UW VETERINARY C ARE - TH E MORRIE WAUD EQU INE C LINIC

Straight from the Horses Mouth

MRI Now Available at the Morrie Waud Equine Clinic
We are excited to announce that we have recently added MRI to the list of diagnostic imaging tools available here at the MWEC! MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, uses a very strong magnet to obtain extremely detailed images of bone, ligaments, and tendons that are impossible to visualize using other imaging modalities. MRI has long been used in human medicine to diagnose orthopedic and soft tissue injuries. In the last decade, MRI use has become more common in veterinary practice, but the cost of installing the magnet and maintenance costs had limited them to a few practices. Enter MREquine, an Idaho based company that has developed a mobile MRI unit that can provide excellent images to equine practi-

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MRI comes to MWEC Dr. Alford joins MWEC Preventing gastric tioners across the country. The MWEC has recently partnered with MREquine to bring this technology to southeastern Wisconsin. The MREquine coach stops by our hospital as needed to perform MRI studies on our patients. The coach houses a 1.5 tesla magnet (30,000 times as strong as earths magnetic field), which is shielded from outside interference by the walls of the coach. The horse is anesthetized in one of our padded recovery stalls, placed on a special MRI compatible table and then lifted into the coach by a large lift gate. Once the study has been completed the patient is returned to the padded stall and allowed to recover from anesthesia. Working with MREquine provides us with several advantages. The strength of the magnet provides extremely detailed images as well as fast acquisition times, keeping the anesthesia time to a minimum. 1 1 2

S P E C I A L P O I N TS O F I N T E R ES T:
We would like to thank Dr. Divya Ammanth for all of her help during the past year. Dr. Jamie Zimmerman, (University of Wisconsin, 2012) will be our intern for the 2012 -2013 year. Congratulations to Brandi Larsen, CVT for passing her Wisconsin Veterinary Technician exam. Thank you to all of our referring veterinarians. We enjoy working with you to keep your clients and patients healthy.

MWEC would like to welcome Dr. Chris Alford to our facility

Chris Alford, DVM, MS, DACVS recently joined our team here at MWEC. After

completing his residency in equine surgery at Auburn University, Dr. Alford moved to a private surgical practice just outside of Toronto to work

with sport horses as well as racing standardbreds and thoroughbreds. Dr. Alford obtained Diplomate status with the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2011. Dr. Alford enjoys

all types of surgery but has special interests in colic and abdominal surgery, minimally invasive laparoscopic procedures, and wound care. Call the clinic for an appointment with Dr. Alford.

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MRI Now Available cont.

Second, the veterinarians from MREquine who read and provide reports on the images have extensive backgrounds with regards to MRI . In addition, they are all practicing equine veterinarians, who evaluate lame horses every day. This allows them to use their experience with equine lameness to guide their interpretation of the images and guide us in helping to heal your horse. While MRI is not for every horse, it is one more tool that we can use to determine the source of lameness and start the process of helping you and your horse get back to work. If you have questions regarding MRI and its potential for helping your horse, please contact your veterinarian or the Morrie Waud Equine Clinic. Our board certified surgeons are available for consultation with you and your veterinarian.

Reduce Your Horses Risk for Gastric Ulcers

Ulcers are a man-made disease, affecting up to 90 percent of racehorses and 60 percent of show horses. Stall confinement alone can lead to the development of ulcers. A horses feeding schedule also can be a factor. When horses are fed just twice a day, the stomach is subjected to a prolonged period without feed to neutralize its naturally produced acid. In addition, high-grain diets produce volatile fatty acids that can also contribute to the development of ulcers. Stress, both environmental and physical, can increase the likelihood of ulcers, as can hauling, training and mixing groups of horses. Strenuous exercise can decrease the emptying of the stomach and the blood flow to the stomach, thus contributing to the problem. The treatment and prevention of gastric ulcers is directed at removing these predisposing factors, thus decreasing acid production within the horses stomach. Follow these tips from the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) to properly treat your horses ulcers: Allow free-choice access to grass or hay. Horses are designed to be grazers with a regular intake of roughage. If the horse must be stalled, arrange for the horse to see the horses he socializes with. Consider offering a ball or other object that the horse can enjoy in his stall. Feed the horse more frequently to help buffer the acid in the stomach. Decrease grains that form volatile fatty acids. Medications that decrease acid production are available, but are only necessary in horses showing signs of clinical disease or when the predisposing factors, such as stress, cannot be removed. The prevention of ulcers is the key. Limiting stressful situations along with frequent feeding or free-choice access to grass or hay is imperative. Neutralizing the production of stomach acid is natures best antacid. For more information about gastric ulcers, ask your equine veterinarian for the Equine Gastric Ulcers brochure provided by the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) in association with Nutrena, an AAEP Educational Partner. Additional information also can be found on the AAEPs horsehealth Web site, www.myHorseMatters.com.

The American Association of Equine Practitioners, headquartered in Lexington, Ky., was founded in 1954 as a non -profit organization dedicated to the health and welfare of the horse. Currently, the AAEP reaches more than 5 million horse owners through its over 9,000 members worldwide and is actively involved in ethics issues, practice management, research and continuing education in the equine veterinary profession and horse industry.