Equiray, the mobile X-ray specialists are accustomed to travelling to stables and fields to X-ray horses. However, recently they received a call from farmer Roger Collingbourne of the Halomark Simmental Herd, Llantarnam, in Caerleon, South Wales to see if the company’s technicians would consider X-raying a bull that was refusing to put one foot to the floor.
The valuable stock bull, Bennant William had been examined by the vet who was not optimistic about his prognosis and was recommending that Mr Collingbourne consider putting the animal down. The vet in question did not think it possible to X-ray a bull and without knowing what was going on inside the foot, could not suggest any suitable treatment.
Mr Collingbourne had read an article about Equiray’s new ambulatory X-ray service in the newspaper and called director Beryl Williams to see if she thought they could help. Equiray took advice from its own veterinary contacts and used a bull crush supplied by Geoff Watkins from Bwlch, a contract foot trimmer, to keep the animal still during the procedure. Digital X-rays were quickly acquired by the skilled technician using Equiray’s portable imaging device and given directly to the vet on a memory stick for him to review.
The images showed that a foreign object had entered the foot, causing infection and discomfort. However, with plenty of rest and as the injury started to heal over, Bennant William started to place the foot to the floor and is now 90% back to full health.
Mr Collingbourne commented "We don’t like to give up on our animals and I am so glad that we didn’t have the bull put down. As soon as I read about Equiray, I was hopeful that they would be able to help us. I shall definitely use them again if we have a similar problem on the farm.
