Scoping Your Own?

Gallop58 · Postby **Gallop58** » Tue Dec 15, 2009 6:19 pm

Does anyone personally scope their own horses?
(Throat stuff not guts, etc.)

Is it as easy as it looks? Or am I missing some of the finer details when I watch a vet jam a hose up their noses?

Seems like a handy thing to be able to do and the equipment isn't crazy expensive.... I doubt one would be looking for accurate diagnosis but rather just looking for obvious things or changes over time.

Thoughts?

Strategic Maneuver · Postby **Strategic Maneuver** » Tue Dec 15, 2009 8:05 pm

Personally, I'm thinking you might be missing some of the finer details. It's really not that easy and that's why vets go to vet school. An untrained person could do alot of damage to a horse.

photofinish · Postby **photofinish** » Tue Dec 15, 2009 9:40 pm

I, personally, don;t scope myown, but know 2 trainers who do and they have never hurt a horse doing it. I have considered it, but not yet. I figure scopes are about 30% of my and my owners' vet bills.

Tiz · Postby **Tiz** » Wed Dec 16, 2009 7:49 pm

How would you know what you're looking at?

Diane · Postby **Diane** » Wed Dec 16, 2009 11:05 pm

Can anyone be taught to do it? Yes. BUT....if you have a problem it's a huge problem that needs a vet NOW [perforation]. Who's going to bail you out b/c you've stiffed them on a procedure you've just screwed up. If you don't clean your scope appropriately causing infections would be the least trouble you could get into. While you are learning on your horse with your new scope if you don't have good technique and you drop your scope maybe it gets stepped on. If the cost of the procedure is causing that much strain on a training budget.....
Defending oneself in court for practicing vet medicine without a license would be another cost that might arise.

photofinish · Postby **photofinish** » Thu Dec 17, 2009 8:30 pm

Tiz wrote:How would you know what you're looking at?

Most of us look in the scope every time we get one scoped. A decent vet, if you display a modicum of intelligence and horsemanship, are mpre than happy to explain things to you. I have had them work the scope slowly down the trachea and upper airway structures and explain what i am seeing, both on good airways and problematic ones. I am just not yet confident enough in myself to try to fly solo. Plus, I can't quite condone the expense of purchasing the equipment - other priorities, lol.