FAQ for Owners

Do I have to contact my insurance company prior to my horse being admitted for the MRI?	Yes, for approval.
Why am I signing an authorization for New England Equine Practice?	New England Equine Practice is responsible for running your horse's anesthesia.
Do I have to bring blankets for my horse in the winter?	Yes, although we have some blankets, your horse’s blankets will fit him or her the best.
When does my horse need to arrive at the hospital?	Patients are typically admitted to hospital the day prior to the MRI to allow us time to perform the pre-anesthesia exam, remove shoes, and radiograph as needed.
How long do the scans take?	Scans generally require that your horse be under anesthesia for 2 to 2 1/2 hours . You will receive a call once the scan is done and your horse recovers from anesthesia.
When will I get the results?	All scans are read by a board certified radiologist. Typically the results are returned in 24 to 48 hours.The results are forwarded to your regular veterinarian who will review them with you.
When can my horse can go home?	Ideally patients are observed overnight following general anesthesia. You will receive a call when your horse is cleared for discharge. If you need to pick the horse up earlier than 10 am or you are traveling a long distance, please let us know so that we can notify you in a timely fashion. If there is any delay in your horse's discharge, arrangements can be made to keep patients in the hospital longer. Please be advised that there is a fee for the board.
Can I visit my horse when he/she is in the hospital?	Patient visiting hours are 9am-4pm. If you need to visit out of those hours please call ahead so that we can accommodate you. Owners receive updates daily when their horses are in the hospital.
Do I need to bring my horse's food?	You may bring your horse's own food. We have grass hay, sweet feed, pellets, bran and senior feed available at the hospital. Patients are fasted after midnight the night prior to anesthesia. Post-anesthesia they are fed a bran mash.
Will my horse be under general anesthesia?	All scans are performed under general anesthesia. All patients have a pre-anesthesia exam including blood work.
Do I have to pull my horse’s shoes before bringing him/her to the clinic?	Patients will need to have the shoe removed from the limb that is being scanned as well as the contra lateral limb. Scans involving the foot require that radiographs be taken to ensure that there are no metal fragments remaining in the foot. The shoe removal and radiographs can be done once the horse is admitted to the hospital. If the shoes are removed and radiographs are taken prior to admittance please send a copy of the radiographs with the patient.