We have a full range of wireless diagnostic equipment, using the latest technology to enable our vets to make a prompt diagnosis and treat successfully a wide variety of conditions at your yard. More complex diagnostic, medical and surgical cases can be referred quickly to our equine hospital and diagnostic centre, with immediate access to our specialist clinicians and advanced imaging modalities.
Radiography (X-ray)
Our portable X-ray machines allow us to take radiographs (x-rays) on yard and the images can be viewed immediately on screen. Portable digital radiography is often used during lameness investigations to visualise the bones and joints of the lower limb and is particularly useful if it is difficult or unsafe to travel an injured horse.
Ultrasonography
Veterinary ultrasound is very useful for diagnosing and evaluating a number of musculoskeletal conditions including joint, tendon, muscle and ligament injuries and it is effective for monitoring the healing process in these cases. Additionally it can be used for evaluating abdominal pain (tumours, cysts and abscesses), anatomical swellings, or for cardiology examinations.
Ultrasound is also routinely used to monitor broodmare reproductive cycles, for equine pregnancy detection (including twinning), and late pregnancy.
We have a range of portable ultrasound machines, as well as diagnostic centre-based machines, the latter being excellent for scanning the more difficult areas such as the chest and abdomen of the horse for the evaluation of heart or lung problems, or as part of examination in colic cases.
Endoscopy and Overground Endoscopy
Endoscopy is an essential part of the evaluation of horses exhibiting poor performance, upper airway obstructions and abnormal respiratory noises, many lung diseases, gastric (stomach) ulcers and many urinary tract diseases.
It allows visualisation of areas of the equine body that are difficult to access, such as the upper respiratory system (including the pharynx, larynx, guttural pouches and trachea), parts of the gastrointestinal tract (oesophagus, stomach, duodenum, rectum and small colon), the urinary tract (the urethra and bladder of males and females), and the reproductive tract (cervix, vagina and uterus) of mares.
Our vets have access to a range of different sized endoscopes that they can use to visualise these different regions of the horse in great detail and take small biopsy samples for laboratory diagnosis. Videoendoscopes are linked to a screen, which allows the vets and the clients to see the images at the same time and for the images to be recorded.
Our sophisticated overground endoscopy system has revolutionised the way that we are able to observe and accurately diagnose conditions of the upper respiratory tract in exercising horses, allowing our vets to view what is happening to the horse’s larynx and pharynx, while the horse is being ridden. The images are recorded via equipment attached to the saddle and via telemetry the vet can view the horse’s respiratory system in real time. This equipment has greatly increased our ability to accurately diagnose and treat the cause of respiratory noises and poor performance in equine athletes.