To understand lameness and poor performance, a good understanding of the horse and its discipline is needed. The more complex issues often involve information not only gained in clinical assessment, but often and more importantly, gained from the grooms, farriers, physios and the riders. Piecing together this information with a holistic approach and focusing on the right problem is always an exciting challenge. Once the correct area or areas causing the complaint have been identified, imaging can be performed. This is fundamental to diagnosing the condition to enable correct treatment and recovery planning.
Yard based diagnostics available:
Ultrasonography
This area of imaging is my real passion, with the latest diagnostic ultrasound I can offer excellent orthopaedic imaging and treatment guidance on the yard.Ultrasonography provides a diagnostic ‘window into the horse’. This enables us to visualise many different tissues, but the interpretation is key. Whether scanning for injury detection, injury progression, wound assessment or ultrasound guided treatments, there is an art form to ultrasonography. This can only be mastered with further training (continued professional development) in the UK and abroad, and most importantly, scanning thousands of horses. With this training and experience achieved over the last 20 years and an appetite for further knowledge, I feel I can offer excellence in ultrasonography.
- The very latest, state of the art, mobile, imaging equipment.
- Technical proficiency and vast experience and understanding.
- Commitment to ethical and equine centred decisions.
Radiography
I have the very latest, completely mobile, battery-operated DR radiography system. DR or Direct Digital Radiography uses an x-ray–sensitive digital plate that directly captures the image data, immediately transferring it to a computer system without the use of an intermediate cassette. This produces images of the highest quality, necessary for lameness investigations, vetting and sales.
Read the 'Radiation Safety in Equine Ambulatory Practice' Case Study
- The latest up to date equipment –this plays a significant role in producing high-quality images.
- Excellent radiographic technique - the technical skill required to capture precise images with correct positioning and radiation exposures, cannot be under-estimated. This is often the difference between a good or a bad radiograph.
Endoscopy
Mobile video-endoscopy is available for investigation and visualisation of upper and lower airway conditions. Having also performed a significant number of overground endoscopy studies (galloping horses with specially designed endoscope to be used during exercise) I have the experience and contacts to enable and interpret these investigations should they be required.