Providing comprehensive care of horses, is the overriding mission of Angie Yates, DVM, owner of Yates Equine Veterinary Services of Indianapolis. Treating horses with lameness issues is a primary focus and expertise of the practice and the addition of the Hallmarq standing MRI provides faster, accurate diagnosis of leg and foot problems for her patients and their owners.

“We see a lot of horses with lameness caused by injuries to their lower limbs and feet, but the challenge has been obtaining an accurate picture of the injured area beyond what x-rays can provide. In many cases, an MRI scan is the only option for getting definitive answers to lower limb and soft-tissue related injuries,” Dr. Yates explains.

The problem, according to Dr. Yates, was the nearest equine MRI provider was three hours away in Kentucky, requiring significant travel time, inconvenience and related costs of the owner – not to mention the added stress on the horse.

The Hallmarq standing MRI system gives excellent-quality image scans of the lower limb and structures within the hoof, where many problems are found. And unlike traditional down MRI scanning systems, horses don’t need to be anesthetized for the procedure, which reduces potential problems with recovery and usually allows them to return home the same day.

“I’ve always been curious about the latest therapies, medical technologies and services available to help improve the care and wellness of all horses,” says Dr. Yates, who goes beyond normal vaccinations and dentistry to offer chiropractic and acupuncture services to her patients. “It made tremendous sense to offer clients the latest in MRI diagnostics as part of the veterinary services I provide.”