MicroVet

KautoStar1

KautoStar1

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Has anyone used this gadget and if so was it on the advice of your vet or did you just research and purchase ?
If used, what sort of results do you get ?
What sort of injuries did you use it for ?

thanks
 
KautoStar1 said:
Has anyone used this gadget and if so was it on the advice of your vet or did you just research and purchase ?
If used, what sort of results do you get ?
What sort of injuries did you use it for ?

thanks
Click to expand...

Hi,
I have used the 'old' Microvet. I believe the new one is Ian Thurkells as well? I would thoroughly recommend it and have just recommended it to a friend a few days ago who bought one. More than happy to give more info by PM. Ian Thurkells customer service was 110%, the product was worth every penny.
 
Please note Ian Thirkell is NOT involved with MicroVet and has never been involved with the design or developement of MicroVet or MicroDoctor.

Any new product he may be involved in is not part of MicroVet.

MicroVet customer service is 100% as always.

Check out microvet on www.microvet.co.uK
 
So what is the difference between the Microvet product and the Arc Equine product.
Also, have any studies been done to evaluate the difference between horses treated with Microvet and those who followed the same re-hab but without the microcurrent technology ?

I've got a horse with a small tear to his hind DDFT and he's with a top lameness specialist and I mentioned this technology to him and he'd not heard of it.
My horse is on box rest with controlled exercise and I'm willing to try alternative therapies, as long as there is no risk of damaging the tendon further (which is already making good progress). But £200 is a lot of money.

thanks
 
Another who would be interested, just waiting for their customer services to call me as the number on the website is their distribution centre.
 
I too am interested to find out if this product could be beneficial for my chap who has damaged his Collateral Ligaments of the Coffin joint - have emailed MicroVet and will post response on here :)
 
We use these little gadgets on the racehorses at work and I highly recommend them. We use them more on sore backs than tendons and find that after just a couple of sessions the horses are much improved and more supple. Of course we don't use them solely for backs, we have specialists in massaging and stuff to help but they are an invaluable tool in the kit.
 
I’ve e-mailed asking for more info too. My main query is there seems to be a lack of scientific data to back up the claims, but this relates to the Arc Equine product (which seems the same technology – are these the same people ?) as well as the Microvet product. I’m particularly interested in the micro current technology in relation to tendon repair. Both products claim great results, but in most cases the results have been in conjunction with box rest and controlled exercise. I’m interested to know if there are trials done on horses that had the same re-hab programme but without the micro current technology. Was there any difference in the results. To me, that’s key. Otherwise how do you know it wasn’t the traditional treatment programme that worked. The micro current could just be a placebo.
I mentioned this to my vet, who said he’d just taken a lecture on tendon repair and the advances now available to vets, which include shock wave, stem cell, IRAP, PRP etc etc and he’d not come across micro current. And as he’s a leading lameness specialist, I’d expect him to be aware of it at least.
I’m not saying it doesn’t work but before I part with £200 I want to see some more tangible data. I can’t find that information on either products web site.
 
KautoStar1 said:
I’ve e-mailed asking for more info too. My main query is there seems to be a lack of scientific data to back up the claims, but this relates to the Arc Equine product (which seems the same technology – are these the same people ?) as well as the Microvet product. I’m particularly interested in the micro current technology in relation to tendon repair. Both products claim great results, but in most cases the results have been in conjunction with box rest and controlled exercise. I’m interested to know if there are trials done on horses that had the same re-hab programme but without the micro current technology. Was there any difference in the results. To me, that’s key. Otherwise how do you know it wasn’t the traditional treatment programme that worked. The micro current could just be a placebo.
I mentioned this to my vet, who said he’d just taken a lecture on tendon repair and the advances now available to vets, which include shock wave, stem cell, IRAP, PRP etc etc and he’d not come across micro current. And as he’s a leading lameness specialist, I’d expect him to be aware of it at least.
I’m not saying it doesn’t work but before I part with £200 I want to see some more tangible data. I can’t find that information on either products web site.
Click to expand...

I think the person who is involved with Arc Equine used to be involved with Microvet but that is another question I have asked that hasn't been answered.

So far the customer services is not what I would expect.
 
I got a reply from Frances at Micro vet but it didn’t really answer my questions, which is a bit frustrating, so I’ve replied, asking for more detail. Surely there has to be some scientific data to back up the claims. How will it be possible to get vets to buy into the new technology if there is no science behind it.
I suppose its difficult when you launch a new product onto the market, as you don’t want to give too many details away, otherwise you won’t retain your competitive advantage.
But, as my vet said, ever since man domesticated the horse, tendons have been a problem and its only fairly recently that new treatments have started to prove their worth, but all these are done under strict scientific guidelines with many years of research with papers published etc.
 
I'm still waiting - over a week now since my initial enquiry. She did call me last Friday but I couldn't talk so she was supposed to call again on Saturday. Still nothing despite a call to her and an email. I get the impression it's not a big company!
 
Please can I just ask, how do you use this device, do you bandage it on to the horses leg or hold it in place for a few minutes. I would be really interested to find out more.
 
I'd be interested to find out more about this as well , I met Ian recently and he said how marvellous the product was, but had purely anecdotal evidence..
 
The device comes with adhesive pads which attach to the skin. Firstly the sight needs to be clipped as close to the skin as possible, then cleaned with surgical spirit or some form of skin cleanser. This is important to remove grease and hair to enable the pads to stick. It is a help to attach the pads with a piece of surgical tape or elastoplast to hold them more securley. A light damp bandage is the applied over the pads and around the leg, as you would put on stable bandage. A light crepe bandage is best as this is not too thick so won't make the leg too hot. It needs to be damp to help the micro current move between the pads, there is no feeling or sensation.
The unit can be placed securely in the pouch and attached to the outside of the leg with the neoprene strap or to a roller / rug. It will be on for ½ hr for the early phases of treatment 3 times a day. Then the unit will run continuosly when the later phases are used. At this time the unit can remain attached to the horse and the horse let down or turned out if the temperament allows.
 
EKW said:
We use these little gadgets on the racehorses at work and I highly recommend them. We use them more on sore backs than tendons and find that after just a couple of sessions the horses are much improved and more supple. Of course we don't use them solely for backs, we have specialists in massaging and stuff to help but they are an invaluable tool in the kit.
Click to expand...

Hi EKW

Just email www.microvet.co.uk with your address for an accessory pack including pads and leads completely free of charge.
 
I had a very nice response from Ian at Arc Equine, who was involved in the early developments of Micro Doctor and Micro vet but is not involved in the current Microvet product and now sells his own version via Arc Equine. They may or may not be similar – he has no idea of the sequences, waveforms etc. within new MicroVet.

However, it would appear that neither product has anything but anecdotal evidence for their products, at this stage at least. From what I can gather the trials were conducted on horses that were already on vet approved rehab programmes and therefore it’s not impossible to assume that those horses would have recovered anyway, without the micro current technology. I don’t think there have been any comparison trials, although I stand to be corrected on that. It seems that micro current is sold on the basis of speed of healing, not necessarily improved healing and therefore the results you’d get would probably be achieved by following a standard rehab plan. I spoke to my vet and equine physio who both said there was no scientific data to back up the claims and treatment, for horses, at least is best done with things such as ultra sound, shock wave therapy, controlled exercise and other proven methods for tendon and ligament repair. As my vet said, the worst thing you can do for a tendon is turn your horse out until its back in full work and the tendon is with standing appropriate exercise.


Of course, I hope there will be some data to back up the claims, because it could be a great addition to any horse owners kit, but the cost of the units are way too much, in my opinion, for the average owner to spend. And without clinical approval, I doubt any insurance company would cover the cost of a unit, as suggested to me by Microvet. How ? Why ?
Therefore my conclusion is that they are not worth the money.
 
Saddly I've never had any success using shockwave theraphy, it was used about 6 times for 2 different problems with my last horse but made no difference that i could see, and a few folks that i have spoken too have had the same experience.

I've spoken to a couple of people who use the microcurrent units and they swear by them - all anecdotal i know but i'm saving my money, not going the shockwave route but testing the microcurrent :D. So i'll let you know how it goes.

PS i have to say that Ian has been incrediably helpful
 
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Can I advise anyone thinking of purchasing one of these items to INSIST that it is sent via a tracked delivery service or courier. Microvet currently dispatch using standard second class post. Mine took 10 days to arrive, resulting in a delay to the start of treatment and much anxiety as to whether it would turn up at all. Whilst I was assured that another one would be sent if it didn't arrive after 14 days, I just feel that you have no proof as to its whereabouts, or that it has even been dispatched, if it does go missing/fails to turn up.
 
microvet said:
MicroVet customer service is 100% as always.
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Really?

Why then did I have to chase for a response to my first email to you over a month ago, to be told to email someone else, who has never bothered to get back to me?

I work in the animal health sector as well as being a horse owner, and one of my clients was extremely interested in trialling this machine for a veterinary publication as a wound treatment. I was considering buying one for use on my own horse. I'm not sure I can be bothered now.
 
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