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 Expert
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Location: on my horse | I'm not turning up much via bhw google search, what's been your personal experience with equine MRI? I know they have to do general anesthetic and that comes with its own set of risks, but did you feel the MRI gave your vet the info you needed? Any regrets getting it done, for example did the extra info change your treatment plan at all or no? Anesthesia complications?
I've had MRI's done on my own body, but never a horse. She's going to have one as soon as I can afford it this year.
Will be asking my vet these same questions, but have to wait until office hours  |
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 Did I miss the party?
Posts: 3864
 
| Yes, I've had a couple done on different horses. They both turned up things that x-rays/ultrasounds didn't. Glad I had them done, no issues with anesthesia or anything. Got the answers we needed that led to the proper treatment protocols. Insurance covered the MRI's. I'd not hesitate to get another done again and wish they had more equine specific MRI machines that were capable of doing all suspected areas of lameness vs. just lower limbs.
Edited by barrelracinbroke 2016-06-17 1:06 AM
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Location: midwest mama | I had one done on my horse that had a mystery lameness that we had been chasing around for over 6 months. SO glad I had it done. It finally gave us all of the answers we needed to put together a comprehensive course of rehabilitation which was very successful.
There is always a risk with the anesthesia and recovery, but I was at the point that I really needed to take a chance. I'm glad I did.
My advice is to choose a facility that really has a lot of experience with doing MRIs, and who also has a good resource to read the results. If you are going to pay good money for it and take the risk, you should choose wisely. JMO........ |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 422
Location: Fort Bragg North Carolina | How much does an MRI run someone?? Had a vet tell me I needed one done on a shoulder but never looked into it. Following this |
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Location: Not Where I Want to Be | FInd someplace that can do a standing MRI
No general needed.
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992
Location: Kansas | charlenenh - 2016-06-17 3:38 AM How much does an MRI run someone?? Had a vet tell me I needed one done on a shoulder but never looked into it. Following this
With a gelding I had, vet said he might need an MRI if one treatment didn't work....was quoted anywhere from $800 to $1,200. |
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Regular
Posts: 85
| I had one done on a horse that had off and on lameness issues, it gave us the answers we needed and he recovered fine from the anesthesia. I think it was about $1,500 at Texas A&M, it was a few years ago. I would recommend one if you can't find the answers via x-ray/ultrasound. They can be pricey, but a lot of times if you have major medical insurance they will pay part of the cost.
Edited by Lph88311 2016-06-17 8:25 AM
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 784
Location: USA | Did the MRI for the back left leg and came out finding something in the back right as well. so well worth it. Bone scan can give you answers as well if you don't know the cause/source of your issue. After 3 years of struggling with my horse i finally did a bone scan and we finally found the source of our problems. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 103
Location: Georgia | I had a MRI done on my gelding several years ago. That was the only way to find the real issue in his front feet. He had an inflamed ligament and bursa that could not be detected with X-rays or ultrasounds. It was pricey but I don't regret having it done and MRI gave us the information we needed to move forward. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 926
| 1DSoon - 2016-06-17 6:23 AM
FInd someplace that can do a standing MRI
No general needed.
I've had more than I'd like to have done and they all have turned up information that was useful, maybe not always positive, but useful. My friend had her horse diagnosed by an old school vet as navicular. She had the MRI there was no evidence of any heel issue, got the horses feet done correctly, and no more problem.
Issue with the standing MRI is that it will not reveal as much information because the strength of the magnet isn't there. Having had many of these, I'd suggest doing the traditional, the images are much clearer they can find more detail that the standing will miss.
Don't know where you're located. There is a facility in the DFW metroplex, and there is one in Oklahoma. Both have very up to date machines. One of the tech's at the the DFW clinic had her MRI done at the imaging clinic where she works and her doc that looked at them was very impressed because it was more clear than the machine they were using.
Price is usually around $1k, but can vary. However, you can spend that much in vet exams, supplements, xrays that potentially don't do anything.
Good Luck!
Edited by chicks2 2016-06-17 8:51 AM
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boon
Posts: 2
| I had one done on my mare at the facility in Arlington and they took great care of my horse and they explained everything to us on the findings. It's really the only way to get answers to some of the chronic lameness issues. We did the rehab like they advised and even though they told me she would probably never compete again, I am happy to say we are legging her up and she is staying sound! Will proceed cautiously on competing but I'm just glad to have a sound happy horse again! I would highly recommend it. |
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Expert
Posts: 1482
Location: on my horse | Thanks guys, I live in Idaho so what's available to me is either a state away at the university or the local equine hospital. Cost wise I think university would be my best bet, the local equine hospital is very pricey and when I called they told me $2500 for the MRI not including general anesthetic. A friend of mine just had a mare go through surgery there for a broken orbital cavity and her anesthetic cost was 900. I think university all included was closer to $2500.
I don't have my mare insured and I'm guessing nobody would cover her now unfortunately.
More on the standing MRI, I would be interested in that, for her safety. Does anybody know somewhere in the states surrounding Idaho that does that? I need to call around to other hospitals and universities I guess. I didn't even know that was an option. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 333
| I got a quote for both MRI's. They were comparable in cost. The resolution isn't as good as the other for a standing (or so they told me).
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 Firecracker Dog Lover
Posts: 3175
| redmansmyman11 - 2016-06-17 11:07 AM Thanks guys, I live in Idaho so what's available to me is either a state away at the university or the local equine hospital. Cost wise I think university would be my best bet, the local equine hospital is very pricey and when I called they told me $2500 for the MRI not including general anesthetic. A friend of mine just had a mare go through surgery there for a broken orbital cavity and her anesthetic cost was 900. I think university all included was closer to $2500. I don't have my mare insured and I'm guessing nobody would cover her now unfortunately. More on the standing MRI, I would be interested in that, for her safety. Does anybody know somewhere in the states surrounding Idaho that does that? I need to call around to other hospitals and universities I guess. I didn't even know that was an option.
Not sure where in Idaho you are located but Washington State University quoted me at $700 for an MRI. :) |
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Did I miss the party?
Posts: 3864
| I don't know where people are getting MRI's done for $1000 or under but, that's super cheap! The last one I just had (not a standing MRI) was in the same range you're being quoted and, same thing, it didn't include anesthesia, overnight stay, etc, etc.... Good luck with your horse! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 784
Location: USA | Mine was at WSU for 2k |
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Expert
Posts: 1482
Location: on my horse | WSU is where I would take her, how did one of you get quoted 700 and one of you get quoted 2k?!
I'm going to have to call next week and talk to them. Either way 700 or even 2k is better than 2500 no general anesthetic from a hospital i have beef with anyway  |
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Anyone had an MRI done on their horses?