Advice wanted regarding cost of x rays and full lameness work ups

KittenInTheTree

KittenInTheTree

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What should I anticipate needing to pay for a full lameness work up plus x rays of EVERYTHING that could be related to that, including all four legs, fetlocks, hooves, stifles, pelvis, back, and neck, etc? I'm not looking to cut any corners, and am fully prepared to self fund the entire thing if need be. All that matters to me is the horse's comfort and wellbeing.

And for the NI posters: Are there any vets here in Northern Ireland who specialise in the above, and will come out to the yard instead of needing me to bring the horse in question to them?

Kind thoughts and healing vibes appreciated, and thanks in advance 😟
 
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My invoice from last week - includes 1 x shared visit, 1 trot up & flexions, sedation and a full set of xrays with probably 40+ plates including multiple views of stifle x 2, hocks x 2, fetlocks x 4 and spine wither to tail.

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It's hard to know as generally need nerve blocks.
If horse blocks to the foot/first block (start at the lowest point) brilliant, if not you have to work uo tge leg which is added cost
 
I paid about £500 for a full set of x-rays including back a year ago in the north of England. This was part of a 5 stage vetting that was about £450. So I think budgeting 1K is a good starting point
 
Thanks all. I was expecting the price to be a lot higher than that, so am feeling a tiny bit relieved!

I have a fair idea of where the issues probably stem from, but I'd rather be safe and get the whole lot checked.
 
I just had a bill for a visit, just 4 X-rays and 20 sachets of Bute for just over £500. I wasn’t impressed as they wouldn’t even send me the X-rays I had to take photos which were not great quality. Personally I would prepare for a lot more but as others said, it depends how much blocking is needed. If you are intending to check everything you might find a bone scan cheaper and better for the horse (not so many needles).
 
I don’t think Tullyraine would come out for a full work up like that unfortunately, especially if they need to nerve block, let them wear off etc etc. I have found them to be quite accommodating when transport / time is challenging, would it be an option to drop horse off and let them work away? I’ve done that before a couple of times.
Alternatively you could try KR, they seem to be quite well equipped as well and might be a bit more flexible with travel.
Another option could be Manor Equine - I think she is mostly mobile and I found her really good recently in dealing with post foaling complications. Obviously a completely different situation to you but she was very thorough and professional.

I’ve used all 3 clinics recently for various reasons 😅 I am only just home from Tullyraine actually ffs
 
sheep said:
I don’t think Tullyraine would come out for a full work up like that unfortunately, especially if they need to nerve block, let them wear off etc etc. I have found them to be quite accommodating when transport / time is challenging, would it be an option to drop horse off and let them work away? I’ve done that before a couple of times.
Alternatively you could try KR, they seem to be quite well equipped as well and might be a bit more flexible with travel.
Another option could be Manor Equine - I think she is mostly mobile and I found her really good recently in dealing with post foaling complications. Obviously a completely different situation to you but she was very thorough and professional.

I’ve used all 3 clinics recently for various reasons 😅 I am only just home from Tullyraine actually ffs
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I'm willing to transport if need be, but the horse panics at the mere sight of a trailer or a box or a lorry, so ideally I'd prefer to have everything done here.

Hope your vet visit went well!
 
KittenInTheTree said:
I'm willing to transport if need be, but the horse panics at the mere sight of a trailer or a box or a lorry, so ideally I'd prefer to have everything done here.

Hope your vet visit went well!
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Give Quirine at Manor a shout and see if she can help, she’s a one woman band so she might be a bit more flexible than the bigger outfits possibly. She’s based around Ballygowan but I think she travels a bit, too.

All good here thankfully, just a couple of routine bits - I was a frequent flyer with Tullyraine there for a good while dealing with a tendon injury but this was much more straightforward thankfully!
 
i’ve had 2 done, both coming in around 1.5k - today’s was nerve blocks, x-rays and ultrasound of both feet. last time was nerve blocks, x-rays of hocks and ultrasound of stifles. i’ll attach today’s invoice, and lilys from 2 years ago if i can find it!
 

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dottylottie said:
i’ve had 2 done, both coming in around 1.5k - today’s was nerve blocks, x-rays and ultrasound of both feet. last time was nerve blocks, x-rays of hocks and ultrasound of stifles. i’ll attach today’s invoice, and lilys from 2 years ago if i can find it!
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What is first X ray and set up for £100?
 
IrishMilo said:
What is first X ray and set up for £100?
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i’m guessing the set up and a test shot? she could’ve made it cheaper for me by not needing the sedation too, i clipped her legs myself for the scans last time around so i don’t know why she decided today was the day to be scared of clippers🤣
 
I don’t know your location so don’t know who is the closest, but kr will come out (within reason) but ask for Chris. If you can though, getting down to Tullyraine would be handy, Hugh will probably have the answer in his head before you X-ray lol
 
dottylottie said:
i’m guessing the set up and a test shot? she could’ve made it cheaper for me by not needing the sedation too, i clipped her legs myself for the scans last time around so i don’t know why she decided today was the day to be scared of clippers🤣
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It just caught my eye - seems odd that they charged you to set up the machine given you took her into the clinic!
 
IrishMilo said:
It just caught my eye - seems odd that they charged you to set up the machine given you took her into the clinic!
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It's very standard to charge a set fee for x-raying and then for additional plates on top of that
It doesn’t make much difference whether you set up the machine in the clinic or off site, the maintenance of the machine and the prep is the same. It takes quite a long time to input the client details and to plan the imaging, plus you are paying for the admin time afterwards of sorting them, adding them to the client file and potentially emailing them on
 
Depending what the issue is, if you want the whole body assessing I would always start with a bone scan. There can often be multiple areas effected causing the horse to compensate elsewhere. I have always found full body bone scans to be very enlightening and have never failed to give me the answers I needed.
 
sheep said:
Give Quirine at Manor a shout and see if she can help, she’s a one woman band so she might be a bit more flexible than the bigger outfits possibly. She’s based around Ballygowan but I think she travels a bit, too.

All good here thankfully, just a couple of routine bits - I was a frequent flyer with Tullyraine there for a good while dealing with a tendon injury but this was much more straightforward thankfully!
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Will always second a rec for Quirine! Though she does have a part time vet working with her now who does a lot of the lameness work ups as she is more specialised, so you may get her. She is also excellent, and very thorough.
 
smolmaus said:
Will always second a rec for Quirine! Though she does have a part time vet working with her now who does a lot of the lameness work ups as she is more specialised, so you may get her. She is also excellent, and very thorough.
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She was an excellent help with our mare - we sadly lost a foal during a very traumatic birth but she did a brilliant job with the aftercare.
As I say, obviously not lameness related, but just another option!

Hope your horse is seen soon OP and you get some answers. It’s such a stress.
 
I’ve recently taken a horse to the vets for a loss of performance/ lameness workup. We trotted up/ lunged on hard and soft and examined, then started blocking behind and had a set of x-rays which came to £1300, we were at the clinic for a whole afternoon and had a good idea of the issue and where to go next after that although there was obviously more cost after that

Edited to add this was a top class equine hospital as that’s the vet I use on the regular
 
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