Bringing the Most Advanced Diagnostic Imaging to Equine Athletes

September 24, 2021

A horse is shown with its head resting on a pillow in the CT machine waiting to be scanned
The Qalibra system, recently installed in the Caesars Entertainment Equine Specialty Hospital, enables the CT machine to be adjusted in height to the size of the horse and moved horizontally over the patient during the scan, allowing the patient to stand without restraint. (Photo courtesy of Qalibra)
A digital scan showing the side of the horse's leg
A sagittal CT slice of a horse that presented with chronic lameness localized to the fetlock with previous diagnostic efforts unable to conclusively provide a diagnosis. The fetlock joint of the standing horse was examined in the CT with intra-articular contrast agent administration (arthrography). The patient’s veterinary team was able to diagnose the horse with mild osteoarthritis of the fetlock joint. (Photo courtesy of Qalibra)

Equine athletes in Indiana now have access to the latest diagnostic imaging technology thanks to installation of the Qalibra Computed Tomography (CT) machine at the Caesars Entertainment Equine Specialty Hospital, a satellite facility of the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine located in Shelbyville, Ind.  The helical (spiral) CT features the world’s largest field-of-view and can be adjusted in height according to the size of the horse, making it possible to scan patients while they are safely standing or under general anesthesia or light sedation.

Developed in Germany by equine specialists in conjunction with Canon Medical, the Qalibra CT system also will be installed in the new David and Bonnie Brunner Equine Hospital that is being built on the Purdue University campus with an anticipated opening in spring 2022.  At that point, of the three known Qalibra CT installations in the United States, the College of Veterinary Medicine will have two of them.

A front view of the large cylinder where a patient is placed for the computed tomography scan
A front view of the gantry on the Qalibra CT machine, which was specially designed to serve equine patients. (Photo courtesy of Qalibra)

Located near Indiana Grand Racing and Casino, the Caesars Entertainment Equine Specialty Hospital provides expert veterinary medical diagnostics and treatment for Indiana’s growing equine industry. Dr. Timm Gudehus, the hospital’s senior equine surgeon, explains the facility offers such specialized services as advanced equine surgery, including long-bone fracture repair; orthopedic examinations involving advanced diagnostic imaging, including nuclear scintigraphy (bone scan); other diagnostic services such as ultrasound and dynamic endoscopy; and treatments that incorporate a range of biologics and stem cell therapy.

Writer(s): Kevin Doerr | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Recent Stories

“Paws Up” – brought to you by the PVM Wellness Committee

This week we offer a very special “Paws Up” to Dr. Kathy Salisbury as she nears retirement as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and concludes a remarkable career during which she gave more than 40 years of dedicated and steadfast service to the veterinary profession, the College of Veterinary Medicine and Purdue University.

Petula the Papillon: from Heartache to Healing and Beyond

Our series of articles about animals and their owners who’ve found help and healing at the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital continues as we share the story of Petula, the Papillon. Ann Bruno will never forget the moment her Papillon puppy, Petula, jumped out of the bath and landed wrong. In an instant, her young agility partner could not put weight on her leg. Ann’s heart sank. Petula was more than a beloved companion. She was already in training for agility competitions, and Ann was determined to do everything she could to get her back on track.

2025 Purdue Veterinary Conference to Feature Top-Level Continuing Education and Events

The Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine is set to host the 2025 Purdue Veterinary Conference September 16–20, and registration is open! The annual event held on Purdue’s West Lafayette campus brings together veterinary professionals, educators, students, and industry partners for a week of continuing education complete with opportunities for practical learning, collaboration and networking.

In Memory: Dr. Jennifer Anderson-Schmeltz (PU DVM 2009)

The Purdue Veterinary Medicine community is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of a member of the Purdue DVM Class of 2009, Dr. Jennifer Anderson-Schmeltz, of Mishawaka, Indiana, who died June 13 after a courageous battle with cancer. She was 42.