What you can expect during an appointment for your horse at the VMTH.

A typical visit to the large animal clinic of the VMTH begins with an entrance examination conducted by a resident veterinarian who is pursuing board certification in a particular specialty such as surgery, medicine, reproduction, etc. Because the VMTH is a teaching hospital, students are present to observe and learn procedures under the guidance of clinical faculty and resident veterinarians. Students will assist the resident veterinarian during the entrance examination by obtaining histories, recording referral information, taking vital signs and conducting the initial examination. However, all medical or surgical procedures required to treat an animal’s condition are supervised by fully accredited veterinarians with specialized training in the particular techniques applicable to the case.

Based on the initial examination, your horse may be directed to one or more supporting clinical services such as radiology, ultrasound, cardiology, etc. for further assessment. These ancillary services are conducted by trained specialists in a particular method or technique designed to provide a complete diagnosis of an animal’s medical condition. For instance, a lame horse may be sent to imaging for radiographs, computed axial tomography (CT scanning), nuclear scintigraphy and/or thermography, depending on the type of injury. A treadmill may also be utilized for a complete performance evaluation to examine the heart, lungs and muscles as well as lameness while the horse is exercising.

Senior clinical faculty (many of whom are world renowned experts in their fields) perform a final examination, review the results of all diagnostic procedures and discuss treatment options with the owner. Horse owners and their referring veterinarians are completely informed of all procedures and of the status of the patient. Though time consuming, our examination procedures result in extra attention to the patient, providing a thorough and accurate diagnosis.

Often, treatment regimens and therapeutic procedures can be performed on an outpatient basis in consultation with the owner’s referring veterinarian. However, if the horse requires hospitalization, it will be admitted to one of the three intensive care units (ICU). The ICUs are operated in much the same manner as those of human hospitals; i.e., patients are monitored 24 hours a day, their status and progress recorded and the treatment procedures carried out by highly trained professionals.

Following recovery and release from the hospital, owners and the referring veterinarians receive a report on the case which includes recommendations for follow-up treatment and convalescent therapy. Often, owners will need to return the horse for further examination and treatment at a later date. These appointments are scheduled to coincide with the best interests of the animal and the convenience of the owner.

The VMTH accepts all types of equine medical and surgical cases from the very routine to the extremely complicated and life threatening. Regardless of the type of case your horse represents, you can be assured that each and every animal treated at our hospital receives intense scrutiny and the finest care possible with the most advanced medical techniques and state-of-the-art equipment. The VMTH administrators, clinicians, staff and veterinary students are committed to maintaining a reputation for excellence by providing superior treatment to its equine patients.

Reprinted with permission of the copyright holder and the Center For Equine Health. The materials offered in this article are intended for educational purposes only. Always consult your veterinarian in matters regarding the health of your animals.

The research conducted by the UC Davis Center for Equine Health is supported with funds provided by the Oak Tree Racing Association, the State of California pari-mutuel fund, and contributions by private donors. Please visit The UC Davis Center For Equine Health website for addtional information at http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/ceh

The Horse Report: Writer/Editor: Laurie FioEditor/WriterCenter for Equine HealthSchool of Veterinary MedicineUniversity of CaliforniaOne Shields AvenueDavis, CA 95616-8589phone: (530) 752-4434fax: (530) 752-9379e-mail: ltfio@ucdavis.edu

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