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Equine/Large Animal Services
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Arthroscopy
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Bone Scanning (Scintigraphy)
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Colic Surgery
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Computed Radiography
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Gastroscopy
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General Equine Medicine
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I.R.A.P.
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Lameness Assessment
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Laryngeal Surgery
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Laser Surgery
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Nerve Muscle Pedicle Graft
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Orthopaedic Surgery
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Pre-Purchase Examination
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Respiratory Tract Diagnostics-
Noise Analysis
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Video Endoscopy for Respiratory Diagnostics
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Yearling Sale Radiography
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Referral Surgery for all emergency cases
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New Flooring in all horse stalls
The Ballarat Veterinary Practice has recently installed rubber mats to all horse boxes for increased comfort of horses during their stay in the clinic. Charles Stenberg from the “The Horseshed Shop” supplied and fitted the rubber mats. The Practice had previously installed different types of rubber in 2 boxes for laminitic horses but the cost was prohibitive to do all boxes in the clinic.
The installation of the rubber mats has reduced the bedding necessary to keep patients comfortable. In the mare-foal boxes the flooring also helps keep foals warm when lying down as well as providing a non slip surface for foals trying to get up when still unsteady on their legs.
Gastroscopy
We can examine the equine stomach at our clinic. No longer are horses with vague digestive disorders treated symptomatically, gastric ulceration can be quickly diagnosed and treatment tailored to the extent and severity of identified lesions. Horses are starved for 12-18 hours prior to gastroscopy and under sedation, with a nose twitch applied, the mucosa of the stomach is viewed and recorded on videotape.
Nerve Muscle Pedicle Graft
The nerve muscle pedicle graft is a technique used to innervate a muscle that has lost its natural nerve supply. In horses it is used primarily to reinnervate one of the muscles responsible for opening the larynx of horses that are afflicted with the condition commonly known as "roaring". In this condition the horse has a partly or totally paralysed muscle on one side of the larynx usually the left side and it renders most horses unsuitable for high speed exercise such as racing.
The nerve muscle pedicle graft as a technique of muscle reinnervation has been investigated since the early 1970's when it was tested in dogs as a model for use in people. The first people to be successfully reinnervated were reported on in 1976 by the pioneer of laryngeal reinnervation Dr Harvey Tucker form the Cleveland Clinic in America. The first research undertaken in horses was at Cornell State University in New York State. Dr Norm Ducharme and colleagues were the first to describe 3 different ways to attempt laryngeal reinnervation in the horse.
Between 1987 and 1990 Dr Ian Fulton and a team of researchers at Michigan State University were able to show using treadmill studies that effective laryngeal reinnervation was possible in horses that were experimentally created "roarers". Since 1990 Dr Fulton has been performing the nerve muscle pedicle graft in both racing and pleasure horses. The technique has been shown to allow at least 60% of race horses to go back and win races. Dr Fulton has operated on over 300 horses with this technique.
Ongoing research at Michigan State University is trying to improve the success rate and time for muscle function to return using peripheral nerve stimulation. This project is being conducted by Dr Phil Cramp as a resident in Equine Surgery at Michigan State. Other research that is ongoing involves using growth factors being used at the time of surgery and is being undertaken by Dr Kate Steel at Melbourne University in collaboration with Dr Fulton.
For more information on this procedure please contact Dr Ian Fulton or Dr Brian Anderson at the Equine Clinic.
Bone Scanning has become an integral part of lameness diagnosis at the Ballarat Veterinary Practice. Scintigraphic examination although highly sensitive, lacks some specificity. By combining the scanning results with other imaging modalities such as computed radiography, ultrasonography and using diagnostic analgesia, a more precise diagnosis is possible. This enables a more accurate estimate of prognosis, which in many cases is critical when dealing with equine athletes.
Scanning horses in training is possible with little disruption to their fitness programs. The procedure can be performed and the horse discharged within 24 hours. A whole body scan can be performed to evaluate known sites causing lameness and to identify other sites which may be resulting in reduced performance. Elite athletes can be "fine tuned" in this way by treating specific sites found to be affected. Alternatively a horse about to be spelled can be scanned to identify areas that may need treatment during the spelling process.
The digital camera can acquire high detail scans making the diagnosis of many difficult lamenesses now possible. To make examination safer and cheaper, please remove all horse shoes prior to transport
IRAP
The wonder Drug for Equine Joints
A revolutionary new product has recently become available for horse that have arthritis. The drug name is IRAP which stands for Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist Protein. This protein is naturally within the horse and a special process can produce a concentrate of the protein to inject into the joints of horses. IRAP is one of the most potent anti-inflammatory chemicals in the horse's body. Being able to concentrate the protein and place it inside the joints can provide tremendous relief of pain in horses with arthritis.
To be a suitable candidate for IRAP horse need to have their lameness isolated to a joint or joints by using local anaesthesia to ensure there are not other causes of pain present. Once selected as a good candidate, 60 ml of blood is collected form the horse in a specialised patented syringe and incubated for 24 hours. At the end of incubation the blood is processed to produce and concentrate of serum that can be injected directly into a joint. Most syringes can produce between 20 and 30 ml of serum. Most smaller joints such as the fetlock and knee require 4-5 ml of serum where larger joints like the stifle require up to 9 ml. Serum can be frozen for up to12 months after collection
The standard protocol is to have the joint injected 3 times a weeks apart and then on an as needed basis. Up to 3- 4 months of pain free exercise is capable after the first set on injections. One study in the USA has shown that IRAP can stop the onset of degenerative changes in injured joints and it may well be useful prophylactically in young 2 year old horses.
For more information contact the Equine Clinic.
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