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We offer the following services for clients with regards to large animal internal medicine:
Conventional Radiography
We have a mobile radiographic unit enabling us to radiograph limbs, the cervical vertebrae (neck), skull, neonate/yearling chest and abdomen. We do not offer digital radiography at this time. We carry all of our equipment in the field and only require a grounded source of electricity in order to capture images on film. Our film is processed upon return to our office. We feel that conventional radiography offers as good a film, as long as the technique is correct, as digital radiograph and this has been corroborated recently in the veterinary literature.
Conventional Ultrasonography
We have a mobile ultrasound unit with 2 probes, a convex abdominal probe and a rectal probe. The rectal probe is used for examinations per rectum as well as tendon & ligament ultrasonography. Our convex probe is used for thoracic and abdominal ultrasonography. This tool is invaluable in the following cases: chronic or acute colics, umbilical ultrasonography in sick neonates, thoracic ultrasonography in cases of pleuropneumonia and to diagnose and monitor the progression of ligamentous and tendinous injuries.
Endoscopy
We offer mobile 1 meter fiberoptic endoscopy and 3 meter video-endoscopy for our patients. The 1 meter endoscopy is used for upper airway evaluation in mature horses, for cystoscopy & hysteroscopy in mares and for broncho-alveolar lavage & gastroscopy in small miniature horses and young foals. Our 3 meter endoscope is used for gastroscopy in mature horses and cystoscopy in stallions and geldings, as well as for broncho-alveolar lavages. The endoscope is a valuable tool at determining upper airway disorders that may adversely affect performance, such as laryngeal hemiparesis or paralysis, dorsal dispacement of the soft palate, guttural pouch empyema or mycosis.
Weight Loss/Nutrition Work-Up
The causes of weight loss are numerous and may be secondary to disease in a variety of body systems. A systematic approach to your horse as a whole will enable us to determine, in most cases, the cause of weight loss. Diagnostics that are usually required in addition to a thorough physical and oral examination include baseline blood work (complete blood count and chemistry analysis), fecal parasitology examination and culture, abdominocentesis, abdominal +/- thoracic ultrasonography, oral glucose tolerance test and rectal biopsy.
Respiratory Work-Up
Respiratory work-ups are often performed due to poor performance, chronic coughing and chronic nasal discharge. Diagnostics include upper and lower airway endoscopy, trans-tracheal wash and bronchoalveolar lavage. In some cases, if pleuropneumonia is suspected, thoracic ultrasonography is performed.
Neurologic Work-Up
A complete neurological examination by a clinician attuned to minor changes in the neurologic system is the first step determining the presence and location of a neurologic lesion. Upon identifying a lesion, we can then recommend further diagnostics such as EPM testing, cerebrospinal tap and CSF analysis and standing neck x-rays. Further diagnostics we will add in the future include myelogram.
Lameness Examination
We provide lameness examination with diagnostic nerve and joint blocks in order to localize a source of lameness.
Vet-Stem, PRP and IRAP Therapy
Vet-Stem involves the use of stem cells present in fatty tissue in order to help heal damaged ligaments or tendons. PRP (platelet rich plasma) involves the use of platelets, clotting cells which are rich in growth factors. PRP is typically used to hasten the healing of injured ligaments and tendons, but may be used to enhance healing in chronic, non-healing wounds. IRAP (interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein) utilizes gene therapy in order to combat osteoarthritis. All of these modalities are available upon demand.
Future Diagnostics & Therapeutics:
Our vision in the not-too distant future is to offer referral services and a referral hospital setting to our clients and referral clients from Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.
Dynamic Video Endoscopy
Dynamic video endoscopy negates the need for a high-speed treadmill when evaluating a horse for suspected upper airway problems as a cause of poor performance. An endoscope is inserted routinely and attached to a halter with a video capture device, enabling the horse to exercise in a routine manner while allowing us to evaluate the upper airway system.
Video Gait Analysis
Video gait analysis involves the use of videography and a specialized gait analysis software in order to detect locomotory issues that are difficult to diagnose.
Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ECSWT)
ECSWT is used to accelerate the healing of bone, tendon and ligament injuries in the horse with the goal of reducing the healing time and speeding up the time back to performance. There are likely to be other uses of ECSWT in the future.
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