High-Tech Diagnostics Equipment Installed at Vet Hospital
Nicolet Endeavor System Purchased with Foundation Gift
Katie Fellows Public Relations/Alumni Relations College of Veterinary Medicine Oklahoma State University (405) 744-6740
Dr. Russell Higbee, seated, learns the fine points of the new Nicolet Electro-Diagnostic System. Standing is Dr. Ken Bartels, director of the surgical laser lab, and Dr. Leslie Brummett, applications specialist for the Nicolet company.
There's a problem, and you don't know what it is. Is your dog simply disobeying or is he experiencing some type of hearing or vision loss?
Dr. Russell Higbee says Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine may be able to help.
Higbee, who was proudly demonstrating the new Nicolet Endeavor Electro-diagnostic system, said this new highly technical piece of equipment can non-invasively discern if man's best friend might have a hearing loss or be visually impared.
"The Nicolet biomedical neurological and vascular diagnostic system was purchased with a donation, from the McCasland Foundation of Duncan," said Dr. Joe Alexander, dean of the college. "This equipment makes more specific and rapid diagnosis of traumatic conditions including extrusion of intervertebral discs, nerve compression and muscle and head injury," Alexander said. " This is just one more instance where the McCasland Foundation has helped the college meet the needs of Oklahomans. We greatly appreciate their ongoing support."
Higbee, a clinical research veterinarian, said the Electro-diagnostics may be used as a EMG for testing muscles and nerve conduction/stimulation, for auditory tests, as an EEG testing for abnormalities in brain electrical activity, as an ERG to determine electrical activity in the retinal cells, or as an ECG for testing electrical patterns of the heart.
"This is a wonderful piece of equipment which can help in many types of diagnoses. This equipment makes it possible to diagnose problems within eyes, making it possible to determine if an animal would benefit from cataract surgery. As you know, unlike people an animal cannot tell you what they are seeing. This machine has a computer program that can provide us with this information.
Because animals can not verbally communicate, Higbee said the Nicolet is also an important diagnostic tool in testing muscle function. By testing various muscle groups doctors can see if they are working properly. "This is very helpful in ruling out diseases like myasthenia gravis," Higbee explained. "The Nicolet helps us discover which group of muscles might be having a problem and also test nerve conduction that supplies these muscles."
The Nicolet also aids hearing tests. Higbee said Dalmatians are more prone to inherited deafness. Because this can be a profound problem, conscientious breeders are able to test their dogs and in this way can be more selective in their breeding practices.
Higbee said the EEG testing can help veterinarians diagnose problems that lead to seizures. Doctors need to know if the problem is a brain tumor, a toxic or metabolic chemical imbalance, or abnormal electrical disturbance. Some neurologic problems are hard to pin down, Higbee said, but if doctors can diagnose the cause of the problem then they are better able to treat the animal.
Higbee said the Nicolet can be used for diagnostic abnormalities in many species of animals, not just in dogs and cats. "We are thrilled to have this equipment because it increases our diagnostic capacity. We want our students to be as informed as possible. It is our goal to educate highly skilled veterinarians who have the ability to provide quality care for animals. Equipment like this helps us continue to meet this goal both as a teaching institution and as the regional referral hospital," Higbee said.
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Katie Fellows.
