We have two high-definition portable ultrasound machines. We believe that ultrasonography forms an important part of modern-day equine veterinary medicine. Ultrasound is a non-invasive technique, which allows us to visualise both soft tissue and boney structures.
It is commonly used for the diagnosis of ligament and tendon disorders as part of a lameness assessment. In addition to this it is an essential piece of kit for stud work, where it is used to assess the uterus for fluid both pre and post insemination, accurately assess when a horse is going to ovulate (in order to allow accurate insemination times) and of course to determine whether or not the mare is pregnant!
Ultrasonography can also be used for assessing intra-abdominal organs such as the liver, spleen, kidneys, bladder and intestines and as such it is sometimes used in the investigation of certain types of colic. In addition ultrasound can also be used to investigate suspected lung pathology, by scanning through the rib spaces.
Believe it or not ultrasonography can also prove very useful in the investigation of certain ocular (eye) disorders, as it allows us to visualise the eyeball for damage, even if the eyelids are tightly shut or swollen.
So as you can see this is a very versatile and useful piece of kit to have.
