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If the horse has been out of work, it may not be able to withstand strenuous work and the problem may go undiagnosed. The horse
may be at greater risk to sustain an injury if
it is not fit and is subjected to a strenuous workout. If fit for the exam, the horse then is subjected to an exercise test that mimics the type of work that the horse typically performs. It is very important to have the exercising conditions simulate the horse’s normal work- ing conditions as closely as possible not only in intensity but also in distance, as well as head and neck carriage. The position of the head and neck changes the amount of airway resistance that is present, so it is important
to have the horse’s head and neck positioned properly during the examination or the upper airway abnormality may go undiagnosed. Overground endoscopy allows the clinician to replicate the exact type of work that the horse performs. Often there are influences of the rider/jockey/driver and movements of the horse that exacerbate an upper airway prob- lem. It is not always possible to simulate these factors during a treadmill examination.
The endoscopic examination is recorded so that it can be reviewed. Once the horse has
completed the exercise test, the endoscope is removed from the nasal passage and the horse is cooled out appropriately. While the horse
is being cooled out, the upper airway video
is reviewed in real time, as well as in slow motion to look for any abnormalities. It is very important to review the video in slow motion so the full extent of any airway abnormality can be assessed.
Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital has overground endoscopic equipment and a high speed treadmill that can be used to perform a dynamic examination of the upper airway. The overground equipment has a distinct advantage when examining horses that must be shown with a certain head and neck carriage (“collection”)
or when a horse needs to be ridden or driven in order to create the upper airway problem.
A dynamic examination of the upper airway is an invaluable tool that is necessary in order to diagnose many upper airway abnormali- ties. Predicting upper airway function based
on a resting endoscopic examination is very difficult if not impossible. There are numerous abnormalities that occur only during exercise therefore a resting examination will not allow the veterinarian to make the diagnosis.
A performance horse is fitted with remote endoscopy equipment for a dynamic endoscopy under saddle.
Full-service Equine Medicine and Surgery
*Now offering Dynamic Endoscopy
www.oakridgevet.com - (405) 359-5002
and
Michael D. Major, DVM, MS, DACVS
Brent A. Hague, DVM, DACVS, DABVP
Chad J. Zubrod, DVM, MS, DACVS
Jeff Brakenhoff, DVM, DACVS
Lauren Lamb, DVM, DACVS
6675 East Waterloo Road Edmond, OK 73034
Large and Small Animal MRI Diagnostics
One of the few high-field MRI’s in theCentral United States
(405) 341- 9350
SPEEDHORSE, April 27, 2012 15
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Rood & Riddle