MRI scans

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I'm currently debating whether or not to have an MRI done on both front feet. Please could people let me know if they had a diagnosis and if they don't mind telling me how much they paid? My insurance only covers 50%. I'm just worried that I'll send the horse for an MRI and it does not come back with a diagnosis. Nerve blocks and X-rays have been done already.

Thanks.
 
Mine had one in 2013. Think it was £1500. Just confirmed no soft tissue damage and foot balance was the problem. New farrier and horse been sound ever since.
 
My horse had one several years ago and, like star, I think it was about £1500 (my insurers, NFU, covered it all). My horse was out cantering on a hack when he swerved to avoid a pheasant that ran in front of him and he went hopping lame. Initial thoughts were he'd broken his pedal bone, as nerve blocks showed it was below the fetlock and he was absolutely hopping lame (he's a sturdy cob and even when he did his hind suspensories was barely lame, so we knew it was serious), but the xrays came back clear. He had no obvious heat/swelling and so we gave him some time off and brought him back into work slowly, but when we started the trot work he broke down again. He went for the MRI and we found a tiny lesion in his DDFT, which he then went on to have successful stem cell surgery on. I was given a 50:50 chance whether he'd come sound enough to hack, but thankfully he did come sound and he's now still enjoying his life with quiet hacks (he's 20 now). Even if my insurers hadn't paid the full amount (I think they've now changed their policy to only cover 50%), I would have gone ahead with the MRI (I've owned him for 16 years and I owe him so much!) and, luckily for us, it was worth the money as it did help us narrow down the diagnosis and led to me getting my boy back.
 
Thanks Star, that's the current diagnosis but remedial farriery hasn't resolved it so wondered if something else is going on. I did ask the vet about the shoeing but he said he was happy with it.
 
Hello, mine had one last year for suspected navicular/arthritic changes. It was around £1200 I think. He didn't have navicular or arthritic changes and I didn't get a diagnosis - though they did end up including the fetlocks in the cost as couldn't find anything in his feet. £4000 later and still no diagnosis (argghhhhhhhh).

I'm glad in a way that I did the MRI as at least I know what isn't wrong with him..... it's a hell of a lot of money though. I think if your insurance will pay half I'd probably do it.
 
I had one done last year on one foot, it cost just over £1000 and was covered by insurance.

It did not give us an 100% answer tbh - its a useful tool however I would not have had it done if I wasn't insured.

Hope you get a diagnosis either way.
 
I had an MRI done 2013 it cost me quite a bit less than 1k as it was done by a lovely vet who took pity on the fact money was tight and the horse was not insured.
The MRI found collateral ligament damage which enabled prp ( again at discount price ) to be injected right into the presise area of the damage , and after a long rehab program horse is still sound.
If the insurance is paying half I would definitely have it done. It tAkes a lot of the guess work out of diagnosis .
 
Had MRI scan done on both front feet last year, think it cost about £1400. Definitely came back with clear results and three consultants analysed the pictures before my vets saw them. Yes it was expensive but for me it was well worth the money as the correct treatment program wouldn't have been possible without them.
 
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