Radiography

Radiographs, commonly known as x-rays, are often an essential part of lameness investigations and are used to visualise the bones and joints.

Common conditions that we look for are issues relating to the balance of the horse’s feet, arthritis, laminitis and fractures.

They can also be used to assess the skull for dental and sinus disease, as well as the neck and back in horses with pain in these areas or poor performance.

Radiographs are of limited use at detecting soft tissue injuries (involving tendons and ligaments) so other forms of imaging are sometimes required.

Our fully portable and battery operated x-ray machine enables us to take radiographs at your yard and for the images to be viewed seconds later on a screen.

Digital radiography provides a superior quality image which can be enhanced meaning an opinion can often be given as the time of the images being taken.

Occasionally more subtle changes may need to be assessed on a larger screen in a dark room back at the practice.

Images can be e-mailed to specialists for further opinion if required and farriers to aid with remedial farriery.

We are very proud to be the first practice to bring this state-of-the-art equipment to West Cornwall!