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Diagnostic
Tests or procedures used by your vet to determine what is wrong with your horse, in order to reach a diagnosis.

Cost: Under $100

These cost ranges are approximate and may vary from region to region.
Additional charges may also apply.

YOUR VET MAY PERFORM

Assess Injured or Affected Area

Cost: Under $100

These cost ranges are approximate and may vary from region to region.
Additional charges may also apply.

Summary

When veterinarians clinically assess an injured area, or assess an area for injury, they are looking through the lens of their education and experience in practice. They use all their senses to form the most complete picture possible of an area. They consider the normal anatomy of the area, and the structures that might be injured or involved.

Experience provides them with a context in which to evaluate response to injury. They have seen similar injuries and can compare healing response to those prior patient's responses. Similarly, they have used a variety of treatments and seen the responses to those treatments and so can more objectively evaluate the quality of the response.

Why A Vet Chooses This Diagnostic

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Related Observations

Your vet might choose this diagnostic test if you were making these observations.

Very Common
Rare
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Diagnoses Your Vet May Consider

This test could rule out or confirm any of the following diagnoses.

Very Common
Less Common
Rare
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BENEFITS
There is no substitute for a thorough clinical examination of an affected area. It is the cornerstone for all other diagnostics. Without clinical exam, the other diagnostics have very limited.

LIMITATIONS

Like everything veterinarians do, there is opportunity for personal bias to get in the way of an objective evaluation.

Experience (time in practice, intensity of practice) is what provides value to this examination. The more horses an examiner exams, the better examiner they become.

Author: Doug Thal DVM Dipl. ABVP