Equine Ultrasound

High-definition ultrasound provides real-time imaging of tendons, ligaments, joints and internal organs, helping us diagnose problems quickly and guide treatment with confidence.

Ultrasound has become one of the most valuable diagnostic tools in modern equine practice, allowing us to assess soft tissues, joints and internal organs quickly, accurately and non-invasively.

Our fully ambulatory ultrasound service brings advanced imaging directly to your yard, enabling prompt diagnosis, informed treatment decisions and precision-guided procedures without the need to transport your horse.  At Kr we have 5 ultrasound machines and 12 different probes for different areas of the horse.

Whether investigating a tendon injury, examining the abdomen of a colicky horse or performing an ultrasound-guided joint injection, our state-of-the-art portable ultrasound equipment provides exceptional image quality wherever your horse is stabled.

Why Ultrasound?

Unlike X-rays, which are primarily used to examine bone, ultrasound allows us to visualise soft tissues in real time.

This makes it invaluable for assessing:

• Tendons and ligaments
• Muscles
• Joint capsules
• Fluid-filled structures
• Internal organs
• Soft tissue swellings
• Areas of pain or inflammation

Because the examination is performed in real time, we can assess structures during movement where appropriate and compare injuries with the opposite limb to build the clearest possible picture.

Tendon & Ligament Assessment

Ultrasound is the gold standard for evaluating many soft tissue injuries.

Whether your horse has developed a swollen tendon, subtle lameness or an unexpected performance problem, early ultrasound examination allows us to accurately identify the damaged structures and assess the severity of injury.

Common conditions we investigate include:

• Superficial digital flexor tendon injuries
• Deep digital flexor tendon injuries
• Suspensory ligament injuries
• Check ligament injuries
• Collateral ligament injuries
• Muscle tears
• Soft tissue swelling following trauma

Detailed ultrasound examinations also allow us to monitor healing throughout rehabilitation, helping guide exercise programmes and determine when horses are ready to return to work.

Abdominal Ultrasound

Ultrasound is an invaluable tool when investigating horses with abdominal pain, weight loss, diarrhoea or unexplained illness.

By examining the abdominal organs through the body wall, we can gain valuable information that complements a full clinical examination.

Abdominal ultrasound may help assess:

• Intestinal motility
• Intestinal distension
• Free abdominal fluid
• Liver abnormalities
• Spleen
• Kidneys
• Bladder
• Signs of inflammatory or infectious disease

In many cases, ultrasound provides important information that helps determine whether medical treatment can continue at home or whether referral for further investigation or surgery is advisable.

Ultrasound-Guided Joint Injections

Modern ultrasound has transformed the accuracy of many joint and soft tissue injections.

Some joints and synovial structures are difficult—or impossible—to access reliably using external landmarks alone.

Using real-time ultrasound guidance, we can accurately position the needle while visualising the surrounding anatomy, helping ensure medication is delivered precisely where it is needed.

Ultrasound-guided procedures may include:

• Sacroiliac (SI) region injections
• Selected cervical and spinal regions
• Deep or difficult-to-access joints
• Tendon sheath injections
• Bursa injections
• Soft tissue therapeutic injections

Image-guided techniques improve precision, minimise unnecessary tissue trauma and increase confidence that treatment reaches the intended target.

Monitoring Healing

Ultrasound is not only valuable for diagnosis—it also plays an important role throughout recovery.

Repeat examinations allow us to monitor tissue healing objectively, adapt rehabilitation programmes and identify any setbacks before they become significant problems.

This helps owners and trainers make informed decisions about returning horses to work while reducing the risk of re-injury.

Modern Imaging at Your Yard

Our high-resolution portable ultrasound system delivers exceptional image quality while allowing investigations to be performed in the familiar surroundings of your own yard.

Most examinations are completed quickly with minimal disruption, and images can be reviewed immediately with owners, trainers and referring veterinary surgeons where appropriate.

Why Choose Our Ultrasound Service?

Our experienced equine vets combine advanced portable imaging technology with practical, evidence-based decision making to provide rapid, accurate diagnoses and targeted treatments.

Whether assessing a tendon injury, investigating abdominal disease or performing an ultrasound-guided procedure, our ambulatory service brings specialist diagnostic capability directly to your horse—helping us diagnose problems earlier, treat them more precisely and support the best possible outcome.

Because when you can see more, you can make better decisions.