General Health

CAPE VET prides itself in comprehensive veterinary care for all aspects of equine health and medicine. This includes thorough, hands on clinical examinations, routine and special vaccine programs, faecal egg counts and deworming protocols. 

Radiology

Radiography is the process of using light (x-rays) to create images on film to assess radio-opaque structures such as bones. Digital radiography is where digital x-ray sensors are used instead of chemicals and film. The advantage of digital radiography is that it saves time and renders a quicker diagnosis. It is most commonly used in the diagnosis of lameness and in pre-purchase exams to eliminate risk.

CAPE VET has their own portable, digital radiograph machine. It is easily transported and 100% mobile. This allows us to take radiographs in the comfort of your yard without having to truck your horse anywhere. The radiograph machine is available for radiographs from the head and cervical spine to the leg and hoof to the spine and stifles. 
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Ultrasonography

Ultrasonography is an excellent tool for the evaluation of internal body structures such as tendons and ligaments, muscles, joints, vessels and internal organs.
CAPE VET has two portable ultrasound machines. The one unit has a rectal and tendon probe making it perfect for breeding work, pregnancy diagnosis and reproductive disorders. The second unit has both a tendon and curvilinear probe which allows for tendon and ligament scans and colic and respiratory workups. 
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Gastroscopy

Gastroscopy is normally done when there is a suspicion of gastric ulcers. The stomach lining is examined with a 3 meter fiber optic scope. For more information on this condition, please read the Gastric Ulcer article under the “articles” section. The only scope that is currently able to do this in the Western Cape is at the Drakenstein Veterinary Centre. Please contact us if you would like to make an appointment, or alternatively you may follow the link below.

Lameness Workups

​The term lameness is used to describe abnormal gait due to pain or restriction in range of movement. Due to the anatomy of horses and large amount of weight carried on their thin legs and small feet, lameness is common in horses as some time or another.
A lameness workup is used to find the cause of the gait deficit through a process of flexion tests, nerve blocks and radiography or ultrasound.

Endoscopy

​Endoscopy is acommonly used in the evaluation of the upper respiratory tract in performance horses, especially racehorses. Endoscopy forms an important part of the pre-purchase exam of racehorses.
CAPE VET has a total of three 1m portable endoscopes. Through this non –invasive procedure we are able to evaluate the upper respiratory system, the larynx and pharynx and the guttural pouches all in the comfort of your stables. 

Prepurchase Exams

​The purpose of the pre-purchase exam is to eliminate the risk to you, the buyer, and help you to make an informed decision in the purchase of your new horse. This is done through a thorough clinical exam, conformation and gait evaluation on the ground and under saddle. The findings are then weighed up and a risk category determined depending on the intended use of the horse being purchased. A pre-purchase exam cannot ensure future health and soundness of a horse and should not be used as a means of determining pass or fail. It is also subjective, and although the fundamentals are the same for all vets it is important to find a vet that understands your needs as a buyer.
Please note that a thorough pre-purchase exam takes time and both buyer, owner and rider need to be aware of this on inspection day. Set aside at least an hour for the preliminary exam and more if diagnostics tests, such as radiographs, are required.