March 2021 Issue

Page 24 March 2021 EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN What is MRI? Magnetic Resonance Imag- ing is the gold standard imaging modality for orthopedic conditions in horses. Injuries involving soft tis- sue, bone, and cartilage can be de- tected with MRI when information gathered with traditional imaging methods, such as radiography and ultrasonography, is inconclusive. What parts of my horse can be imaged using MRI? Any region from the hock or the knee down can be imaged, and MRI Available at the Mid-Atlantic Equine Medical Center the specific site(s) is (are) pre-de- termined based on prior lameness evaluation and localization with blocking. The images are a series of three-dimensional “slices” of anato- my that are reviewed by board-certi- fied radiologists and surgeons. MRI has greatly improved the diagnosis and treatment of equine foot pain in the last two decades. The use of general anesthesia to acquire these images allows for better image qual- ity and more accurate diagnosis, and or imaging of regions that cannot be performed with a standing MRI. How does it work at Mid-Atlan- tic Equine Medical Center? Following a health and blood work evaluation, the horse is anesthetized and posi- tioned on a comfortable table and into the MRI scanner. After multiple sequences are acquired the horse is moved to the recov- ery stall, where they recover in the safest possible conditions. The duration of the procedure varies from 1.5 to 2.5 hours depending on the region(s) to be evaluated. When indicated, ultrasound-guided injections or surgical procedures can be performed with the assistance of the MRI images while still under general anesthesia. How to book an appointment for an MRI examination Your horse’s veterinarian is the best person to coordinate the referral for an MRI, as a thorough history will be needed prior to ad- mission. You or your veterinarian can contact Mid-Atlantic directly at (609) 397-0078. For more information on MRI and the many services offered, visit midatlanticequine. com. For updates on our new- est diagnostic modalities and services follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter! By Dr Amy Santonastaso Quakertown Veterinary Clinic Springtime is coming and with it comes vaccination season! Let’s go through some of the major vaccines and why you may choose them for your horse. Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), Western Equine Enceph- alitis (WEE), andWest Nile virus (WNV) are transmitted by insects, and any horse is potentially at risk for contracting these diseases. None of these diseases has a specific treat- ment and they all cause neurologic signs. They have a relatively high mortality rate, about 75% for EEE and about 35% for WEE andWNV. The rabies virus is spread from mammal to mammal primar- ily through bite wounds. Rabies also causes neurologic signs and is 100% fatal. In addition, this virus can be spread from a horse to people making it particularly dangerous. Often a bite wound is not easily found, and the incu- bation period can be long, so the initial wound may have healed by the time clinical signs appear. Tetanus is caused by a bacteria present in the environment and the intestinal tract of many mammals which makes its way into the body through a wound. Tetanus can be treated in some cases with anti-tox- in, but this treatment is very expen- sive and isn’t always effective. While the diseases can cause very serious illness that is very difficult to treat, the vaccines are extremely effective and very safe. The choice to give other vaccines depends on your horse’s lifestyle. Equine influenza and equine herpes virus (EHV, or rhino- pneumonitis) are viral respiratory disease that spread through respi- ratory secretions. If you travel or compete with your horse, vaccinat- ing for these diseases protects you horse from these maladies. Botulism is caused by a spore-forming bacteria in the soil and is prevalent in the mid-Atlantic region. Botulism cause weakness and death. Treatment is very ex- pensive and not always successful. For individual vaccination advice, contact Quakertown Vet- erinary Clinic at (215) 536-6245 or visit quakertownvetclinic.com. Vaccinations: What to Consider