Equine Diagnostics
When treating any animal, horses included, diagnostic testing and imaging are truly invaluable veterinary tools. Without proper diagnostics, it can be nearly impossible to accurately diagnose a horse’s underlying conditions based on its symptoms and physical examination alone. If your horse is ill, our equine veterinarians might recommend an equine endoscopy.
Diagnostic Tools at
Jackpot Veterinary Center
Our equine veterinary center is equipped with a variety of tools needed to perform diagnostics.
Equine Endoscopy
We might recommend an upper and/or lower airway endoscopy for your horse if it has any of the following symptoms:
Chronic cough
Nose bleeds
Nasal discharge
Breathing or respiratory concerns
Wheezing or other noises
We might recommend a gastroscopy for your horse if your horse is exhibiting any signs or symptoms of potential gastric ulcers, which are an incredibly common occurrence in all horses, but especially in performance horses that might be under work-related stress.
Equine Ultrasound
Ultrasound is another type of diagnostic imaging that produces a moving, real-time picture (like a movie) called an ultrasound or sonogram. Ultrasonic imaging uses high-frequency sound waves that permeate a patient’s tissues and bounce off of internal structures. These readings are then interpreted by a sonogram machine and translated into an image of a patient’s internal structures.
This imaging is great for looking at soft tissue structures and performing guided injections into soft tissue lesions, spaces or joints.
Equine Radiography
Radiography is the study of radiographs (also called x-ray images), which are pictures of a patient’s internal structures that are taken using short bursts of x-ray radiation.
At Jackpot Veterinary Center, we have a modern digital radiograph system that is much safer for our patients, as it requires a much shorter exposure time to x-ray radiation. Additionally, digital radiographs are instantly available to view and share, which means we can usually take radiographs and diagnose your horse during a single appointment.
Equine Endoscopy at Jackpot Veterinary Center in Tucson
Many horse owners wonder why endoscopy is necessary to diagnose their horse’s health concern or why we simply can’t try out medication and see if it helps the horse improve – without first performing an endoscopy.
Several medical problems that affect horses can have similar symptoms, and providing the wrong treatment to an ill horse could actually worsen its condition. The safest and most effective way to treat a horse’s health problem is by first achieving an accurate diagnosis with a thorough examination and any necessary diagnostic testing.
We’re fully equipped to provide both upper and lower airway endoscopy, arthroscopy, laparotomy, as well as gastroscopy services.
Both of these imaging procedures can be extremely helpful in identifying problems that can otherwise be difficult to detect and diagnose. Endoscopy takes the guesswork out of treating ill horses, enabling our veterinarians to identify the underlying cause of a horse’s symptoms or lameness to provide safe and effective treatment.
To learn more about equine endoscopy or to schedule an appointment for your horse, we welcome you to contact our office today.
