Buying a new horse is a huge investment both emotionally and financially.  In most instances a prepurchase exam is a valuable part of what should be an informed decision. However, it is only one piece of the larger decision and by its nature may be the source of angst for the buyer and the seller.  Our goal is to provide an environment in which you can openly communicate your expectations, the horse can be viewed in the most informative setting and the results of further diagnostic modalities such as radographs or ultrasounds can be fully communicated with you. 

 A horse does not “pass” or “fail” this exam; rather, it is a snapshot of its health and soundness on a given day and is no prediction of the future.  Coastal Equine will provide the buyer with written findings and recommendations that may be shared with anyone you wish prior to making your final decision.  We would be happy to discuss any and all concerns prior to the exam. 

Any alteration of your horse's gait is a lameness.  A prompt and thorough examination can save time, money, and frustration by diagnosing and treating the problem immediately in an effort to prevent further damage.  Examination procedures include obtaining a thorough medical history, appraisals of your horse at rest and in motion, without and without weight on their back, and a hands-on examination including palpation, hoof tester sensitivity and flexion tests prior to modalities such as digital radiography and ultrasonography. 

The best results for the treatment of arthritic conditions in horses are obtained when a diagnosis is made early and a treatment plan is instituted that will reduce inflammation, preserve the articular cartilage, protect the joint and ultimately return the joint (and therefore the horse) to athletic function.   Along with appropriate systemic therapy, there are instances in which intra-articular injections are the treatment of choice and the only option for return to full soundness.  Joints can be injected with a variety of substances including corticosteroids, hyaluronic acid, polysulfated glycosaminoglycans, Interleukin -1, platelet rich plasma, stem cells or a combination of the above.  We would be happy to discuss any or all of these options in detail with you. 

Joint injections come with some risks even under the best of circumstances; however, it is imperative that the person injecting your horses joint prepare it aseptically, be familiar with the landmarks necessary to properly inject the drug of choice and that the joint be monitored for the next week to ten days for signs of swelling, heat or an increase in lameness. 

Finally, Dr. Fuller is certified to perform Vet-Stem regenerative medicine therapy. Regenerative medicine is a process that uses a concentrated form of autologous adipose-derived adult stem cells to treat traumatic and degenerative diseases, including bowed tendons, ligament injuries, osteoarthritis, and osteochondral defects in horses.  In some instances this may be an option where traditional therapies address the inflammatory process and pain have not successfully addressed the regeneration of tissues that result in scar tissue formation and partial or full loss of function.  For more information on this technique please see
www.vet-stem.com/equine

There are many situations during the life of your horse in which you may want a second opinion. Sometimes referral to one of the regional equine hospitals is the most expeditious and practical avenue to pursue immediately.  In other situations where time is not of the essence or the diagnosis is less evident, we hope that you will consider our services.  Whether it is another set of eyes on a portfolio of films, a laminitic obese insulin-resistant horse, an evaluation of poor performance or a geriatric consult, Dr. Fuller has a wide array of experiences and can provide you with her analysis of your horses condition.  Ideally, any second opinion will be in conjunction with your primary care veterinarian and we will make every effort to provide this opinion in a non-competitive manner with the patients best interests in mind. 

Where diagnosis at the farm is not possible or where surgery is a consideration, our goal is to make your referral process as painless as possible.  We can gather price quotes, familiarize you with the doctors on staff and available at the moment, and facilitate the best possible care for your horse.  For a list of regional referral hospitals and links to their websites please see the Helpful Information tab on this website. 

Dr. Fuller does not provide any  alternative medicine treatment modalities but can provide you with a list of veterinarians in the area that are qualified to perform these procedures.

Radiographic technology has rapidly changed in the last several years and digital radiographs are ideal for ease of use, speed and clinical results.  Coastal Equine uses the Sound-Eklin Mark IIG for direct capture digital X-rays for on-site diagnosis with sizeable imaging capabilities for extremities, necks and backs.  Images taken with this machine can immediately be emailed to referral hospitals or other veterinarians for further diagnostics.  Please contact us if you have any questions about this procedure or the equipment used.

Horses may present with a multitude of soft tissue injuries that can be diagnosed on the premises with an ultrasound.  These injuries include among other things suspensory ligament injuries, superficial and deep digital flexor tendon injuries, collateral ligament injuries, sesamoidian ligament injuries and back and cervical soft tissue injuries.  Coastal Equine has a  Biosound Mylab 5 Veterinary Ultrasound with all digital broad band high density technology, tissue enhancement imaging, high resolution color LCD monitor and linear and convex probes for a variety of applications.  Upon request images of your horse may be transmitted easily electronically to a referral institution or another veterinarian.

There are conditions that may be  readily diagnosed with endoscopy on the premises and with little or no anesthesia.  These conditions include  gutteral pouch infections due to bacteria and fungi, exercise induced pulmonary hemorrhage ethmoid hematomas and cranial nerve dysfunction among other things.  Some horses develop exercise intolerance due to  airway obstruction or laryngeal dysfunction that is also readily diagnosed using endoscopy.  Coastal Equine has  an Olympus GIF-XQ30 multipurpose fibreoptic endoscope.

Although we do not perform routine annual coggins tests, Coastal Equine is pleased to offer digital Global Vet Link coggins as well as traditional paper format coggins tests for those situations where it may be preferable.   

With a horse like "Ice", shown above, it is difficult and time-consuming to draw the markings every single year.  If you choose the digital option we will take pictures of your horse the first time we perform this procedure and load this information into the Global Vet Link site.  After this first visit, we simply draw the blood and will not need to draw those difficult markings.  Owners have twenty-four hour a day access to their completed coggins forms if this option was chosen.  We will need your email address to set up the account and then you will be able to go to the Global Vet Link site at www.globalvetlink.com and click on the tab "For Animal Owners". You will be given instructions to set up your personal account at that time.