Advances in equipment in the medical field have been very rapid in recent years and will continue to be so. Advances in the veterinary field are not very far behind. This chapter will therefore be out of date in some respects before this book has been published. However, the whole ethos of this book is the treatment of working equines worldwide. In most parts of the world sophisticated equipment is not available; in fact it is not really required. It certainly would not be the best use of resources. Therefore, I will concentrate on equipment required for the ambulatory veterinary surgeon. I will mention certain items that are available and could be included if funds allow.

1. Thermometer. A clinical thermometer is vital. The traditional glass thermometers will last for years if kept carefully in a plastic case. However, there are now digital thermometers available. The clinician needs to choose whether the thermometer reads in Centigrade or Fahrenheit – either is appropriate.

2. Stethoscope. This is the second vital piece of diagnostic equipment. Ideally, it needs to be slim so that auscultation is possible under the muscles caudal to the shoulder. Also, ideally, both a bell and a diaphragm should be present. Obviously there are sophisticated stethoscopes available, e.g. the Littman model. However, the inexpensive models are quite adequate.

3. Biopsy punch. There are sophisticated biopsy gadgets available that are vital for certain biopsies, e.g. liver. However, the small 8 mm disposable punches are useful for both skin biopsies and pinch skin grafts.

4. Microscope. A microscope is a delicate piece of equipment. I do not recommend that one be carried in the vehicle as a routine. However, the use of a microscope at one’s base is vital. It needs to be equipped for oil emersion. ‘Diff-Quick’ slides are useful. Gram stain and methylene blue are the standard stains used.

5. McMaster slide. This glass slide used for carrying out faecal worm egg counts is vital. Great care should be taken when handling the coverslip (with the squares), as this is delicate and expensive.

6. Urine dipsticks. These are useful occasionally and are relatively cheap.

7. Haematocrit centrifuge tubes. These can be used without a centrifuge to obtain a quick idea of a PCV. However, a mini-centrifuge is useful and relatively inexpensive. A hand-driven centrifuge for larger tubes is very cheap and can give adequate results.

8. Blood slides and coverslips. These are essential items.

9. Stomach tube. Obviously, a nasogastric tube will be used for treatment. However, I consider it to be a vital piece of equipment for aiding in the diagnosis of certain colics. The clinician will require two sizes, one for horses and one for ponies, donkeys and foals.

10. Arm-length sleeves. These are essential for performing rectal and vaginal explorations.

1. Hoof pick. The ideal hoof pick has a small brush on the opposite side to the pick so that the surface of the hoof and the sulci of the frog can be brushed really clean before examination.

2. Hoof testers. These are absolutely essential.

3. Hoof knife. The type of knife used is a very individual choice. There are knives for either left or right hand. Equally, there are double-sided knives that can be used in either hand. Looped knives are useful for dealing with the softer parts of the hoof, i.e. the frog.

5. Hoof rasp. This can be without handles, which makes its use hard for veterinarians with small hands. It normally has two surfaces, one of which is less abrasive.

6. Hammer. Any type of hammer is suitable for use with the buffer. However, a claw hammer can be useful for removing non-shoeing nails that have become imbedded in the hoof.

7. Buffer. This small and inexpensive item is vital for removing shoes.

8. Shoe puller. This item is not essential if you have an individual nail puller. However, once the use of a shoe puller has been mastered, it speeds up shoe removal.

9. Nail puller. I consider this to be essential. Removal of individual nails from the hoof using the shoe as a point of leverage is the safest method of shoe removal.

10. Roofing gutter tape. A roll of this tape is very useful for making bandages waterproof in the hoof area. It is also useful for covering poultices on the feet.

1. Splints. Where funds are tight there is no need for sophisticated splints. Smooth lengths of wood or plastic guttering are quite adequate. Any sharp ends can be rasped smooth and covered with gutter tape.

2. Oscillating saw. This might be considered non-essential, as a hand-held plaster saw can be used. However, modern plastering materials are very hard, and it is seriously hard work to remove these without an oscillating saw. The horse will eventually stop standing still. An oscillating saw is quick and accurate.

1. Ophthalmoscope. This is an expensive piece of equipment but is important to the equine clinician. Much can be found out by examining the eyes carefully with a bright small torch and a magnifying glass. Sadly, however, some pathological conditions will be missed. Although a slit-lamp is very useful for examining a dog’s eyes, it is not required for equine medicine.

Fig. 4.1. Fluorescein staining of the eye.

3. Schirmer tear test strips.