Imaging views
7 standard views across 4 modalities.
Radiography
Lateromedial of distal limb
Purpose: Assess P3 alignment, navicular bone, dorsal hoof wall thickness.
Positioning: Limb on a positioning block, beam horizontal, lateral to medial.
Dorsopalmar / dorsoplantar of distal limb
Purpose: Assess medial-lateral balance, joint spaces.
Positioning: Beam horizontal, dorsal to palmar/plantar.
Palmaroproximal-palmarodistal oblique (navicular skyline)
Purpose: Assess flexor cortex of navicular bone for medullary lesions.
Positioning: Limb caudal, beam angled 45° from above through the heels.
Lateral cervical radiograph
Purpose: Assess vertebral alignment, sagittal ratios for Wobbler workup.
Positioning: Standing, beam horizontal lateral to neck.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound of palmar metacarpus (zones 1A–3C)
Purpose: Assess SDFT, DDFT, suspensory ligament fibre pattern and CSA.
Positioning: Limb weight-bearing, linear probe palmar to cannon.
MRI
Standing low-field MRI of the foot
Purpose: Comprehensive imaging of soft and bone tissue within the hoof.
Positioning: Sedated, foot in magnet; T1, T2*, STIR sequences.
Endoscopy
Gastroscopy
Purpose: Visualise squamous and glandular gastric mucosa.
Positioning: Standing, sedated, 3 m scope via nostril after fast.