VETERINARY
Beyond x-rays In the old days, when a racehorse had a problem, the stable veterinarian would do a routine lameness examination and then take x-rays of anything suspicious. Today, veterinarians have a variety of sophisticated diagnostic devices that can reveal issues in detail. The modalities commonly used today are digital x-ray, ultrasound, thermography, scintigraphy, and sometimes magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Each procedure is better for some injuries and less effective for others. Another device, the Lameness Locator, offers to take the guesswork out of a lameness examination. WORDS: DeniSe SteffanuS PHOtOS: neW BOltOn CenteR, DR. tRaCY tuRneR DVM, MS
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TRAINERMAGAZINE.COM ISSUE 38
Digital x-rays
Digital x-ray is the most widely used innovation in veterinary diagnostics in recent years. Similar to the increased capabilities of digital photography over film, digital x-ray enables veterinarians to manipulate the images via computer to enlarge, sharpen, and lighten areas that are difficult to read, which reduces the likelihood of missing subtle changes that may not have been discernible on film x-rays. Sophisticated software can help the veterinarian interpret the data more accurately.