Diagnostic Exams
Lameness Exams
Lameness is any alteration of the horse's gait.
Such abnormalities can be caused by pain in the neck, withers,
shoulders, back, loin, hips, legs or feet.
Identifying the source of the problem is essential to proper treatment.
Stress, strain, or injury can take a toll on any horse, even one with
no obvious conformation defects.
A prompt examination by your veterinarian can save you time, money, and
frustration by diagnosing and treating the problem immediately,
possibly preventing further damage.
Our goal is to diagnose early so we can keep small problems from
becoming big ones.
Examination Procedures
-
Dr. Derwelis and his staff study the conformation,
balance, and weight bearing; looking for any evidence of injury or
stress.
- Dr. D and his staff watch the horse walking and trotting,
observing the horse from the front, back, and both side views. He notes
any deviations in gait, failure to land squarely on all four feet, and
the unnatural shifting of weight from one limb to another.
He will also have the horse walking and trotting in a circle on the
longe line, and sometimes under saddle. We look for signs, such as
shortening of the stride, irregular foot placement, head bobbing,
stiffness and weight shifting, etc.
- Dr. D. will palpate the horse, checking muscles, joints,
bones, and tendons for evidence of pain, heat, swelling, or any other
physical abnormalities.
He will also use hoof testers to apply pressure to the soles of the
feet to check for any sensitivity or pain.
- Dr. D. holds the horse's limbs in a flexed position and
then releases the leg. As the horse trots away, he evaluates
signs of pain, weight shifting, or irregular movement. This procedure
is called a joint flexion test.
- Drug tests can be done to detect any drugs in the horse's
body that would camouflage lameness.
Video Endoscopy
Endoscopy is the examination of the body cavities with an
instrument through their natural outlet. In our practice we are able to
examine the upper respiratory tract, the interior of the stomach,
bladder and uterus.
Digital (Eklin) Radiographic Procedures
Radiography is used to image bones and joints. Our
digital radiographic equipment enables us to image most of the joints
in the body including all parts of the legs, the shoulder and stifle,
the chest, head and neck. Images are routinely part of the
intrasurgical procedures.
Ultrasonography
Ultrasound is used to examine soft tissues. We use our
ultrasound to image tendons, ligaments, the heart, the kidney, the
liver, and reproductive tract.
Prepurchase Examinations
Prepurchase
Examinations enable the prospective buyer to assess the
appropriateness of a particular horse
for the buyer.
|
