopy, enabling the horse's airways to be assessed during exercise, either working at speed or in flexion as part of poor performance or respiratory investigations.

Ultrasonography

Our portable ultrasound scanner can be used to diagnose a wide range of conditions including ligament, muscle, and tendon injuries in lameness cases, imaging of skin masses or swellings or internal examinations including pregnancy diagnosis.

More powerful ultrasound equipment based in the hospital enables cardiac scans, scanning of the abdomen, and imaging of the upper limb or back.

Advanced diagnostic imaging

Many conditions affecting the horse can be frustrating and difficult to diagnose accurately using portable equipment used in equine first opinion practice. In addition to having access to more powerful equipment based in the equine hospital, we also have access to a full range of advanced imaging techniques including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and scintigraphy (bone scans), and specialist expertise required to interpret these findings properly.

Advanced imaging techniques can enable different areas of the horse's body to be imaged, helping to provide a more accurate diagnosis. This can enable us to provide better information about options for treatment and likely prognosis for a range of different conditions. We can quickly organise referral to be arranged within a short distance for our practice patients.