Horses also need a CT scan - new device in Leipzig

Horse owners can now bring their four-legged friends to Leipzig University for a modern CT scan. A new computed tomography (CT) scanner has been in operation at the equine clinic since the beginning of the year, providing better examination options for animal patients. "The device was specially converted for horses," said Prof. Kerstin Gerlach.

With the new CT scanner, regions of the animals that were previously difficult to access, such as the entire cervical spine or shoulder joints, can now be examined more easily. Unlike in the past, some of the animals can now remain standing at ground level in order to be examined at the head, for example. Examinations on lying animals are also possible because the CT can be lowered.

Anesthesia is not always necessary

"For an examination on the head, the horse is only sedated, not anesthetized," explained Gerlach. This is also a major advantage. "Anesthesia always carries a high risk in horses, more so than in humans or small animals."

The new CT scanner has replaced an old device that could no longer be repaired after many years of use and was no longer state of the art. In the meantime, horse owners had to travel to Berlin for a CT scan. The university's veterinary clinic has a relatively large catchment area, said Gerlach. Horses from Saxony and Thuringia, parts of Saxony-Anhalt and even from the Czech Republic are brought to Leipzig for treatment.

Rooms converted for new equipment

The modern computer tomograph cost around 850,000 euros, half of which was financed by the Free State of Saxony and half by the German Research Foundation. In addition, the examination hall in the equine clinic had to be rebuilt, which cost a further 582,000 euros.