Veterinarians at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University now have the ability to look for lameness, brain damage, and other conditions within horses by using the first equine-capable high-strength magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology in New England.
Staff at the Cummings School have made positive diagnoses in four cases so far—including joint inflammation in a nationally competing equine athlete that is now expected to regain performance in time for this season’s competitions.
“Better diagnostics mean better treatment for horses—especially equine athletes—and we are so proud to be able to offer this capability to horse owners in New England and beyond,” said Dr. Steve Rowell, DVM, director of the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine’s Foster Hospital for Small Animals and its Hospital for Large Animals. “Pioneering this procedure was no easy task on an animal this size, and I applaud the hard work of the individuals who made this happen while ensuring the safety and health of our patient animals and staff.”