Newsletter

Equine Reproductive Ultrasound-Considerations and Timing

Considerations:

There are many ways to diagnose pregnancy in a mare, however ultrasound stands out as the most useful and versatile. While manual palpation can diagnose pregnancy and potentially twins, it can’t show a fetal heartrate or consistently diagnose placentitis. Only ultrasound can show fetal health, birth defects, placentitis, and allow for accurate fetal aging. It also allows for the monitoring of cervical tone, uterine edema, and follicular development while preparing to breed a mare.

Real ReproScan Dr. Mack

I have had the pleasure of working with Dr. Lauren Mack The Animal Hospital since she purchased her first ReproScan machine in 2016. She was not against the ReproArm, but Extension Arm technology was not her preferred method of preg checking…until the other day. *It’s important to note that Dr. Mack and her husband are expecting a little boy pretty soon! After an early morning telephone crash course on ReproArm technique, I get a text, ”…that was AWESOME” she had used the ReproArm for the first time. She sent me a picture and I asked, want a quote to go with it? This is what I got, “Die hard palpator gives in due to large belly and a ninja fetus, LOL.” Thank you Dr. Mack for sharing! I can’t wait to meet the little guy and I am glad you are staying safe using the ReproArm!

Ultrasound Pregnancy Testing Beef Cows – Why, How and When.

Ultrasound sound equipment for pregnancy testing cattle has changed significantly since it became available in the 1990’s. Today’s ultrasound equipment is more portable, more affordable and more adapted to the conditions at the cattle chute.

Let’s start with the “why pregnancy test” question. The most obvious answer is that we want to identify the open unproductive cows so they can be removed from the herd. Let’s slow down here and think this about this more. With ultrasound technology we can collect a lot of useful data by pregnancy testing strategically:

Using Small Ruminant Ultrasound to Build Your Practice

Marketing sonographic examination for pregnancy diagnosis and gestational aging can be a great way to break into the camelid and small ruminant community and service producers as few practitioners are currently offering that service. There are a few considerations to take into account when preparing to add this service to your practice. If you have ultrasound ability for cattle clients, you can probably integrate ultrasound into small ruminants and camelids as a profit center into your practice. If you have a curvilinear rectal probe, you already have all that you need to perform the service.

Equine/Bovine Sonographic Evaluation of the Orbital Space and Eye

Ultrasound is an excellent, if under-utilized modality for imaging the equine or bovine eye. While you may not see a daily caseload of trauma to the periorbit, adnexa, or globe, when you do, a convex or micro convex probe can be used to provide key information relating to the structures involved, the severity of the injury, and prognosis. Cases that may benefit from this include chronic swelling of the eyelid or adnexal structures, foreign bodies, retrobulbar abscesses, lens luxation, retinal detachment, and uveitis.

Equine Flexor Tendon Ultrasound

There are three indications for tendon ultrasound in the horse: screening for historic injuries, monitoring progress of an injury, and evaluating tendons and ligaments because of a lameness localized to that limb. For the most part, this means that either during the examination process, or at a previous examination, you will have used a lameness exam and other modalities to localize the site of your examination.

Often times, it may be desirable to ultrasound the corresponding sites on the opposite limb as compensatory lameness can occur due to excess stress on the tendon.

Application of ReproScan ultrasound equipment in the reproductive management of sheep and goats.

1. C60 3.5 MHz T handled probe units ReproScan ultrasound equipment with C60 probes are ideal for sheep and goats. The C60 probe gives a depth of scan over 20 cm which is necessary for view the fetus and uterus. The T handle is comfortable to hold and allows the person to press the probe deep into the inguinal area for better contact and targeted scanning.

Real ReproScan Dr. Leslie Harrison

She drives ¾ ton Chevy all over the mountain passes in central Colorado. If only vet trucks could talk! As many of you know, vet trucks are a rolling storyboard. In Dr. Leslies case the truck is the mobile clinic, equipment storage facility, heater, closet, Cora (her trusty sidekick) limo, and many times a teaching or mentoring office. Each scratch or dent represents her kind heart to help those with a passion for vet school, a time when the truck became a true multipurpose tool or a tired oops.

Late Season Pregnancy Checks

As ranchers find innovative ways to reduce winter feed costs such as bale grazing and corn stock grazing, the pregnancy testing season gets extended. When the cows finally get near the corrals for pregnancy testing, the person doing the ultrasound work should be ready for some additional challenges:

Challenges for late season ultrasound scanning include:

1. The weight of the fetus and fetal membranes causes the uterus to drop lower into the abdomen. You will need to insert the ReproArm deeper.

Reproductive Management of Sheep and Goats With ReproScan Equipment

Probe Considerations for Small Ruminants

1. C60 3.5 MHz T-handled probe units ReproScan ultrasound equipment with C60 probes are ideal for sheep and goats. The C60 probe gives a depth of scan over 20 cm which is necessary for view the fetus and uterus. The T-handle is comfortable to hold and allows the person to press the probe deep into the inguinal area for better contact and targeted scanning.

2. 4.0 MHz convex rectal probe units. ReproScan ultrasound equipment with 4.0 convex rectal probes can be used effectively for sheep and goats. The 4.0 MHz probe gives a depth of scan over 20 cm. The probe is gripped with one’s thumb and index finger and pressed deep into the inguinal area. This probe can be used transrectally as well. Depending on your ultrasound machine and probe type you are able to adjust the setting to give good images while scanning sheep and goats.