LAMENESS EXAM
Through a series of observations and joint manipulations at the walk, trot/jog/gait and canter, we can evaluate if a horse is suffering from an underlying lameness or performance issue.
We then use techniques such as nerve blocks, radiographs and diagnostic ultrasound to localize the area that is causing the patient pain or restricting them from performing at their best.
PRE-PURCHASE EXAM
Trainers and friends can be very helpful when you are searching for a new horse; however, a thorough veterinary exam is essential to determine if there are circumstances which may preclude the horse from performing at the level anticipated by the buyer. Pre-purchase exams can provide insight into past injuries or pre-existing abnormalities that may limit the horse’s performance in the future. Through a complete physical examination, performance evaluation and in conjunction with diagnostics (radiographs, ultrasound) we can help you to make sure that the horse you are buying is the right fit for you and your goals as a rider.
BASIC PACKAGE
Thorough examination including conformation, routine eye & dental exams.
- Basic neurological exam
- Gait analysis
- Flexion testing
Basic Plus Package:
- Includes Basic package
- Radiographs of front feet and hocks
- Additional radiographs can be purchased for an additional fee.
COMPREHENSIVE PACKAGE
- Includes Basic package.
- Radiographs of feet, fetlocks, knees, hocks, stifles, back and neck.
o Drug Testing
(separate and can be added to any package)
o It is highly recommended that radiographs for pre-purchase exams be sent out to a board-certified radiologist for review.
*NOTE* all neck radiographs will automatically be sent out to the radiologist. Additional fees apply for radiology review.
o Review of Pre-Purchase Examination and radiographs performed by another
veterinarian can be requested.
CORTICOSTEROID JOINT INJECTIONS
Just like their human counterparts, horses’ joints lose lubrication over time which leads to inflammation within the joint. This in turn leads to further loss of lubrication and the formation of osteoarthritis.
Corticosteroids decrease inflammation and hyaluronic acid increases lubrication. Typically, horses are sedated for these procedures to increase their safety as well as the safety of the veterinarian, technician and horse owner.
The injection site is aseptically prepared prior to injection to minimize the risk of infection.
A small needle is used to enter the joint and allow medication to be administered directly into the joint. Often, we see a positive response to the injections within a couple of weeks and they can last up to 6 months to a year or more.
AUTOLOGOUS PROTEIN SOLUTION (APS)
Often a joint requires inflammation reduction, but we don’t necessarily want to inject it with a corticosteroid (horse has Equine Cushing’s/Metabolic Disease, laminitis or is young/growing). APS gives us a natural alternative to inflammation/arthritis management by using the horse’s own blood (platelets, growth factors and anti-inflammatory cytokines). This procedure can be performed stall side within 20-30 minutes and can help relieve pain and restore the balance of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines within the joint.
PLATELET RICH PLASMA (PRP)
Tendon and ligament injuries can be devastating for horses and their owners. Prompt treatments to reduce swelling and inflammation within the ligament are key. Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) can be used in tendon and ligament core lesions in the acute phase of an injury. Platelet granules release a ton of growth factors that promote healing, potentially improve strength/elasticity and may also reduce re-injury rates. PRP is obtained from the horse’s own blood and can be processed and performed stall side.
INTERLEUKIN 1 RECEPTOR ANTAGONIST PROTEIN (IRAP)
Another available option for reduction of joint inflammation and osteoarthritis is Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein (IRAP). The protein found in IRAP antagonizes the inflammatory
response that is present within a joint after injury or with arthritis. This product is made from the horse’s own blood but requires 24 hours of incubation. The final product can be split up into multiple doses and frozen for future use. IRAP is typically injected into the affected joint(s) every 7-10 days and for a total of 3-5 injections.
STEM CELL INJECTIONS
Some injuries to joints, tendons and ligaments can be very serious and result in long periods of time off from work, failure to return to previous athletic function, high re-injury rates and sometimes even retirement. Stem cells are biological agents that release anti-inflammatory compounds and mediators which in turn recruit the body’s own stem cells to come to the area of injury and become new tendon/ligament cells. This promotes natural healing of such injuries, helps reduce scar tissue and in turn helps prevent re-injury. Stem cells can be harvested from adipose tissue (fat), bone marrow or can be provided by tissue banks (allogenic stem cells).
SHOCKWAVE THERAPY
Back pain, osteoarthritis, navicular disease, ligamentous/tendon injuries, bursitis and wounds are all common issues that cause lameness and poor performance. Often, complete treatment requires multimodal therapy as they may not respond to only one. Shockwave therapy works through high energy pressure waves (shockwaves) that go into the tissue and cause cells to release healing proteins. Those proteins provide short term reduction of pain, improve blood flow (great for tendon and ligament healing), relieve muscle tension, accelerate bone growth and modulate inflammation. The treatment session typically takes 2- 3 minutes to perform. The machine can be a bit loud and some horses experience discomfort depending on the area being treated so often we do give them some sedation to keep them comfortable. Treatment protocols can vary depending on the issue being treated but often the treatments are repeated weekly to every other week for 3-5 total treatments.
MESOTHERAPY
Back and muscle pain are common issues we see in horses due to muscle fatigue. Mesotherapy is a minimally invasive procedure that can be used to decrease pain and discomfort within the muscles. Using tiny needles, we inject a small volume of medication mixture into the dermis (skin). This helps block sensory pain fibers that pass through the skin along the horse’s neck,
back and pelvis. The injections create small bumps in the skin that resolve within a few hours. Benefits of mesotherapy are typically appreciated within 3-7 days. Often, mesotherapy is combined with Shockwave to alleviate soft tissue inflammation and pain.