Equina by Asto CT

02/18/2026

02/18/2026

✨ We’re excited to be part of the very first ISELP Foot & Pastern module in sunny Australia! 🇦🇺☀️

📅 February 19–21, 2026
📍 Novotel Sydney West HQ

Our Australian distributor Mediquip Pty Ltd will be proudly representing Asto CT at the event. Be sure to stop by the Asto CT table and connect with Andreas Winterhalter and April Hadges!
Looking forward to an incredible few days of learning and collaboration! 🐴

02/17/2026

Welcome the Year of the Horse—a symbol of strength, precision, and forward momentum.

Wishing a happy Lunar New Year to our global veterinary and equine community. 🧧🐎

02/04/2026

🏆 CT Contest Spotlight | Neck Category 🏆

C2–C3 Articular Process Joint Osteoarthritis
6-year-old Quarter Horse gelding
📍University of Minnesota – Leatherdale Equine Center
👨‍⚕️Dr. Nicolas Ernst

This winning case stood out for its exceptional anatomical coverage and image quality, clearly demonstrating the power of CT in diagnosing cervical pathology and evaluating articular process joint disease with a level of clarity beyond conventional imaging.

🔍 Case Highlights
Referred for head shaking and subtle facial asymmetry, this gelding showed left-sided muzzle deviation at rest and facial twitching under stress, along with resistance to left turns during barrel racing raising concern for cervical or neurologic involvement.

🧠 Key Findings
CT imaging identified moderate osteoarthritis of the C2–C3 articular process joints, more severe on the left, with associated mineralization and concurrent intervertebral disc disease. While additional osseous findings were noted, the C2–C3 degenerative changes were considered the most likely contributors to the horse’s performance-related concerns.

👏 Congratulations to Dr. Ernst and the University of Minnesota team for this outstanding contribution and for showcasing how advanced imaging continues to elevate equine diagnostics.

02/02/2026

Chronic DDFT Tear in an 11‑Year‑Old Hanoverian

This horse first presented in 2021 with a 3/5 right front lameness. MRI revealed a significant DDFT tear from P2 to the insertion. Despite rest and rehab, follow-up imaging showed ongoing progression.
Fast-forward to 2025 → worsening lameness led to a standing CT exam.

The CT revealed:
🔹 Progressive DDFT tear now extending from mid‑P1 to the distal navicular bone
🔹 Full‑thickness parasagittal suprasesamoidean tear
🔹 Evidence of soft tissue distortion and core lesion advancement

View the full case here: https://obi41.nl/43un53pd
👉 This case highlights the value of fan‑beam CT as a recheck modality for low‑field MRI and, in some cases, a primary diagnostic tool for evaluating progressive soft tissue pathology.

02/01/2026

Well done Pioneer Equine Hospital, Dr. Cameron, and Dr. Hicks! 👏🏼

01/29/2026

🌟 FEATURED WINNER – THE GOAT 🌟
Thickening of the Cervical and Thoracic Tracheal Wall
📌 4-year-old Nigerian Dwarf doe
🏥 University of Minnesota-Leatherdale Equine Hospital
👩‍⚕️ Dr. Jenna Young

🩺 Case Overview
A 4-year-old Nigerian Dwarf doe was presented on an emergency basis with acute respiratory distress. Despite normal thoracic radiographs and ultrasound, physical exam revealed severe inspiratory stridor. Endoscopy showed vascular, irregular, proliferative tissue extending from the mid‑trachea to the carina, occupying up to one‑third of the airway in regions.

🔍 Advanced Imaging Findings
Asto CT revealed multifocal, nodular thickening of the cervical and thoracic tracheal walls, most severe at C4, with extension into the adventitia. The resulting deformation caused up to 50% luminal narrowing, fully correlating with the patient’s clinical signs.

🧠 Differential Diagnoses
Possible causes included:
• Granulomatous disease (parasitic, eosinophilic, abscessation, papillomatosis)
• Neoplasia (lymphoma, carcinoma)

📸 Image of Nigerian Dwarf Doe is an example of what they look like.

01/28/2026

Racing Victoria’s 2025 veterinary protocols continue their leading approach to equine safety. These measures were introduced in 2021 to prevent catastrophic limb injuries, and they remain a core part of Melbourne Cup preparation. Central to these protocols are mandatory standing CT scans for every Melbourne Cup runner.

🎥 Watch more in the full video: https://youtu.be/ulKqyMuAXF4

🔍 Why Standing CT Scans Matter

Standing CT imaging detects bone fatigue, micro‑fractures, and early injury signs that traditional X‑rays or physical exams can’t spot. This approach has helped the last four Spring Racing Carnivals finish without a single fatal race‑day injury, proving just how vital advanced imaging is.

🐎 How It Works

No anesthesia needed horses stay awake and standing, giving vets a natural, weight‑bearing view of the limbs.

Focus is on the distal limbs (fetlocks, cannon bones, key joints), where most serious injuries develop.

⚠️ If a CT Scan Flags Something…

A follow‑up PET scan may be used to determine whether a finding is an active injury or an old, inactive change. This two‑step process helps avoid unnecessary withdrawals while keeping safety the top priority.

🎯 Source: Racing Victoria

Horses from USA, UK, Ireland, Japan & Germany arrive in Melbourne this week to compete 🙌Renowned international vet Dr David Sykes outlines the veterinary pr...

01/26/2026

“In private practice, standing CT is practical and well tolerated by the horse. It requires less time than MRI, allows us to image a larger area of interest, and is often more cost effective. We’re identifying pathology beyond what ultrasound and radiographs can show, reaching a diagnosis faster, and returning horses to their referring veterinarians for treatment. The result is more efficient diagnostics and improved outcomes for both horses and clients.”

Dr. Jack Caldwell, DVM, Virginia Equine Imaging

01/23/2026

🏅 Limb Category Winner
Tarsal Osteoarthrosis with Talar Cyst
• 11-year-old Thoroughbred gelding
• Virginia Equine Imaging
• Dr. Jack Caldwell

🔍 Case Summary
An 11-year-old Thoroughbred gelding was referred for advanced imaging of the tarsus due to persistent right hindlimb lameness. The horse had sustained a fracture of the right lateral malleolus of the tibia in September 2024 while recovering from colic surgery. Although the fracture fragment was surgically removed one week later, intermittent right hindlimb lameness continued, prompting further diagnostic investigation.

📊 CT Findings & Diagnosis
Right Hindlimb
• Moderate tarsocrural joint osteoarthrosis
• Large talar cyst with articular communication and associated depression fracture, most consistent with a traumatic cyst
• Multifocal periosteal reaction consistent with regional inflammation and post-surgical change
• Lateral and medial collateral ligament enthesopathies
• Mild proximal interphalangeal joint osteoarthrosis
• Moderate distal intertarsal joint osteoarthrosis

Left Hindlimb
• No significant abnormalities identified

👏 Recognition to Virginia Equine Imaging and Dr. Jack Caldwell for an excellent example of how CT can define complex tarsal pathology and guide informed clinical decision-making.

01/21/2026

Catch Nigel Perry and the IMV imaging GB & Ireland team at the Jumping Amsterdam Veterinary Sport Horse Congress Jan 23–24, representing Asto CT. Stop by and say hello!

01/19/2026

This 7-year-old Quarter Horse gelding (1,400 lbs) underwent CT myelography using the Asto CT Equina, with the procedure completed by the experienced team at Wisconsin Equine Clinic & Hospital.

CT myelography combines contrast enhancement with high-resolution CT to allow detailed assessment of the cervical spine and spinal cord. This advanced imaging approach can help clinicians evaluate conditions that may be difficult or impossible to fully characterize with conventional imaging, including:
• Subtle or complex bony remodeling
• Cervical vertebral abnormalities
• Spinal canal narrowing
• Areas of spinal cord compression

Cases involving the cervical spine often require advanced tools and specialized expertise. The Asto CT Equina supports clinicians in making informed, evidence-based decisions when diagnostic clarity is essential.