A major technological medical advancement that can help detect and prevent equine medical injuries is coming to Churchill Downs Racetrack.
In conjunction with Hagyard Equine Medical Institute and the PetVet Care Centers network, Churchill Downs will soon install an equine PET scan machine at its Equine Medical Center in the Churchill Downs stable area that will help veterinarians and horsemen assess the racing soundness of Thoroughbred horses that compete at the historic Louisville racetrack.
A positron emission tomography (PET) scan is a diagnostic imaging test that can help identify abnormal metabolic activity in the bones of a racehorse's fetlock (ankle). Recent scientific studies have supported PET image findings as a highly effective diagnostic approach for identifying potential issues in the lower limbs of race horses. Repeated PET scans can also be used to monitor a horse's recovery prior to returning to strenuous athletic work.
Categories: Kentucky, General