Eggleston Equine is pleased to announce the recent acquisition of an Eklin® Digital Radiography (x-ray) system and a Universal® Digital Ultrasound. These acquisitions reflect our commitment to providing state-of-the-art diagnostics and imaging as well as our commitment to the performance and welfare of the horses under our care.

Why is this news so exciting?

• Digital x-ray and ultrasound gives us superior imaging and diagnostic capabilities in the areas of lameness and pre-purchase–as well as in any area of equine veterinary medicine where a radiograph or ultrasound would be indicated.

• Digital x-ray allows for real-time diagnostics, meaning better and faster care for you and your horses–pre-purchase exams where you don’t have to wait for the x-ray findings and lameness exams where you can start treatment immediately. Instant results also mean fewer costly and inconvenient retakes.

• The quality of digital imaging is simply better versus traditional imaging. The images are of a higher quality and are more detailed, meaning better ability to identify subtle or elusive problems.

• These technologies will allow us to image areas of the horse that we couldn’t previously—the neck, back and pelvis—and get vastly improved images of the stifle and skull.

• Because we’re dealing will digital images, the x-ray and ultrasound images can quickly and easily be shared with other veterinarians in cases of referral or second opinion. The images can easily be provided to you, the horse owner, to keep as part of your medical records. The images can be shared with your trainer and farier.

Lets take a look…

What does this mean for your horse?

As mentioned above, digital imaging means better and faster care for your horse. Digital imaging produces results quickly; the image quality is superior; the x-ray & ultrasound images can be easily transferred to a CD and given to you, the horse owner, or your farrier, your trainer, or another veterinarian. These basic facts of digital imaging have implications for the routine care and management of your horse.

Take the example of baseline radiographs. With digital technology, baseline radiographs–of the front feet, hocks, etc.–become not only easier to take but also can result in significant improvements in the care of your horse. Imagine having baseline front feet radiographs and being able to give them to your farrier at the time of shoeing. With traditional radiography you would either need to arrange a consultation between your veterinarian and farrier, or have your vet send the x-rays, if willing, directly to the farrier. The consultation or x-ray review would need to happen before shoeing and might carry an additional cost. Because of the difficulty in handling traditional x-rays and because of the possible increased cost, the use of x-rays in conjunction with farrier work is not the norm. With digital radiography and the ease in which x-rays can be transferred, the barriers to the use of x-rays in farrier work are removed. The potential for improved farrier work is great.

In the area of pre-purchase, the purchase exam is sometimes done with constraints of time and location. The exam might have to be done in such a limited time window, with a purchase decision made in that window, that traditional x-rays are not feasible. Or the location of the exam is such that timely processing of traditional x-rays cannot be done. In cases like these, the purchaser would have to make a decision with incomplete information, relying only on the results of the physical and motion exams and trusting the seller–a recipe for a regrettable outcome. Digital radiography removes the constraints of time and distance and allows the buyer complete information in the purchase of a horse.

The areas of farrier work and pre-purchase are just two where digital imaging has a positive if not revolutionary effect.

Contact Dr. Eggleston at dr@egglestonequine.com or at (860) 942-3365 to see how digital imaging relates to your pre-purchase, hoof care, or other veterinary care needs.