Home » Services » Imaging & Diagnostics » Equine MRI Scanning

Equine MRI Scanning

Since 2004, Cave Creek Equine™ Sports Medicine & Surgery has been providing the most advanced level of equine MRI scanning imaging for horses and small animals. 

DIAGNOSIS THROUGH EQUINE MRI SCANNING IN HORSES

Equine Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a useful diagnostic tool, providing high-quality, highly informative images to our veterinarians, which allow them to recommend the best treatment for your animal. Equine MRI scanning has been the imaging method of choice for many soft tissue and bony pathologies, allowing it to be the gold standard for clinical diagnosis in many cases.

MRI uses magnetic forces within the patient’s cells, creating a two-dimensional image. 

The images show both bone and soft tissue structures in extensive detail. Additionally, we can obtain information about the underlying disease process through these images.

Equine MRI identifies specific causes of lameness by quickly and precisely localizing damage to both soft tissues and bones. It enables us to identify tendon and ligament injuries or tears (ie, the deep digital flexor tendon), inflammation or bruising of the bones, arthritis or degenerative disease of the joints, fractures, inflammation of the joints or synovial structures, and inflammation or damage to the areas around the joints/bones/tendons/ligaments, to name a few. 

Hallmarq’s Standing Equine MRI system (sMRI) is an excellent complement to our already established Esaote MRI, which is the only Esaote MRI scanner in the state of Arizona. Between these two pieces of equipment, Cave Creek Equine™ is able to acquire MRI images of all the parts of the equine anatomy that can be imaged through equine MRI in the safest and most effective manner possible.

At Cave Creek Equine™ Sports Medicine & Surgery, we are the only private veterinary clinic in Arizona that can offer both of these services. Our goal is to help your horse live a healthy life at peak performance, with our state-of-the-art equine diagnostics, imaging, and treatment. We are the only private veterinary clinic in North Phoenix Arizona that can offer this complement of Equine MRI scanning technology (both standing and anesthetized). Our veterinarians know exactly how to get the most out of all of our imaging modalities and precisely diagnose your horse or small animal’s issues.

See links below for specific information about each type of equine MRI scanning examination method. 

FOLLOW-UP

All acquired images (standing or anesthetized) from the equine MRI scanning are evaluated by our highly trained veterinarians as well as by board-certified radiologists for a complete interpretation. The same process is used for small animals.

A comprehensive report will normally be provided within 24-48 hours. Every effort is made to understand and rank the clinical significance of our findings based on your horse’s medical history and the clinical examination. Our veterinarians can then use the information in this report to design a treatment plan in discussion with you.