New equine standing CT scanner installed at MU Veterinary Health Center

The University of Missouri (MU) Veterinary Health Center in Columbia, Missouri has recently installed an equine standing CT (Computed Tomography) scanner to broaden its capabilities. Its veterinary equine hospital services recreational, sport, and western horses.

MU equine clinician Kevin Keegan, DVM, MS, DACVS, expressed, in a release,¹ “This is a fan-beam CT that has high image quality with reduced radiation exposure and allows for true standing imaging. Previously we were scanning all our CT cases under general anesthesia. Now we have the ability to scan front and hind limb pairs and the head and neck with only light sedation. This will fast-track the treatment and prognosis in many cases. We see this technology becoming widely adopted among horse owners because of the reduced cost and quick scans.”

Scan of front leg limb showing severe osteoarthritis. (All images photo courtesy of Asto CT).

The Equina was installed in 2 and a half days and was quickly used when the team at MU successfully scanned a 16-year-old quarter horse gelding. The horse remained conscious throughout the procedure under light sedation, to reduce risks associated with general anesthesia. He was diagnosed with severe osteoarthritis of the pastern joint. Additionally, they scanned the head and both front and hind limbs of a 2,000-lb Percheron draft mare, displaying the CT scanner’s diverse capabilities.¹ MU president Mun Y Choi, PhD, visited the new Equine CT scanner at the MU VHC Equine Hospital during system training.

The Percheron draft mare receiving a head scan.

“Having this technology on site at Mizzou allows us to diagnose pathology in the head and neck and disease in the limbs,” said MU teaching professor Joanne Kramer, DVM, MS, in the release.¹ “The standing CT reduces the risks involved in the procedure by removing the need for general anesthesia. We’re planning to use the CT on a wide variety of cases.”

Asto CT CEO, David Ergun, added, “Asto CT is thrilled to partner with the MU VHC Equine Hospital and its vibrant equine community in Missouri. The CT technology will be the first of its kind in the state and will aid in diagnosing a wide range of pathology in equine patients. The Equina is being installed in the same town where Equinosis Q was founded. We believe there is a strong synergy between the two companies where lameness diagnosis and CT technology go hand in hand.”

Reference

New equine CT scanner installed at Mizzou. News release. Asto CT. June 2023. Accessed June 21, 2023.