|
Lameness Services at Whole Horse
Dr. Bickel has a special interest in lameness, and is
committed to thorough evaluation of your horse to find
the true source of lameness. Horses often undergo
repeated treatments without improvement, or with minimal
improvement. Often in these cases, an inaccurate
diagnosis is the root cause of the horse’s failure to
respond to treatment. Accurate diagnosis of the cause of
lameness is the only way to achieve correct and
effective treatment.
We offer very complete lameness exams where Dr. Bickel
watches the horse in hand, on the lunge line, and takes
the horse through multiple movements and flexions to
assess the limbs. If needed, the horse will also be
evaluated under saddle or with video. We frequently make
use of diagnostic nerve blocks in order to very
accurately pin point the source of lameness. Dr. Bickel
is committed to taking the time necessary to make a
thorough and accurate assessment of your horse’s
problem. These exams are done on the farm in the horse’s
normal environment, eliminating symptom masking that can
occur in a strange environment.
We utilize digital x-ray which allows us to develop
films on site. This allows Dr. Bickel to incorporate
x-ray findings into her exam and diagnostic tests while
still on the farm, saving time and allow more accurate
diagnosis. This is especially important when evaluating
joints such as the hock and the navicular bone, where
x-ray abnormalities often appear that are not causing
any problems for the horse. These “false” abnormalities
must be distinguished from whatever is really causing
the horse’s lameness.
Dr. Bickel frequently makes use of ultrasound during
lameness exams. Although ultrasound of the tendons of
the lower leg and suspensory ligament are commonly done
in many practices, Dr. Bickel is also capable of
ultrasounding the stifle, back and sacroiliac regions of
the horse. Ultrasound of these areas can be essential to
an accurate diagnosis. She commonly identifies meniscal
injuries, torn sacral ligaments, and other issues in
affected horses through the use of ultrasound.
Once a diagnosis is made, effective treatment is
essential for the lame horse. We utilize joint injection
with very high quality Hyaluronic Acid as a standard
first-line treatment for many lame horses. However, we
offer numerous other techniques designed for more
difficult lameness. These include ultrasound guided
injection of the cervical facets of the neck, and the
sacroiliac joint, as well as Shockwave therapy, and
customized rehabilitation programs for your horse. We
can also do PRP (platelet rich plasma) and stem cell
injections for various joint, ligament, and tendon
problems.
 Whole
Horse Vet is now also offering Mesotherapy. Mesotherapy
is a technique first developed in France and now used at
many of the top equine hospitals in the country. It
involves the injection of small amounts of medication in
the mesoderm (middle layer) of the skin. This stimulates
Giant fibers within the skin and results in an end to
the cycle of spasm and pain experienced by horses with
back and neck pain. It can be a highly effective
treatment for back and neck pain and a service we are
proud to offer.
The techniques for both diagnosis and treatment offered
by Whole Horse Vet are designed to give you the best in
lameness diagnosis and treatment on the farm. We are
committed to helping your horse heal and return to
competition better than ever!
 |
Denise Bickel DVM
Whole Horse Veterinary Services
Phone # 517-474-4050
Fax # 517-764-7710
3906 Seymour Rd
Jackson, MI 49201
EMAIL US
|
 |
|
