Services

There are many factors that could contribute to disappointing athletic performance.

Once obvious lameness has been ruled out other factors become important. These include muscle problems, respiratory disease, cardiac disease, over-training, and gastric ulceration.

Assessments could include cardiac ultrasound and baseline ECG, exercise performance test with ECG, endoscopy of the upper airway, and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) of the lower airway. Assessment of the stomach is easily performed using a long endoscope.

Equiimed can perform fitness assessments on equine athletes. We use specialised equipment to measure heart rate, electrocardiogram, speed, stride length, stride frequency, and blood lactate. 

These assessments are not only used in horses with reduced athletic performance or known heart ailments, but also healthy horses in training programs. We can also accurately assess expected changes in heart size and dynamics with training.

A publication from Europe reported that exercise tests not only confirmed improved fitness in horses and ponies training for the European Eventing Championship but predicted horses likely to experience musculoskeletal injuries bad enough to rule them out of the Championships.

For more information on our easy-to-use recording device click on this link to Arioneo.

Weight loss or failure to maintain adequate body weight and condition are common problems.

These cases can be caused by a range of problems often requiring advanced diagnostics and knowledge. We have the experience and expertise to evaluate and manage these horses, irrespective of age.

Equiimed can
assess all aspects
of the equine cardiovascular system.

The most common reason to seek a cardiac assessment is to determine the origin and significance of cardiac murmurs. These turbulent sounds are picked up during auscultation of the heart during annual examinations, before sedation, or after exercise. Many murmurs are benign and will have no impact on performance or lifespan. However, some can have impacts for performance, sale value, longevity, and most importantly rider safety. It is important to get a baseline definition with examination and ultrasound. For some horses reassessments over months or years are critical to monitor for progression.

The second most common reason for an in-depth cardiovascular examination is the presence of an
irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia). Some arrhythmias are normal, and in fact may be more common in fit horses. Again, some arrhythmias can be more serious and can put the horse at risk for poor athletic performance or sudden death. Many of these arrhythmias can be successfully managed.

The third most common reason is unexpected poor athletic performance. The heart is a critical organ in exercise and performance and anything that changes rhythm, rate, or blood flow can lead to reduced athletic performance. Other reasons to consider a cardiac evaluation include episodes of collapse or seizure-like activity.

How do we examine the
cardiovascular system:

How do we examine the
cardiovascular system:
Physical examination looking for indicators of abnormal cardiovascular function.
Auscultation is a critical step in any examination. We use regular acoustic and digital stethoscopes, as wells phonocardiography.
Echocardiography is comprehensive ultrasound of the heart that examines the heart structure and function. Importantly we determine the cause of a murmur, as well as any changes in the heart valves or size of the chambers. An electrocardiogram (ECG) is recorded simultaneously to determine which phase of the cardiac cycle is the murmur occurring.
Electrocardiography is used to determine the type of arrhythmia that is present. We can record short segments of the ECG simply using an Eko or Kardia device. For longer ECG recordings (up to 24-hours) we use a Televet Holter telemetric ECG system. To determine whether any arrhythmia occurs during exercise we can use either the Televet or the Arioneo Equimetre Vet system. We use the Kubios advanced ECG analysis software to examine heart rate variability.
Blood pressure can be measured using a sphygmomanometer using a tail cuff.
Pericardiocentesis is done to sample fluid in the pericardial sac around the heart.

The respiratory tract of a horse is critical for athletic soundness.

We can assist the private practitioner by providing a range of diagnostic services dependent on the history and the physical examination findings.
In addition to a comprehensive physical examination and auscultation we can provide endoscopy of the upper airway and guttural pouches, endoscopy of the lower airway including tracheal aspiration and bronchoalveolar lavage. We can also perform transtracheal aspirates and thoracocentesis when required. Ultrasound the thoracic cavity is an important part of the assessment of many horses
with suspected infectious respiratory disease or equine asthma.

Colic is one of the most common health complaints of horses. Animals with repeated episodes, weight loss, soft manure or diarrhoea, or changes in appetite may require in depth evaluation.

A common complaint of the modern-day horse is reduced appetite, difficulty in maintaining body condition in athletic horses, and unexplained behavioural issues related to exercise. These could be signs associated with ulceration or inflammation in the horse stomach. We can endoscope the entire stomach and duodenum, as well as biopsy any lesions. The procedure involves fasting and sedation.
Evaluation of weight loss or chronic colic can involve several diagnostic procedures, including but not limited to abdominal ultrasound, biopsy of the duodenum and/or rectum, rectal palpation, collection of peritoneal fluid, and analysis of blood work. A sugar absorption test may also be indicated.

Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) and pars pituitary intermedia dysfunction (PPID) are common problems of horses, ponies and donkeys.

The two most common problems of the endocrine system centre on insulin production and abnormalities within the pituitary gland. Many of these cases involve testing and management. Testing can vary from a simple baseline blood test, through to stimulation and in-feed glucose testing with repeated sampling. Management includes both husbandry changes and pharmacological support.

Most eye problems in horses respond to traditional medications however some conditions can be more challenging to treat.

Horse eyes are susceptible to injury, cancer, and cataracts. It is very important not to wait too long before seeking veterinary attention as some eye conditions can lead to blindness or loss of the eye. Equiimed can provide opinions for eyes that are not responding to first lines of therapy.

Muscle problems are relatively common in certain breeds of horses. The precise diagnosis may involve exercise testing, muscle biopsy and genetic testing.

There are a range of muscle problems that can affect horses of all ages and breeds. These can be separated into exertional and non-exertional muscle problems. The more common exertional forms include recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis (RER) in young Thoroughbreds, polysaccharide storage myopathies (PSSM) in Quarter Horse-based breeds, Warmbloods, and draught breeds, and hyerkalemic periodic paralysis (HyPP) in QH-based breeds. Non-exertional muscle problems can include infectious, toxic, nutritional and vascular causes.