Services

San Dieguito Equine Group offers wide range of services for our clients and their horses. From advanced diagnostic imaging to routine wellness care and emergency services, our doctors can come to your farm or you can bring your horse to our state-of-the art facility. Click on the tabs below for more information about the all the services we provide.

Services

• Bone Marrow Derived Stem Cell Therapy

  • BONE MARROW DERIVED STEM CELL THERAPY

    Stem cell therapy is most commonly used for tendon and ligament injuries. Stem cells have the potential for mass replication due to being non-specific to a local area in the body. This feature allows stem cells to differentiate into different types of cells in response to their local environment, i.e. where they are injected into. The process of harvesting stem cells includes sedating the patient and collecting bone marrow from the sternum. The bone marrow and nutrient rich serum that is collected and then sent to the laboratory for isolation and culture. The laboratory process of culturing stem cells results in a significant increase in the number of stem cells in a concentrated preparation. Culturing of stem cells typically takes about 7-10 business days after which the stem cells and nutrient rich serum can be injected back into the patient at the injury site. Typically, the injection is done under ultrasound guidance to assure the most accurate delivery of the stem cells to the injury site.
    
    Photo from www.art4dvm.com/
• Digital Radiography

  • Digital Radiography

    Digital radiography allows for detailed diagnostic studies of bone pathology with consistent image quality. Images can be seen immediately as there is no film that needs to be developed. SDEG utilizes the Eklin portable DR system at the clinic and in the field. Preliminary review of the images can happen in the field. However, final interpretation is made on our high quality monitor at the clinic. At your request, we can save all readiographs on a CD for your records.
    
• Endoscopy

  • Endoscopy

    Both portable and videoendoscopy are available at SDEG. Evaluation of the upper respiratory tract is possible out in the field. Our 3-meter endoscope allows examination of the stomach and aids in diagnosis of gastric ulceration and other disorders. The exam can be recorded and saved on a CD for you, if desired.
    
    
    
• IRAP Joint Therapy
  • INTERLEUKIN-1 RECEPTOR ANTAGONIST PROTEIN (IRAP) JOINT THERAPY
    
    

    The use of IRAP is an effective intra-articular treatment for joint disease. The IRAP system has been designed to stimulate the horse's own white blood cells to produce anti-inflammatory mediators and enzymes that can reduce the inflammation present as a result of degenerative joint disease. Initially, the patient's blood sample is collected and brought back to our clinic for processing, typically taking 24 hours. After processing, the IRAP is ready to be used, however additional treatment doses may be stored at our clinic for up to one year. When injected into a joint, the protein rich serum stimulates a regenerative response from cartilage cells, through a process of cell division and increased cell recruitment. This is actually what sets IRAP apart from other intra-articular treatments for joint disease. The fact that IRAP stimulates cartilage cells means that it has a disease-modifying component as well as an anti-inflammatory component. The serum also contains cytokines that act to reduce inflammation within the joint. In addition, there are other anti-inflammatory proteins produced during the incubation process that work synergistically with the cytokines to further reduce the inflammation within the diseased joint. The injection process is typically done under sedation at the patient's field location.

     
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging

  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging

    Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses strong magnetic fields and radiofrequency pulses to produce images with superior bone and soft tissue detail.  Our low field system allows us to acquire images of the distal limb in the standing, sedated horse.  We do not have to put the horse under general anesthesia.  We gather images in multiple planes allowing the radiologist to precisely locate the cause of the problem.  Depending on the temperament of the horse, the exam usually takes about 3 hours.
    MRI is an exciting technology as it allows us to diagnose lameness causing injuries that show few or no abnormalities with other imaging techniques like radiographs or ultrasound.  For more information about what to expect if your horse has an MRI at our clinic, please see the frequently asked questions page.
• Nuclear Scintigraphy

  • Nuclear Scintigraphy

    Nuclear scintigraphy, commonly called a bone scan, is a diagnostic procedure used in lameness cases. It involves i.v. administration of a radiopharmaceutical to the horse. The horse is then returned to its stall. While in the stall the radiopharmaceutical accumulates in areas where bony remodeling is actively occurring. We then gather information using our gamma camera and can recognize areas of injury where there is more “uptake” of radiopharmaceutical than normal. This type of imaging is especially useful in diagnosing injuries that are difficult or impossible to visualize with radiographs or when the horse has a multi-limb lameness. The imaging process takes approximately 3 hours to complete and an overnight stay is required to ensure adequate elimination of the isotope from the horse’s system. For more information about what to expect if your horse has a bone scan at our clinic, please see the frequently asked questions page.
    
• Orthopedic Evaluation

  • Orthopedic Evaluation

    The lameness examination involves a combination of historical information from the client, visual examination of the horse in motion, musculoskeletal palpation and manipulation, and variably using diagnostic blocking and advanced imaging to determine the source of pain or decreased performance. If a problem is diagnosed, SDEG can provide numerous therapeutic treatments and will design a lay-up and rehabilitation program specific to the horse's injury.
    
    
• Ophthamology

  • Ophthamology

    The Eye Clinic for Animals is available for advanced ophthalmology cases and can schedule both clinic and ambulatory consultations.
    
• Performance Horse Dentistry

  • Performance Horse Dentistry

    Annual dental examinations and routine teeth floating are essential to early recognition and management of dental problems that can affect digestion, body weight, and performance. SDEG provides power dentistry based on individual horses' needs for preventative maintenance, to correct dental abnormalities and to maintain proper functioning.
    
    
    
• Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)

  • PLATELET RICH PLASMA (PRP)

    PRP is a treatment used for tendon and ligament injuries.The collection and preparation of platelet rich plasma is simple, non-invasive and takes only about 30 minutes. Blood is collected from the horse's jugular vein and then spun down in a centrifuge; this allows the blood serum to be separated from the rest of the red blood cells. The process of spinning the serum is then repeated to leave only the platelets concentrated at the bottom of the sample. The excess serum is removed and the platelets are re-suspended to be injected under ultrasound guidance into the injury site. This process is performed at our clinic and the horse is sedated for the duration of this treatment.
• Pre-Purchase Examination

  • Pre-Purchase Examination

    Comprehensive examination prior to purchasing or leasing a horse is essential for identifying underlying health conditions that may exist in the horse you are thinking about buying or leasing. The pre-purchase exam is tailored to the clients needs and can include advanced imaging, baseline blood work and drug screening, and consultation with our boarded specialists, if requested.
    
    
    
• Radiology

  • Radiology

    Dr. Natasha Werpy, DVM, ACVR is available for imaging consultation and is able to perform advanced ultrasound examinations at the SDEG clinic. Dr. Norm Rantanen, DVM, ACR is also available for imaging consultation on a more limited basis.
    
• Shockwave Therapy

  • SHOCKWAVE THERAPY
    
    Shockwave therapy is a therapy commonly used for treating lameness as a result of osteoarthritis in horses, although it does not alter the course of the disease. Shock wave therapy has also been shown to aid in expiditing the healing process with soft tissue injury such as tendonitis, suspensory strain, and lumbar myositis.
    
    To see how shockwave works, go to:  http://www.pulsevet.com/index.php/mechanism-of-action-video
• Therapeutic Ultrasound

  • THERAPUTIC ULTRASOUND

    Therapeutic ultrasound machines work by converting electrical current into high frequency acoustic energy waves. Ultrasound waves typically can travel one to five centimeters into the body’s soft tissues. The deep penetrating waves allow heat to travel further into the patient’s tissue. This allows small vibrations of cells to change the tissues permeability, and diffusion rates. This often results in a decrease in inflammation and bruising, leading to a more comfortable recovery with decreased healing time. Therapeutic Ultrasound is an effective treatment for both chronic and acute injuries. At San Dieguito Equine we have five therapeutic ultrasound machines that are available for weekly or monthly rental.
    
    Photo from www.richmarweb.com
• Ultrasound

  • Ultrasound

    Ultrasound is a valuable imaging tool used to visualize soft tissue structures in the horse. Joint, tendon, and ligament injuries can be diagnosed and monitored using this modality. It also allows for evaluation of thoracic and abdominal organs for horses with suspected systemic illness. SDEG has portable ultrasound units in each ambulatory vehicle and a large hospital unit at the clinic.
• Wellness Management

  • Wellness Management

    General wellness management is essential to maintaining your horse’s health and performance. SDEG is committed to providing general services such as vaccines, deworming, nutritional consultation, annual examinations, insurance examinations, Coggins testing, and travel certification. We have a highly dedicated team who understands how to appropriately develop a wellness management plan for your horse, as every horse is different.