Nuclear Scintigraphy
Nuclear scintigraphy, commonly referred to as "bone scan," is a sensitive imaging technique that localizes injuries and inflammation. It can pinpoint elusive lameness and causes for poor performance, multiple limb lameness, and mid-back and pelvic pain. It is especially useful when other diagnostics are inconclusive.

Our nuclear scintigraphy system is the only one within a 200 mile radius. We use a state of the art gamma camera, the same as that used at Washington State University and Columbia Equine Hospital in Gresham, Oregon.

Nuclear scintigraphy utilizes an isotope injected intravenously. The isotope circulates the body and accumulates in areas of inflammation and bone remodeling. The camera captures an image, and “hot spots” indicate locations of inflammation and bone remodeling.

Nuclear scintigraphy requires only sedation. Sedation is administered by an intravenous catheter and, in most cases. The procedure requires removal of your horse's shoes. Your horse needs to arrive the day before and will be hospitalized for 24 hours following the procedure.

Digital Radiography
The clinic’s advanced diagnostic imaging includes portable computed digital x-rays and a powerful in-house 300 mA x-ray machine which allows detailed examination of the head, neck, chest, upper limbs and abdomen.

Digital radiographs can be done with a direct or computed system. Direct digital allows you to see the image immediately, but you lose diagnostic detail due to the smaller computer and image. Computed digital provides far more detail. Most human hospitals use computed digital radiography because of the quality difference. When computed radiographs are taken on a farm call, the doctor will bring the cassettes to the clinic for processing into high-resolution images.

Digital Ultrasound
Advanced digital ultrasound technology allows us to thoroughly analyze soft tissue injuries. The higher megahertz probes and digital screen analysis allow subtle lesions to be recognized, with fewer artifacts misdiagnosed as injuries.

Our ultrasounds have separate probes for musculoskeletal, reproductive and abdominal evaluations.



All ultrasounds produce sound waves, which are reflected by tissues back to the probe recording a pattern on the screen. The denser the tissue, the more the sound waves are reflected. Sound waves pass through fluid unaffected and do not penetrate bone. Therefore, ultrasound is effective for soft tissue diagnosis and injuries involving tendons, ligaments, muscles, joint capsule and cartilage.

Video Endoscopy
We have 1-meter and 3-meter fiber optic video endoscopes. The 1-meter scope allows evaluation of the upper airways, sinuses, urethra/bladder and uterus in a standing horse. In addition, many of the problems identified this way can be treated with the diode laser fiber passed through the endoscope. The 3-meter endoscope reaches the stomach of an adult horse for examination of the esophagus and stomach for ulcers, tumors and strictures.