Laboratory tests are used by vets to help them diagnose disease in sick animals. Increasingly they are also used as part of a routine health check to detect hidden disease before the development of obvious symptoms. This allows your horse to be treated earlier and more effectively. Tests may be used to show whether a... Read more »
Platelet rich plasma (PRP) is an autologous biological product made from the horse's own blood. It can only be used in the same horse that has provided the blood sample. PRP contains a higher concentration of platelets than blood, and platelets are rich in various growth factors that benefit tissue healing. The idea behind using... Read more »
IRAP stands for interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein, which is an anti-inflammatory product that the body produces. IRAP is known to counteract inflammatory damage in joints that is caused by osteoarthritis. IRAP can be manufactured from a horse's blood, which is processed in a laboratory, before it is injected into a joint of the same horse. What is... Read more »
In order to reach a diagnosis when attending to your horse, your vet may need to take some samples such a blood, urine, skin scrapings, biopsies or faeces. If your horse requires further diagnostic tests more samples may be taken such as fluid from the lungs or the abdomen. But what happens to all these... Read more »
There are a variety of different imaging modalities used every day in equine veterinary practice. They are used to assess the type and severity of injury in both bone and soft tissue structures of the musculoskeletal system. Most equine practices have radiography and ultrasonography equipment available. Larger clinics and referral centres often have more advanced... Read more »
Some forms of alternative or complementary medicine such as osteopathy and physiotherapy are widely used in veterinary medicine alongside conventional treatment. However, horse owners are increasingly looking at other alternative therapies such as acupuncture, herbal medicine and homeopathy to help with a wide variety of common complaints. What is osteoapthy? Osteopathy is an established science... Read more »
Anaesthesia is used for a variety of veterinary procedures, including surgical, diagnostic and dental procedures. Anaesthesia will ensure your horse is kept pain-free during these procedures. What is anaesthesia? Anaesthesia is defined as a loss of sensation. Anaesthesia will stop your horse from feeling pain and other sensations, and it can be given in various... Read more »