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Diagnostics & Therapy

Located in The Plains, Virginia, The Piedmont Equine Practice provides medical care for horses in the surrounding counties of Fauquier, Rappahannock, Warren, Prince William, Loudoun, Frederick, Clarke, parts of Fairfax and Culpeper and some adjacent counties in Maryland and West Virginia.

Diagnostic Services

The Piedmont Equine Practice’s advanced diagnostic imaging modalities include:

  • Nuclear Medicine – Bone scans are performed using a state of the art digital gamma camera manufactured by MiE 
  • Digital Radiography  
  • Digital Ultrasonography  
  • Interpretation of diagnostic images by a board-certified radiologist is available within 24 hours 
  • Lameness Locator  – a system that enables a veterinarian to objectively identify lameness in horses using small body-mounted wireless sensors and a computer. The system provides an analysis that indicates where the horse is lame, the severity of the lameness, the limb or limbs involved, and the part of the motion cycle at which peak pain is occurring (impact, mid-stance or push off). Data collection is non-invasive, quick and in real-time so veterinarians are free to perform their usual lameness evaluation routine.

Lameness & Pre-Purchase Exams

Lameness and Prepurchase Exams are available at the hospital or on the farm. The advantages of a hospital exam include:

  • experienced technical staff for handling horses when jogging and lunging so that clients may observe and discuss the veterinarian’s findings
  • multiple types of footing are available;  a level asphalt jogging strip, round pen with soft footing and packed bluestone longing area enhance the lameness evaluation.
  • enclosed 20m x 40m sand riding arena for under saddle evaluations
  • diagnostic and therapeutic equipment is readily accessible, sparing the owner the time and expense of multiple appointments to diagnose and treat.

For associated PrePurchase Costs please click HERE

 

*NOTE: Prepurchase exams include evaluation under saddle. Please come prepared to ride the horse as part of the exam.

Therapeutic Services

  • High Energy Focused Shock Wave Therapy – A Sanuwave Versatron high energy focused shock wave unit is available. Click here to visit versatron.net 
  • Stem Cell Treatment This state of the art therapy fosters the regeneration of soft tissue while maintaining tendon elasticity. 
  • Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is a treatment for tendon and ligament injuries in which blood from the patient is spun in a centrifuge to isolate plasma with a high concentration of platelets. The platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, stimulates healing when injected at the site of injury. The introduction of PRP prompts the body to accelerate remodeling allowing for a swifter, more complete recovery. 
  • Interleukin – 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein (IRAP) is a treatment for synovitis (inflammation of the joint lining) and osteoarthritis. Trauma in the joint triggers the release of proteins harmful to cartilage. With this therapy, a sample of the patient’s blood is incubated and centrifuged to produce serum containing high levels of Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist Protein, or IRAP. When injected into the joint in question, IRAP prevents the inflammatory protein from binding with its receptor on the joint surface, thereby halting the cycle of pain and inflammation. IRAP is the only therapy shown to interrupt the progression of osteoarthritis. 
  • Acupuncture is a treatment based on the Chinese theory that pain is caused by the blockage of energy flow, or Chi, in the body. In health, the flow of Chi is smooth throughout the body. Injury or illness causes a blockage of the Chi. The blockages are detected by palpation and stimulation of specific acupuncture points all over the body, as well as physical exam and history. Acupuncture needles are inserted into specific points to relieve the blockage and restore the normal flow of Chi. In some cases, the therapeutic effect can be augmented by transmitting a mild electric pulse through the needles. Acupuncture can be used to treat a variety of conditions, including lameness, neck and back pain, certain types of colic, and anhydrosis (insufficient sweat production).
  • Chiropractic is the process of performing motion palpation to diagnose joint subluxations, followed by appropriate specific adjustments to restore normal function in the spine and surrounding soft tissue. Chiropractic is most commonly used to treat neck and back pain, but can also be helpful in some cases of obscure lameness or behavioral problems caused by mild back pain. A thorough lameness examination and a report on the horse’s history are necessary to determine if the horse is a good candidate for chiropractic. During the exam, the veterinarian will gently manipulate the horse’s spine to assess the flexibility of the joints.
  • CEM quarantine is available for mares at the clinic