An accurate diagnosis is the foundation of a proper treatment plan to return horses back to soundness, health and performance. When Alamo Pintado was founded in 1972 our diagnostic tools consisted of hoof testers and a stethoscope. Today after five decades of continuous innovation and investment in advanced diagnostic imaging modalities our doctors have an unmatched suite of technologies available to them. These synergistic modalities are used individually or together to enable our doctors to accurately diagnose even the most complex issues in the horse.
“Having access to the most cutting edge technologies and tools available, means getting the most definitive diagnosis for the horse. ”
Complete Suite of Imaging Modalities
Dr. Carter Judy, DVM, Dip ACVS
World renowned for his expertise in surgery and imaging, having amassed 17 years of MRI experience alone, Dr. Carter Judy’s impact on the performance horse and the profession of veterinary medicine has been acknowledged by horse owners, trainers, and veterinarians alike.
Dr. Judy has made it a priority to share the things he has learned over his decades of dedication as a doctor, having presented to his colleagues on more than 80 occasions on topics ranging from Navicular Bursoscopy to Esophageal Obstructions.
A consummate academic, he has also been published in 14 journals and contributed to eight textbooks. Fitting as he had been awarded a dozen academic awards before even completing his residency. He has successfully obtained several grants to perform cutting-edge research and has been a clinical investigator on numerous others.
Even with a seemingly endless list of professional accolades, Carter Judy’s greatest strength lies in his ability to help horse owners find the answers they seek, answers often hidden deep below the surface.
He has notably carved out a particularly special place in the hearts of his clients, earning their trust not only because of how much he knows, but because of how much he cares. Dr. Judy supervises and reads each MRI performed at Alamo Pintado, ensuring the highest accuracy.
CT provides thin, cross-sectional images which appear as “slices.” These slices are then stacked together to create a three-dimensional image. By using x-rays to produce multiple images, the tool gives our team more detail than conventional radiographs. CT imaging is especially useful because it allows for views of all types of tissue, clearly showing bone, muscle and blood vessels.
One of only three units of its kind in being used in equine veterinary medicine in the US, our team utilizes this advanced portable BodyTom® full-body, 32-slice CT to accurately explore issues within the equine head and neck and to examine complicated dental issues. This CT unit is also used to analyze fractures and other injuries to bones and joints of the distal limbs and to assist in the planning of complex surgeries.
MRI has been the gold standard in human medicine for diagnostic imaging of orthopedic, brain and soft tissue injuries. MRI utilizes a strong magnetic field (30,000 times as strong as the Earth’s magnetic field) to orient the atoms of the body. By changing this field temporarily, these atoms react and emit radio waves which are detected and interpreted by a computer to create the image.
No radiation is used and there are no known side-effects to the use of MRI at this field strength in the horse. A state of the art, high field (1.5T) Siemens Magnetom Espree, has been installed in a customized facility at Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center. In use for over 10 years, this system allows for effective, time efficient imaging of orthopedic, soft tissue and head/brain pathology of the horse.