Equine Abdominal Radiography

Indications for performing this procedure:  Radiography of the equine abdomen can be used in the case of a suspected intestinal impaction, intussusceptions, metallic foreign bodies, and for visualization of sand accumulation when sand sedimentation yields a false negative result.  In the case of impactions and intussusceptions, abdominal radiography may be the most valuable source of information to the clinician.  However, the thickness of the abdomen of horses weanling size and larger requires such high-exposure technique that significant scatter radiation is likely to occur.  Thus, radiography is generally used only in young foals where the images obtained are clearer and more diagnostic than those in the larger animal.  Radiography in ponies can also yield good results.


The Procedure:  The typical 1,000-lb horse is large enough to require a minimum of 3-4 consecutive radiographs to cover the entire abdominal cavity.  In order to minimize the amount of time required for exposure, a combination of an 8:1, 80-line-per-inch grid and a high speed rare earth film screen are used.  For the clearest possible images, a horse can be fasted for 24-48 hours to allow the large intestine to become emptied of ingesta.  If fasting is not an option at the time, the horse can be radiographed before fasting, and if the quality of the radiographs was not acceptable it can then be fasted and re-radiographed.  Barium contrast radiography may also be used for some animals.


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