HEADLINES
• Th 2007
AHF benefit raised
a record amount
of money for laminitis research.
• Four AHF
researchers joined an international field of laminitis experts
to exchange ideas
in Florida.
• The hospital
now offers digital radiographs.
HOT TOPICS
• Laminitis
• Shock wave therapy
* Horse Heroes party
• Dr. Walsh recounts memorable stories from his 35-year career.
Homestead Veterinary Hospital
has gone digital. After months
of evaluating how
best to incor-
porate digital
radiography into
a mobile
practice with several
veterinarians, the hospital has
purchased
state-of-the-art
equipment that will
allow each
veterinarian to continue
taking
radiographs in the field
when a
problem is first diagnosed.
"Since there are four of us, we
wanted the ability to take X-rays
on the same day and not have
to schedule someone to come
back the next day," Dr. Donald
Walsh said.
The cameras remain the same.
What has changed is the cassette
used to capture the image (no
more film) and the computer that
displays the radiographs at the
hospital.
The computer, or imaging reader,
enables the veterinarians
to
manipulate a single radiograph
to show many things — the key
reason to switch to digital.
Walsh explained that, when a film
X-ray is taken, the machine is set
to see a particular kind of tissue.
The setting depends on whether
one wants to look at the bone,
the edge of the bone or the soft tissue. For the coffin bone, Walsh would set the machine to look through the foot. For the edge of the coffin bone, he would have to turn down the machine or he would burn out the area he was trying to see. The same would be true with soft tissue.
"The advantage of digital radiography is it enables you to see multiple views with one X-ray," Walsh said. The computer just adjusts to look at each of those areas.
While the new equipment will lead to a modest price increase in radiographs, Walsh said it will be well worth it for patients to have one set of X-rays serving more functions. In addition, clients will be able to order CDs of radiographs for their own records.
