Diagnostic Imaging

Great for any horse, especially when lameness issues are present, but also for sound horses, to help prevent any lameness issues associated with their conformation, shoeing, or trimming. Two views of each hoof are taken (usually the front feet); various measurements and angles are performed to determine the alignment of the coffin bone within the hoof capsule. We then work with your farrier to establish a plan to correct any abnormalities that could lead to problems down the road.

Radiographs of the hoof/pastern, fetlock, cannon bones, hocks, or carpi are obtained to look for any evidence of trauma, arthritis or bone infection. We can evaluate some soft tissue on radiographs (swelling or gas opacity), but ultrasound is much better if we suspect an injury to the soft tissue (tendon or ligament).

Diagnostic images of the elbow, shoulder, and stifle can often be obtained with our newer high-powered portable x-ray generators. Heavily muscled horses with suspected injuries to the shoulder or pelvis may be recommended for referral to a facility with an overhead gantry unit while our new facility is being built. Ultrasound is often very useful for imaging these areas (and may be better than radiographs for shoulder, hip, or pelvis injuries).

Our team is highly skilled in obtaining exceptional quality images of the head, teeth, and sinuses to look for subtle changes in the tooth roots, sinus cavities, or bones of the skull. Some horses with very complicated dental issues that cannot be adequately evaluated with radiographs may be referred for a standing CT scan of the head.

Cervical and back radiographs can be obtained with our higher-powered portable x-ray generators, but are not of the same diagnostic quality as an overhead gantry system. Unfortunately, ours will be in storage during construction. Dr. Alward is exceptional at getting images of the neck with a portable generator, but if your horse is large and heavily muscled or you are looking for the highest detailed images we will likely refer you to one of the local facilities with an overhead gantry unit (Arizona Equine, Cave Creek Equine or Chaparral Equine) until ours is back up and running. We also often refer to San Luis Rey Equine Hospital in California if your horse has a condition that requires a CT scan of the head or neck.

Newer high-power portable generators can obtain diagnostic images of the chest in most horses (but not giant warmbloods or drafts!). We can even obtain diagnostic radiographs for sand accumulation in most horses on the farm (but if you have a draft horse or very large horse you may need to be referred to a facility with an overhead gantry unit).

Ultrasound is an essential tool in diagnosing many muscle, tendon, ligament, and joint injuries. Serial ultrasound examinations are often recommended to monitor healing and help determine when a horse is ready to return to work. The ultrasound is also used to guide technically difficult injections of some joints and soft tissue injuries.

In the past few years, there have been extensive advances in using ultrasound to diagnose problems of the equine spine and pelvis. We have extensive experience in ultrasound examination of the muscles and joints of the neck and back, as well as ultrasound of the pelvis. Dr. Alward is particularly adept at transrectal imaging of the lumbar spine, lumbar discs, sacroiliac joints, and pelvis.

Our veterinarians routinely perform ultrasound examinations on horses with colic. We have found adding ultrasound to our colic evaluations has greatly improved our ability to diagnose the type of colic (colon torsion, colon displacement, small intestinal obstruction, enteritis, gastric impaction) and provide a better therapeutic plan.

Our team uses ultrasound extensively to diagnose and monitor pneumonia (foals, shipping fever), kidney disease, liver problems, abdominal abscesses, etc. Dr. Alward has many years of experience performing cardiac ultrasound (but will warn you if you have a draft horse it will not image well!)

Gastric ulcers are present in the majority of performance horses and even pleasure horses. Clinical signs can vary from a subtle change in performance, behavioral changes/reluctance to work, poor appetite, weight loss, or recurrent colic. The presence of gastric ulcers is confirmed by examining the stomach via “gastroscopy”.

All feed must be withheld for at least 18 hours before the procedure (no cheating or stealing scraps!). Most horses require light sedation (but some can be done without and others require more heavy sedation). A thin tube (smaller than a nasogastric tube) containing a camera is passed through the horse’s nose, down the esophagus, and into the stomach.

All parts of the stomach and opening to the small intestine are examined, and the images are shown on a large monitor for close examination. While “hindgut” ulcers cannot be visualized, we will often find clues in the stomach that may suggest the presence of inflammation in the lower intestinal tract. Gastric and intestinal biopsies may be performed via this approach.

Upper Airway Endoscopy is utilized to evaluate horses with nasal discharge, upper airway noise, and poor performance / reduced stamina. Endoscopy of the guttural pouches (in the back of the throat) is frequently performed in horses with bacterial upper respiratory tract infections (ie Strangles, Strep zoo) and in many horses that have head tilts in the bridle or are dropping feed (the temporohyoid joint that controls balance and tongue motion can be visualized via GP endoscopy).

Lower Airway endoscopy (trachea, bronchi) is performed in horses with chronic coughs, suspect asthma, exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage, or suspected tracheal stenosis/masses.

Urinary Tract Endoscopy is primarily used to evaluate the cause of blood in the urine or straining to urinate. Bladder stones, infections, tumors, and urethral tears are easily diagnosed via endoscopy.

We also perform endoscopy of the ear canals, rectum, vaginal cavity, and uterus when clinically indicated.