why don't vets scan more rountinely or sooner

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beaconhorse

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Just wondering why if a horse shows swelling and or heat and lameness and the owner says has been there for 10 days with no reduction despite all the usual cold hosing, rest or light exercise which would most likely be SL.. Why don't the vets scan more instead of just trying bute, rest, light exercise again, and in some cases yet again.

Surely it is quicker and cheaper in the long run to just scan the leg??


I am aware that there are probably still quite a few other things 'it could be' BUT surely it is the most common injury that doesn't respond to just rest, and if it was scanned early on at least owner would know :dunno:
 
Usually because they want as much inflamation as possible to have gone down so that they can get a better picture of what's going on.
 
I can understand that but the one vets I rang because they are coming to the yard today anyway, said oh no we don't scan on the first visit we just examine and advise, well I don't need advise I need to know what is wrong
 
I agree, it is so very frustrating when you know there is something wrong, and yet you are being told to bute etc etc. I had this too when Grace was not right, I just knew there was something wrong, but still the scan took three visits!
 
You may get more consistency by using the same practice??
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If i want a scan done- i just phone the vet and take the horse over to them- they can always fit you in the same day as long as you dont leave it too late. If you get one done promptly you can get a picture of whats happening before too much swelling occurs to hide the problem.
 
the one I rang this morning i have only used once and that was for routine jabs as they were already at the yard. So going to stick to the one I always use
 
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So going to stick to the one I always use

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Its' often the best thing to do. You build up a relationship with them, are able to get past the 'stock' responses, and can quite often get things done sooner than perhaps you normally would. It's so much easier to discuss options with vet's that know you - and visa versa...
 
When my horse went lame the vet came and did all the flexion tests and he worked out it was either a spavin or PSD. He came back a couple of days later nerve blocked her for Spavin and when that didn't work nerve blocked for PSD and scanned her straight away. He had also bought the xray machine with him incase it was a spavin.

I think it depends on your vet.

I think if I was buying a valuable horse in the future I would want its back legs scanned rather than xrayed as part of the vetting.
 
I've found that the vets don't always immediately scan for a number of reasons. Firstly it is expensive and time consuming and if there is swelling and heat it could just be the horse has bumped themself. By putting the horse on box rest and buting you may save yourself money. Also I've found they tend to nerve block first because otherwise they could end up having to scan too large an area. My gelding ended up having scans because he went lame behind, however nerve blocks were inconclusive. The vets ended up having to scan his back and both his back legs completely - this is an expensive procedure and so they try to avoid it where possible.
 
I find that if you know your vet well and ask specifically for a scan then you will get one. However you do need to allow for swelling to go down and to check the injury is nothing minor for which it is probably standard to give it 7-10 days to improve. if it doesn't in this time I would generally get my horses scanned, but everyones opinions differ
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We are currently studying the musculoskeletal module in college and on the first equine lecture it covers diagnosis of lameness. Here's the list of items to be carried out during a lameness exam:( to be carried out in this order)
1. signalment/description
2. History/anamnesis
3. Inspection of the horse at rest
4. Examination during exercise
5. Physical exam of the limbs
6. Flexion tests
7. Diagnostic analgesia
8. Diagnostic imaging (x-ray, u/s, scintigraphy etc.)

Specifically, we are taught not to rush in and scan without having a very clear idea as to what we are looking for.
For every one owner who, from the word go, wants their horse's legs scanned when they have been lame for a few days, there must be a few dozen who would be most unhappy if it was the first line for dx of an injury. Certainly in Ireland, if you were to jump straight in there with a scanner on an amateur's horse who has been a bit lame and sore for a few days - whack on a hundred or so to the bill and then tell them its just a knock as you suspected (and they did too) - you could fairly guarantee you wouldnt be setting foot in that yard again.
Its all grand for an owner, in hindsight, after shelling out a lot of money for tx (surgery?) of a limb injury to say, "well if that bloody vet had scanned sooner I wouldnt have wasted 2 weekswith my horse on boxrest", but how many do you think would be happy if it were their vet's routine to scan or x ray any Grade 3+ lameness EVEN if its just a knock?

Also, a very good reason for not scanning is that its entirely pointless to go scanning a limb if you havent a really good idea of the area you want to see. Much better to go ahead and palpate and then nerve block to pinpoint the region - THEN scan/xray to confirm the diagnosis and get a visual idea as to what the problem is.

Now maybe if the horse has grade 3-4 lameness and the swlling is mid palmer/planter tendon region, a vet may be justified to scan away after palpation ( but without diagnostic anaesthesia), but in the case of a limb that is swoolen from pastern to above/below the knee - he'd be far better off doing nerve blocks etc first - OR if money was an issue ( as it usually is) advising a week or ten days box rest before tx.

Also, I also have both Liverpool's and Budapest's notes on equine orthopaedics and they more or less advise the same.
 
Vets tend to wait before scanning as the scanner can lie, and to scan at the wrong time is a waste of their time and would lead to a misdiagnosis.
If the vet doesnt know you, he is not going to be able to trust that you know when the right time would be - and rightly so.
 
Hi hope you dont mind me jumping in on the post but I was wondering what you would do with horse after having surgery for hock fusion.As you are at college you probably have all up to date information and new procedures.
My vet has told me 4 weeks box rest (only 6 more days left ) then restricted turnout for 4 weeks.When he comes back into work I was wondering what he will be able to do .Not sure if I will have to wait until the bone was completely fused before schooling and /or jumping and the time period involved.I have a appointment with the surgeon next month I would like to get as much info as possible before his visit so I can think about all the questions I want to ask.
 
i think it depends on the vet , last time i had a suspected tendon isuue i had hosed , bandaged & buted for near on a week at home & it just kept puffing back up , rang the vets , gave them the history , asked to take horse to centre , first thing they said was we'll scan it , luckily turned out to be infection
 
My dressage horse was not going as well as he usually does although he was completly sound, he had some heat around his tendon area on his front leg, I cold hosed it for a week but with no improvement so I called the vet who specialises in Horses (I live in an area surounded in top racehorse/sj horses who they deal with) the vet examined him and did the usual flexion tests and told me he was sound (which i knew) and to carry on riding him lightly, I had to ask him to scan him which resulted in him finding damage to the tendon and 6 months box rest.
I know vets can not always be right but if you are not happy question their opinion, if I hadn't i would still be riding my expensive horse on a damaged tendon.
 
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