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Our Services
Merritt & Associates Equine Hospital provides both primary care for local clients and referral services to veterinarians in Illinois and the surrounding states. We work closely with referring veterinarians to ensure that the pertinent diagnostic tests are completed and that aftercare is appropriate. We provide extensive discharge instructions and referral letters for each patient. Effective communication between owners, referring veterinarians, and trainers is very important to us, ensuring that the patient receives the very best care.
Complementary Therapies
Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Veterinary
Medicine
In Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM), animals are treated
using acupuncture and herbal medicine. The principle behind TCVM
is to help the animal heal itself by correcting imbalances in the
body. Equine acupuncture is the practice of placing needles in specific
points on the horse's body. These points communicate with meridians
or channels that connect and correlate with all organs and tissues
in the body. Stimulation of those points helps correct disturbances
in the energy flow that cause the disease. Acupuncture points are
extremely useful as a diagnostic tool, especially for certain musculoskeletal
conditions. The integration of western medicine and traditional
Chinese medicine, gives the horse the benefit of both.
Surgery Center
 Our Board Certified Surgeon, Dr. Chris Downs, is fully equipped and trained to perform all manner of elective and emergency surgical care in our new state of the art surgical center.
Elective surgical procedures performed at our facility include but are not limited to:
- Joint surgeries - arthroscopy for diagnosis/treatment, arthrodesis/joint fusions, OCD treatment
- Upper respiratory - tie-back, tie-forward, "roaring" issues, sinus surgery
- Abdominal Exploratory
- Reproductive - cryptorchid castrations, post foaling injuries, mare urine pooling, ovary removal, penile disorders
- Laparoscopy - minimally invasive techniques of castration, ovary removal etc.
- Correction of angular limb deformities
- Tendon/ligament surgeries - proximal suspensory ligament, club feet/check ligament
- Advanced wound reconstruction/skin grafting
- Thoracoscopy
- Oral surgery
Emergency surgical and postoperative care is provided twenty four hours a day and includes but is not limited to:
- Colic surgery
- Wound care
- Reproductive/obstetric emergencies (dystocia)
- Respiratory emergencies
- Fracture stabilization/repair
Our services are available to our existing clients, new clients, and to those referred by their regular attending Veterinarians. We also provide consultations with surrounding Veterinarians.
Nuclear Medicine
This modality allows the visualization of changes in metabolic
activity of soft tissue or bone. Bone scans provide additional diagnostic
information on active bone remodeling when radiographs are  non-diagnostic
and when it is too early for changes to show up on radiographs.
Bone scans can also show soft tissue inflammation. It looks at metabolic
activity, not anatomy which can be helpful in diagnosing horses
with multiple areas of soreness and is indicated when lameness is
unable to be localized with other diagnostics or when the horse
is lame in multiple legs
Once the remodeling sites are identified, other diagnostics can
be used to image the precise area. It is beneficial to evaluate
bone remodeling prior to the racing season or before beginning heavy
training.
Equine MRI
MRI can help identify abnormalities in both bone and
the supporting soft tissues, like tendons and ligaments. MRI can find
bone abnormalities that cannot be seen on radiographs (x-rays), and
it can also expose abnormalities in tendons and ligaments that cannot
be seen with ultrasound.
This is in part because sections of the horse's leg or foot can be
seen with MRI allowing a unique look at the internal anatomy. The
use of MRI in horses is increasing; sometimes it is performed when
a diagnosis has been made to see if the horse has other problems.
It is not unusual for performance horses to have more than one problem,
and it is very helpful to know all of the problems a horse has when
choosing treatment and rehabilitation programs. The magnet in the
MREquine coach is a high field, 1.5 Tesla unit that produces images
equal to those of 1.5T stationary units at well known hospitals around
the world.
Digital Radiography
We offer the latest, state-of-the-art imaging technology – the RapidStudy™ digital radiology (DR) system – from Eklin Medical Systems, the leader in digital radiology and image management.
 Just as digital cameras have revolutionized photography, DR is changing the face of x-ray technology. In less than four seconds, we can take a digital x-ray of the patient’s injury or area of concern without waiting precious minutes to develop film. We know instantly whether we have a good view of the target area or if we need to take another view.
Additionally, like a digital photo, a digital radiograph can be manipulated after it is taken. This allows us to vary the contrast of the image, change the resolution or magnify areas of concern. Because of this advantage, we can see things on the digital image which a film x-ray just wouldn’t allow us to see before. Our abilities to diagnose have improved due to this ability. We also use the Eklin Digital Practice system which allows us to integrate any other digital images, such as endoscopy or ultrasound, with the DR images. This helps us evaluate the area of concern more closely and bring additional technologies into our diagnostic process.
These capabilities help us make a more rapid and confident diagnosis. This means we can start treating the horse sooner. Quicker treatment generally results in a faster and more positive outcome.
Our stationary machine can handle deep tissue penetration and is used primarily for imaging the chest, abdomen, skull, and upper extremities (shoulder, stifle, neck, back, hip and pelvis)..
Digital Ultrasound
 Ultrasound exams of the chest and abdomen are routinely performed to diagnose and monitor treatment of diseases including pleuritis, thoracic neoplasia, colic, and chronic weight loss. The ultrasound is also used for guided biopsies of the liver, kidneys, spleen, lung and other tissues, as well as joint, tendon and ligament injuries. A GE Digital ultrasound system is used in the hospital providing state-of-the-art digital imaging. This unit is also equipped to perform echocardiography, used to evaluate the significance of heart murmurs, exercise intolerance and arrhythmias.
Endoscopy & Gastroscopy
Endoscopy uses a video camera to image the horse’s airways allowing us to identify problems, take diagnostic samples and bacterial cultures, and perform specialty therapeutic procedures (antibiotic infusions and other technical interventions).  This procedure is essential in diagnosing the cause of chronic respiratory diseases and infections.
Gastroscopy, or video camera imaging of the stomach, is the only way to truly diagnose gastric ulcers and monitor therapy. The 3.0 meter gastroscope is essential for diagnosing other types of stomach disease (tumors, infections, obstructions, etc) as well as esophageal diseases (recurrent choke, swallowing problems, tumors, ulcers, etc).
Endoscopy and diagnostic sampling avoid unnecessary and ineffective treatments which can delay appropriate care and negatively impact the horse’s recovery. All forms of endoscopy are minimally invasive, so generally, only light sedation is needed for comfort during the procedure. The information gleaned leads to directed therapy and definitive diagnosis of the horse’s ailment, producing the optimal medical or surgical outcome.
Shockwave Therapy
 Shockwave therapy is used for tendon and ligament injuries and to stimulate bone remodeling. Focused high frequency shockwave therapy consists of a single acoustic pulse of extremely short rise time and a very high pressure maximum, which expends enormous amounts of acoustic energy focused on a small area. The surrounding tissue is treated as gently as possible. Shockwave therapy increases new bone formation and cuts down on healing time. It is a non-invasive procedure with an average treatment time of 30 minutes.
The indications for use include, but are not limited to:
- Tendonopathies with or without calcification
- Calcification of the nuchal ligaments
- Splint bone fractures
- Sesamoiditis
- Sacroiliac disease
- Sore Back
- Insertion desmopathies
- Anthropathies
- Deforming arthritis of the limb joints
- Navicular disease
- Stricture of the annular ligament
- Exostosis
Regenerative Medicine
What is regenerative medicine?
After an injury, each organ or tissue type in the body has a
specific capacity to heal or scar afterwards. Some organs or tissue
types can accomplish this healing without assistance, while other
areas benefit from additional therapies to complete the healing
process. The techniques that help this healing process are called
"regenerative medicine." These techniques make use of
the body’s own stem cells (progenitor cells), which are cells
that are present and capable of making new normal tissue, but typically
do not do so without medical intervention.
***The harvest, processing and injection of stem cells can
now be done in one outpatient visit to us at the hospital. Our new
PRP machine has the capability of being used to harvest bone marrow
derived stem cells for wound healing and soft tissue injuries***
Stem Cell Therapy:
Stem
cell treatments can be used for a number of lameness problems,
including bone cysts, joint problems, and tendon injury. Stem cells
are the cells in the body that are capable of re-forming tissues
and can be isolated from a reliable source, such as bone marrow
or adipose (fat) tissue. The cells are grown and multiplied until
adequate numbers are available to treat the injury by injecting
them into the lesion. The stem cells contribute to healing in several
ways: they can themselves help build new tissue, they recruit cells
to contribute to healing, and they have an anti-inflammatory effect
on the tissue. Areas where stem cells are most needed include tendon
injury, more severe ligament injuries, meniscal injury, and joint
damage. Stem Cell can be used for degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis),
fractures, tendon, suspensory, and ligament injuries, osteochondrosis
(OCD) and sub-chondral bone cysts. The process involves a simple
fat collection, followed two days later by an injection of the recovered
stem cells into the injury site. Recovery generally consists of
a few weeks of stall rest with hand walking.
Autologous Bone Marrow:
Bone marrow, which contains stem cells, fibrin, granulocytes,
monocytes, neutrophils, and growth factors, is aspirated from the
patient's sternum or the point of its hip and immediately injected
into the site of the injury. Fewer stem cells are present in bone
marrow (0.01% than in fat tissue (43%), but the growth factors and
other nutrient cells present in bone marrow may work together to
enhance healing. Recent technology has enabled bone-marrow aspirate
to be significantly concentrated before it is injected into damaged
tissue.
Platelet-Rich Plasma:
Platelets in blood contain growth factors that stimulate cells
in injured tissue to begin healing and draw new cells into the injured
area. Blood is drawn from the patient and centrifuged to separate
the white and red blood cells for removal and to concentrate the
platelets in the plasma to five times that of whole blood. The gel
is then injected at the site of the injury. Injection of PRP is
recommended for both recent tendon and ligament injuries and those
injuries that have not healed using traditional rest and controlled
exercise. Plasma containing this concentrated level of platelets
provides an abundance of growth factors, which are the proteins
in the body that stimulate cells in the tendon or ligament to start
the healing process. When PRP is injected into damaged tendon or
ligament, cells in the tissue along with new cells circulating in
the blood are stimulated to reproduce new cells at the site of injury.
These healing cells work to increase the formation of new blood
vessels and connective tissue, all of which encourages natural repair
of the injury. Ligaments, in particular, can degenerate over time
and, in some cases, the normal healing and remodeling process does
not reach an adequate level. PRP is used to help initiate cell response,
so that the normal healing process is stimulated and can proceed.
As such, a PRP treatment can be particularly helpful in cases where
the healing process has stalled. This treatment helps assure that
the injury is completely healed and that the risk of re-injury is
lessened. PRP can be used as a stand-alone treatment or in conjunction
with other therapies, including stem cell treatments and surgery.
IRAP - Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist
protein utilizes about 50 milliliters of the horse's own blood,
drawn into a syringe containing special glass beads, and incubated
for 24 hours. Then the blood is centrifuged to separate out the
red blood cells. The result is an enriched serum, which contains
anti-inflammatory proteins that block the harmful effects of interleukin-1,
an inflammatory mediator that accelerates the destruction of cartilage
(when cartilage is destroyed, lameness results). The enriched serum
is administered into the horse’s affected joint once a week
for 3-5 treatments. Studies so far have shown significant decreases
in lameness. Merritt & Associates was one of the first to use
this therapy and it is one of the best treatment regimes for degenerative
joint disease in the horse.
Mesotherapy
Mesotherapy is a treatment that stimulates the mesoderm, the middle layer of the skin, which will, in turn relieve a wide variety of symptoms and ailments. The technique involves the injection of substances to stimulate the mesoderm for various biological purposes.  The mesotherapy injections involve extremely small needles that penetrate the interdermal layer of the skin only a very small depth, which is typically four to six millimeters.
The number of treatments needed depends on many variables including the condition, the abnormal physiology causing the condition, as well as the chronicity of the problem. A minimum of one to two sessions of mesotherapy are performed to assess the horse’s response. Mesotherapy is effective for a multitude of conditions because it helps reverse the physiology of that condition, and stop the pain spasm cycle.
Internal Medicine
 We are equipped to fully diagnose and treat
horses with pleuropneumonia, liver disease,
kidney disease, chronic weight loss, chronic
colic, neurologic disease, myopathy, ophthalmic
or dermatologic disorders, neonatal and
pediatric diseases.
Pharmacy
 Our staff are kept apprised of the newest advances in pharmaceuticals because of our close relationships with industry representatives In addition to supplying our in-house and ambulatory service, the pharmacy provides clients with medications, provided there is a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship.
Our pharmacy maintains a complete inventory of prescription equine medications and many hard-to-find items, including:
- Antibiotics and hormone therapy
- EPM medications
- Anti-ulcer medications
- Dermatologicals and ophthalmics
A partial list of our products includes:
 Farrier
On-site farrier services are available every Monday and Thursday.
Donald Tritz attended North Texas Horseshoeing Institute in 1969. He was licensed by the state of Illinois in 1970 and is a Certified Farrier with the American Farrier Association.
Don regularly attends clinics and seminars to stay up-to-date with the latest materials and techniques and is the inventor of the Hoof Doc hoof dryer for horses. Don specializes in treating lameness in any horse.
 Laboratory
Our lab is capable of performing complete blood counts, blood chemistries, electrolytes, blood gases, fecal egg counts, fluid analysis and cytology. The results are generally available within 3 hours. Results can be faxed to the referring veterinarian upon request.
Peak Pulse Perform Machine
Merritt & Associates has added a Peak Pulse Performance machine to its list of new therapies
This machine has shown remarkable results for horses with back, sacroiliac, and gluteal muscle problems. It is also effective on cases with chronic and acute laminitis and cases that previously were resistant to other forms of treatment. Generally, it is administered a minimum of 3 times for up to 20 minutes per treatment. Although the exact science behind the results is unknown, we believe that it produces an analgesic effect and increases blood flow to the affected area. In one case, a horse that did not respond to any other treatment and was unsound on all 4 legs is now completely sound after several treatments. Many professional sports teams have used it on their human athletes and it has shown to be safe with no adverse side effects reported.
Nutrition
 We are pleased to offer a specialized feed program to our clients based on the type of work, hay quality and special needs of your horse. We work with Buckeye Nutrition to analyze your horse’s requirements and design a program specifically for them. We believe that Buckeye Nutrition has superior quality feeds, and as such, to better serve our clients, we have become an authorized Buckeye Nutrition dealer.
Emergency Medicine
We offer 24 hour emergency service, 365 days a year.
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