| Large Animal |
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| Ultrasound Internship | ||
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Notice to Candidates
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| The 2008-09 internship position has been filled. We appreciate the interest of all candidates in this year's application pool and hope that everyone was able to gain something valuable from their visit to UC Davis. We will begin recruiting for the 2009-10 internship position in the Fall of 2008. Pertinent deadlines for application will be updated at that time but will be similar to previous deadlines. |
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| Ultrasound evaluation of the equine metacarpal region reveals a recent acute tear of the superficial digital flexor tendon in the upper right image. The lower right image reveals a tear of the proximal suspensory ligament in a Warmblood show horse. | |
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UC
Davis Large Animal Ultrasound Service
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The Large Animal Ultrasound Service provides diagnostic imaging services 5 days per week. The majority of the service caseload is supported by the equine surgery service, therefore, a large percentage of ultrasound exams are musculoskeletal in nature; however, a wide variety of ultrasound exams are performed. The intern will receive training in sonographic evaluation of all areas, including the abdomen, thorax, cardiac, ophthalmologic and high speed treadmill evaluations of poor performance racehorses. The equine caseload consists of a variety of performance horses, including dressage, hunter/jumpers, endurance horses, western performance horses (cutting, reining, roping, barrel racing), pleasure horses and specialty breeds such as Peruvian Pasos. A working knowledge of performance horses is beneficial. There is little to no emergency duty. Emergency colic ultrasound evaluations are performed by the surgery resident on call. The large animal medicine service performs medical emergency ultrasound evaluations.
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Biosound Technos |
GE VingMed System Five | Ausonics Impact | ||
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The UCD Large Animal Ultrasound Service has a full range of equipment available for all aspects of equine, food animal and small ruminant ultrasound. We are fortunate to have two Biosound Technos ultrasound systems that allow us to evaluate 2 patients simultaneously with machines that excel at musculoskeletal and abdominal imaging. Transducers available include two 8-14 MHz linear transducers and a 5-10 MHz linear transducer for musculoskeletal use, a 4-8 MHz microconvex transducer for neonatal and small ruminant abdominal/thoracic imaging and two 2-5 MHz curvilinear transducers for adult equine abdominal and thoracic imaging. We continue to use the GE Vingmed System 5 ultrasound system, primarily for cardiac imaging for its unbeatable color Doppler imaging and excellent depth of penetration (30cm). The Vingmed also produces high quality musculoskeletal and abdominal images. Transducers available for this machine include a 2.5 MHz phased array transducer for cardiac imaging, 3.5 MHz and 5.0 MHz curvilinear transducers for abdominal imaging and a 10 MHz linear transducer for musculoskeletal and small parts imaging. Finally, we have retained an Ausonics Impact ultrasound system in our arsenal for teaching purposes and its unique ability to penetrate to 40cm of depth. We have 2.5 MHz and 3.5 MHz sector transducers, a 6.0 MHz rectal transducer and a 7.5 MHz linear transducer for the Impact. |
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| Faculty: | Mary Beth Whitcomb, DVM (Section Head) |
| Betsy Vaughan, DVM | |
| 2007/2008 Intern: | Karine Pader, DVM |
| 2006/2007 Intern: | Suzanne Brenner, DVM |
| 2005/2006 Intern: | Wade Tenney, DVM |
| 2003/2005 Intern/Resident | Betsy Vaughan, DVM |
| 2002/2003 Intern: | Agustin Almanza, MV |
| 2001/2002 Intern: | Katie Flynn, BVMS, MRCVS |
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| Ultrasound evaluation of the equine pelvis with a focus on the ilial wing (left image) reveals stress fractures with callus formation in a Thoroughbred racehorse (arrows, center image) and a complete fracture through the ilial wing in a Warmblood gelding (arrow, right image). | ||
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| Ultrasound evaluation of the equine pelvis with a focus on the tuber ischii (left image) reveals the normal appearance of its bony surface (arrow) and muscle attachments in the center image. A complete fracture of the tuber ischii (arrow) with secondary muscle tearing (arrowheads) is seen in the right image. | ||
Large Animal Ultrasound Caseload (Academic Years)
| Musculoskeletal | 1999-2000 | 2000-2001 | 2001-2002 | 2002-2003 | 2003-2004 | 2004-2005 | 2005-2006 | 2006-2007 | |||||||||
| Metacarpal | 265 | 262 | 199 | 155 | 124 | 131 |
118 |
135 |
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| Metatarsal | 147 | 118 | 102 |
93 |
100 |
77 |
93 |
89 |
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| Pastern | 105 | 139 | 126 | 116 | 110 | 136 |
149 |
135 |
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| Tendon Sheath/Joints | 173 | 212 | 250 | 240 | 232 | 287 |
322 |
255 |
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| Spine/Sacroiliac/Pelvis | 40 | 47 | 73 |
89 |
68 |
67 |
105 |
125 |
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| Thoracic (includes cardiac) | 22 | 22 | 34 |
34 |
20 |
25 |
34 |
30 |
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| Abdominal | 112 | 115 | 165 |
122 |
137 |
135 |
146 |
137 |
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| Ophthalmologic | 10 | 17 | 6 |
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| Food Animal | --- | --- | --- |
26 |
18 |
49 |
52 |
74 |
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| Miscellaneous Exams | 44 | 60 | 100 | 56 | 72 | 44 |
96 |
110 |
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| U/S Guided Procedures | --- | --- | --- | 37 | 53 | 64 |
93 |
143 |
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| Total Ultrasound Scans | 918 | 992 | 1055 | 968 | 934 | 1015 |
1208 |
1233 |
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| Acoustic Shock Wave Treatments | 235 | 321 | 153 | 83 | 114 | 53 |
63 |
51 |
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| Total Annual Cases | 1153 | 1313 | 1208 |
1051 |
1048 |
1068 |
1271 |
1284 |
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| Ultrasound evaluation of the equine thorax reveals severe pleural effusion in a 12-year-old Thoroughbred show horse with cranial mediastinal lymphoma (center image). The right image shows an area of consolidation with comet tail artifacts in a Warmblood show horse with pneumonia. | ||
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Acoustic Shock Wave Therapy
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Acoustic shock wave treatments are also performed by the large animal ultrasound service. Shock wave therapy is used to stimulate healing and potentially reduce layup time in horses with musculoskeletal injuries such as stress fractures, bucked shins, suspensory ligament desmitis and distal sesamoidean ligament desmitis. Treatments are generally performed by the technical staff; however, the intern will be trained in the use of the acoustic shock wave machine. We are currently using the Minilith SL-1 acoustic shock wave machine manufactured by Storz Medical. The Minilith has the advantage of ultrasound guidance to ensure accurate treatment of the affected ligament or bone.
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| Acoustic Shock Wave Therapy - The Storz Minilith SL-1 Extracorporeal Shock Wave Machine is shown at left. A horse with hind suspensory desmitis is being treated in the upper right image. A horse with navicular disease is being treated in the lower right image. | |
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Intern Clinical Responsibilities |
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| Perform and interpret ultrasound examinations on patients presenting to the Large Animal Ultrasound Service under the direction of faculty from the Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences. | |
| The intern will be involved in the clinical instruction of fourth year veterinary students during their senior year rotations. | |
| The intern will be involved in the laboratory instruction of third year veterinary students in VSR 416L - Equine Ultrasonology. | |
| The intern will assist with weekly Combined Imaging Rounds in conjunction with the large animal radiology resident(s) and students. | |
| The intern will complete a 2-3 week small animal ultrasound clinical rotation near the completion of their internship. This rotation will give exposure to comparative ultrasonographic anatomy. | |
| The intern will attend weekly Known Case Conference (KCC) with Radiology Service. Intern will interpret one Large Animal Ultrasound case weekly. |
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| Ultrasound evaluation of the stifle in an 8-year-old Angus breeding bull with a grade 4/5 RH lameness reveals a severe tear of the lateral meniscus (right image). The meniscus is misshapen with an irregular and bulging abaxial surface (arrows). The large hypoechoic area within the meniscus is also consistent with tearing. | |
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Intern Off-Clinic Time (approximately 20%) |
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| Off clinic time is provided to allow the intern to pursue his/her individual research interest(s) under the guidance of faculty in the Department of Surgical & Radiological Sciences with the expectation of eventual publication in a refereed journal. | |
| The intern will also have the opportunity to rotate through other departments, according to the interns' interests. | |
| Attend veterinary courses in small and large animal ultrasound. | |
| Vacation - Intern accrues 16 hours per month (24 days in a one year period) |
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| Ultrasound evaluation of the right liver lobe (left image) reveals massive biliary distention secondary to multiple choleliths (arrows) that were found throughout the biliary tree in this 19-year-old Thoroughbred mare. The right image depicts Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis abscessation (large hypoechoic areas) in the left liver lobe of a 9-year-old Paint horse that presented for weight loss. | ||
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Requirements for Application |
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| DVM or equivalent degree from a school of veterinary medicine | |
| At least one year of private practice or internship experience | |
| Demonstrated interest in large animal ultrasound | |
| Application materials (see below) | |
| Visitation strongly recommended |
| Application Materials | |
| Application Form | |
| Curriculum vitae | |
| Letter of Intent | |
| Three letters of recommendation | |
| Veterinary Academic Transcript(s) | |
Application materials must be submitted by the submission date to:
| Esther Finn, Resident Affairs Coordinator |
| Room 2019 |
| Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital |
| University of California, Davis |
| Davis, CA 95616-8747 |
The 2008-09 internship position has been filled. We appreciate the interest of all candidates in this year's application pool and hope that everyone was able to gain something valuable from their visit to UC Davis. We will begin recruiting for the 2009-10 internship position in the Fall of 2008. Pertinent deadlines for application will be updated at that time but will be similar to previous deadlines.
Additional information regarding large animal ultrasound and the internship program may be obtained by contacting Dr. Mary Beth Whitcomb or phoning (530) 752-0290.
Related page: Diagnostic Ultrasound & Musculoskeletal Injuries in the Horse