Using ultrasound to diagnose problems in the horse is not a new concept, but it is not as often used in foals as it is in mares. Rob Franklin, DVM, Diplomate ACVIM, of the Goulburn Valley Equine Hospital in Victoria, Australia, discussed ultrasonography of the neonatal foal at the Western Veterinary Conference, held February 15-19 in Las Vegas, Nev.

“You can do quite a bit more with that probe (that most of you carry around already) than you think,” he said. “It’s good for imaging structures in the abdomen, umbilicus, and thorax (chest), as well as rectal examination of the mare