Advanced Technology & Diagnostics
Diagnostics
Finding the Cause
Horizon Equine uses a range of diagnostic equipment, including digital ultrasound, digital radiography, endoscopy and gastroscopy, to find the cause of your horse’s problem and plan the right treatment.
Clear images and accurate results let our veterinarians make decisions sooner and monitor your horse’s progress through treatment and recovery.
Digital Ultrasound
Ultrasound is our main tool for examining soft tissues such as tendons and ligaments. It is essential for diagnosing injuries and monitoring healing, so treatment and return to work can be adjusted as your horse progresses. We also use ultrasound routinely for reproduction, colic and respiratory exams.
Digital Radiography
Digital X-rays are used to evaluate bones, joints and some soft tissues. Images are available immediately, so your veterinarian can assess the findings and discuss next steps with you during the same visit.
Endoscopy
An endoscope is a thin camera used to examine and record images of structures inside the body.
In the upper airway, endoscopy allows our veterinarians to examine the nasal passages, pharynx and larynx, including an assessment of laryngeal function. In the lower airway, the endoscope is passed down the trachea to examine the bronchi of the lungs.
Endoscopy is also used to examine the sinuses, oral cavity, bladder and uterus, helping to diagnose conditions that cannot be seen from the outside.
Gastroscopy
Gastroscopy uses a long endoscope passed down the esophagus to examine the stomach. Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS) is common, particularly in performance horses and horses under stress from illness, and can show up as poor appetite, weight loss, girthiness, recurrent mild colic or poor performance. Gastroscopy is the definitive way to diagnose and grade gastric ulcers. It allows both the squamous and glandular regions of the stomach to be examined. These two regions develop different types of ulcers that respond to different treatments, so medication can be selected for the condition your horse actually has, and its response monitored with a follow-up gastroscopy.
Gastroscopy is performed in our hospital, and we accept referral cases. Your horse is admitted the day before and stays overnight at the clinic, where food is withheld so the stomach is empty and can be fully examined. The procedure is performed the next day under standing sedation, and your veterinarian then discusses the findings and treatment options with you.
Shockwave Therapy
Shockwave therapy delivers high-energy pressure waves through the skin to an injured area. The waves stimulate blood flow and the release of growth factors, improving the quality of tissue healing, and they also reduce pain. Shockwave is used to treat musculoskeletal conditions such as ligament and tendon injuries, arthritis, navicular disease, and neck and back pain.
Treatment is usually given as a series of sessions a few weeks apart. Shockwave is often combined with orthobiologic treatments such as PRP to support healing, and pain relief is often seen soon after treatment.
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