Services

Internal Medicine

Internal Medicine is a widely varied service at EVMC. It covers a range of problems from neonatology to postpartum issues with the mare and foal, as well as infectious diseases in horses of all ages like pneumonia, liver disease, diarrhea, and peritonitis. Oncology, ophthalmology, cardiology, neurology, dermatology, and critical care cases are also treated in the Internal Medicine service.

A combination of expertise and state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment such as ultrasound, endoscopy, radiology, and non-invasive and minimally invasive sampling techniques are used to obtain all the information required to diagnose and treat the conditions presented.

The Internal Medicine team is made up of board certified specialist(s), doctor(s) and intern(s) with focus in equine medicine, supported by nurses and veterinary assistants, making sure that all horses have 24/7 expert care and supervision.

Reproduction

Qatar enjoys some of the most cherished and successful Arabian horse bloodlines worldwide. The reproductive services at EVMC aim at preserving and giving continuity to this incommensurable heritage, for future generations of Qatari horse breeders to enjoy.

Clinician(s) with a vast clinical and research experience in horse breeding supported by intern(s), nurse(s), vet assistant(s) and grooms, offer services that include a full range of standard and assisted-reproduction technologies, to enhance the reproductive performance in mares and stallions.

Investigation of subfertility is often the first step undertaken to identify conditions supporting unsatisfactory reproductive performance, followed by surgical correction, medical treatment or hormonal supplementation, and appropriate breeding management strategies, for each case, individually.

Fetal sexing, monitoring of equine pregnancy, and identification/management of high-risk gestational conditions are additional services offered to assist breeders, particularly those who have suffered repeated fetal losses on their farms.

Breeding soundness examination of stallions and semen cryopreservation to assess semen freezability, are the main male fertility investigations currently offered at EVMC.

Owing to the widespread interest in advanced, assisted-reproductive technologies, provisions are presently being made, to implement an oocyte harvest/ICSI program at EVMC, that aims at prolonging the reproductive career of mares unable to carry a pregnancy to term.

Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation

Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation services are provided at EVMC under the supervision of board-certified specialist clinician(s), along with a dedicated team of veterinarian(s), residents(s),  intern(s), and vet nurses.

Various conditions associated with acute trauma, chronic overuse injuries, or overtraining syndromes can affect equine athletes throughout their athletic life. EVMC Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation team’s roles are diagnosis, prevention and treatment of sports-related injuries/problems.

State-of-the-art diagnostics and treatment of poor performance and lameness cases are routinely performed in the Sports Medicine service at EVMC. Conditions such as foot pain, joint pain, soft tissue injury, bone pain, neck/back/pelvis pain are diagnosed daily.

Comprehensive static and dynamic examinations combined with diagnostic analgesia techniques (nerve and synovial blocks) are utilized by the Sports Medicine team to localize pain/problems. High quality first-line imaging tools (digital X-rays and ultrasound) are available to provide an inside view on the horse anatomy to reach diagnosis and prognosis.

For cases where a deeper understanding is needed, EVMC also provides advanced imaging modalities such as Scintigraphy, CT and 3T-MRI. Subtle gait abnormalities can also be diagnosed and followed up with the help of computer gait analysis systems available at EVMC.

Upper and lower respiratory dysfunction with/without respiratory noise that impair performances are routinely diagnosed in the Sports Medicine service using static and dynamic endoscopy, as well as appropriate laboratory tests. Appropriate medical or surgical treatments are offered to maximize airway recovery/function. Doppler ultrasonography and Holter monitoring (ECG at rest or exercise during long periods) are available at EVMC for equine athletes suspected with cardiovascular problems. 

Therapeutic strategies are usually tailored to each individual horse and combined to maximize sustainable returns to performance within the shortest time possible. A particular attention is paid to medication withdrawal times in order to comply with national/international doping policies in place in each equine athletic activity.

 A wide range of therapeutic options are available at EVMC:

1.       Joint therapy: Hyaluronic acids with high viscosity, corticosteroids with various potency and duration of action, polyacrylamid gels, glycosaminoglycans and more.
2.       Regenerative therapy for joint and tendon/ligament injuries: PRP, IRAP, stem cells therapy and more.
3.       Powerful physical therapy to stimulate high quality tissue repair: Cryotherapy, extracorporal shock wave therapy, magnetic diathermy, laser therapy, neuromuscular electro-stimulation and more.
4.       Orthopedic shoeing strategies to prevent injury, to reduce the stress on injured legs or specific tissues, or to maximize performance.
5.       Rehabilitation exercise programs with close monitoring on tissue repair or conditioning programs (water resistance work (pool & underwater treadmill), Equiband, kinesitape, and more).

 The EVMC Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation team is devoted to unlocking and developing the athletic potential of each equine athlete!

Diagnostic Imaging

EVMC is equipped with the latest technology in equine diagnostic imaging. The hospital offers digital x-ray, both portables and ceiling-mounted units, and high-quality ultrasonography (2D, 3D/4D, M-mode, Doppler, ultrasonoelastography).

We also offer a comprehensive range of advanced imaging modalities, including 3-Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), 128-slice Computed Tomography (CT) with sliding gantry for standing and recumbent patients, as well as an MIE Scintigraphy unit (bone scan).

A full complement of endoscopes is available in a variety of sizes to meet all needs and can be used for both diagnostic and therapeutic means, in conjunction with other treatment modalities, such as diode laser or electrosurgical energy.

All images are acquired by EVMC clinicians, specialized diagnostic imaging technician(s), interns and nurses. They are automatically transferred to a central image archiving database, where post-image acquisition processing is performed to refine image interpretation and diagnosis. Image quality control and first interpretation is provided by EVMC clinicians specialized in their field. Board-certified radiologist(s) are available off-site for second opinion and interpretation of complex imaging studies (CT, MRI).

Anesthesia

Anesthesia is the use of medications to restrain and anesthetize horses for all types of procedures. EVMC offers a contemporary range of anesthetic and analgesia options for all patients. The service is provided by a team of board-certified anesthesiologist(s), doctors with a strong interest in anesthesia, intern(s) and veterinary nurse(s). Each case is assessed for their individual needs, risk factors, and procedure, and an individualized plan is made to provide the safest, pain-free experience possible for every horse.

Large and small anesthesia machines are available at EVMC to perform free, assisted or controlled ventilation during anesthesia. Advanced monitoring equipment such as side-line gas (CO2 and isoflurane) analysis, ECG, pulse oxymetry, direct and indirect blood pressure, body temperature and blood gas analysis are available at all times to detect and immediately address any serious complication that may occur during general anesthesia.

EVMC is equipped with the latest technology and expertise to help horses recovering from general anesthesia. Two fully padded box stalls are used to help the horses to perform their first standing attempt(s) in the safest conditions. Head and tail rope systems or sling systems are selected based on the surgical procedure to perform assisted recoveries in most of the cases.

Standing surgical procedures are also routinely completed at EVMC in a room dedicated for this purpose. Sedation protocols and local, loco-regional or epidural anesthesia are provided by the Anesthesia service to allow surgeons to perform procedure such as wound repair, fracture repair, standing laparoscopy or thoracoscopy or sinus surgery in a quiet, safe and pain-free environment.

Tailor-made analgesia plans are designed and adjusted by the Anesthesia team on horses affected by very painful conditions. A modern multimodal analgesia approach is offered to every EVMC patients to reduce complications associated with NSAIDS overuse and to provide a comfortable stay at EVMC.

Dentistry

EVMC offers routine and advanced dental services for your horse, using the most up-to-date equipment and techniques, provided by equine veterinarians, dental technicians and interns. Conditions such as sharp enamel points, wave mouth, carries, dental malocclusion, tooth root infection, gingival pocketing, tooth fracture and diastema are routinely diagnosed and treated at EVMC by the Dentistry team. During dental procedures, the support given by our vet nurses and grooms allow the operator to perform some proficient dental care and a pleasant experience for your horse.

Annual dental care is a vital aspect of your horse’s health, affecting both its nutrition and performance. Many horses develop dental abnormalities in the Middle East due to unique environmental, managerial, and genetic factors. Unaddressed, these issues can affect the horse’s ability to eat, maintain good health, and perform well – during training, under saddle, or in hand.

Beginning regular dental care in young horses can prevent most dental malocclusions. Dentistry is performed with sedation, a full-mouth speculum, bright light source, advanced motorized and non-motorized dental equipment, and can be combined with further diagnostics such as radiography or standing CT scan.

Dental extractions are usually performed standing and via the mouth to reduce the complication rate associated with more invasive techniques such as dental root-repulsion or lateral buccotomy.

A detailed chart, describing your horse’s dental findings and work is recorded.

Podiatry/Farrier

EVMC Podiatry service has been designed to address the orthopedic foot needs of the lameness cases usually referred to the hospital.

In order to successfully manage the variety of lameness cases that are evaluated by the Podiatry service, a wide selection of adhesives, polyurethanes, silicones, boots, and specialized shoes are used, in addition to the handmade therapeutic shoes needed on a daily basis.

A state-of-the-art farrier shop is located within the hospital and is fitted out with traditional tools like the forge and anvil, and is also well stocked with all the modern materials needed to manage lameness cases that the clinical staff see on a daily basis. Our cases involve corrective podiatry for foals, post-surgical supportive shoeing, laminitis, fractured bones, and a variety of soft tissue injuries.

The EVMC podiatry department works hand-in-hand with Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation, Internal Medicine and Surgery clinicians, as well interns, nurses, vets assistants and grooms to optimize outcomes. The professionalism needed to provide the environment for healing is given for each horse, so the esteemed horses seen at EVMC can continue a healthy lifestyle.

Pharmacy

Pharmacy is staffed by qualified pharmacists and carries both human and veterinary products delivered under the prescription of our veterinarians licensed in Qatar to practice veterinary medicine.

Equine medicines, fluids and supplements are used at EVMC on admitted or hospitalized patients to treat various conditions. Medications such as antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, antispasmodics, antidiarrheics, gastroprotectans, sedatives, diuretics, resuscitation drugs and ophthalmic medications are readily available to treat a wide portfolio of conditions. A wide range of IV fluids is also available for rehydration purposes and correction of electrolytes/acid-base balance.

Controlled medications to support the need of the anesthesia, the internal medicine and the surgery services are delivered under strict conditions to treat specific conditions and to improve patient welfare.

The mission of the pharmacy parallels the ultimate purpose of EVMC, i.e. high-quality patient care, education, research, and community service.