Bone scans - what can you tell me?

[SpruceRI]

Is it the bone scan that they inject horses with radioactive material? How long is it before the horse can come home after this scan? Are they anaesthetised? Or just doped?


Is the whole body scanned or just on area/part?

How long does it all take?

Thanks

 

[Letslip]

Yes it's where they are injected with a radioactive isotope, usually 2.5 hours before the scan is performed.

Horses are sedated for the exam but not aneathetised and the scan can last between 1 and 3 hours depending on the size of area scanned (generally the referring vet will have an idea of where the problem may be so tend to focus on that area first).

Horses are left in isolation for 36 hours after the isotope has been injected and then it takes around 2 days before the isotope has broken down and left the body, so it is the earliest that a horse can leave the horsepital, but sometimes they may keep them in a day longer to make sure.

 

[quirky]

Mine had one done last month.

She had it on the monday, she was left alone on the tuesday and we nerve blocked and did a lameness work up on wednesday. I took her home late wednesday.

They are sedated really to keep them still, it is a big xray machine that goes over the top of them, if a whole body scan is done and it can take a while.

 

[GLEEK]

I worked at a horse-pital and i have held horses for bone scans then looked after radioactive horses. The longest bone scan i ever did took 1 1/2 hours all horses are doped for it. We used to always do it that the horse was injected with there radioactieness before 12 then the bone scan was performed around 2ish. If the horse wears a rug it is taken off them just before there injecion then cant go on until 36 hours i think. Food hay and water is just put in he door way so as the groom doesnt have o go i the sable with them. Once the horse has left the whole stable is emptied and washed ready for the next horse

 

[SpruceRI]

Thank you all

Would it be the same price for the whole body?

What does it show? Arthritis/bone fractures/chips/breaks?

Does it show soft tissue damage?

Thanks!