Like many things in veterinary medicine, new technologies and treatments often gain traction in the small animal realm before migrating over to equine. Such has been the case with Vetscan Imagyst, a cutting-edge diagnostic tool that utilizes artificial intelligence to deliver fast, accurate results for a variety of tests.1
Doug Anez, DVM, founder of Pacific Crest Equine, in California’s San Joaquin Valley, integrated the technology into his practice’s wellness program for fecal egg count testing after his wife, Kelly Anez, DVM, found success with it at their sister clinic, Pacific Crest Companion Animal Veterinary Hospital. Her team had been using the platform primarily for ear cytology and fine needle aspirates in small animals. When equine fecal egg counts became an available application for Vetscan Imagyst in spring 2023, Doug Anez’s staff tried it out and were blown away.
“We like to be on the forefront of the latest technologies from both medical and business aspects of practice,” he said. “Small animal brought (Vetscan Imagyst) on, and now we’re both benefiting from it. This was one of those things that is a no-brainer in my opinion.”
Accuracy and Consistency Pay Off
Consistent analysis and accuracy of results are the biggest benefits Vetscan Imagyst has brought to Pacific Crest Equine’s fecal egg count testing process, said Anez. It eliminates the potential for human error when reading slides, creates efficiencies, and saves his busy support staff time. The veterinary technicians simply place up to two slides on the device’s tray, and within 10 minutes the scan is complete and they can review the results. They can then choose which images to include in the PDF report to the client.
“The technicians can multitask when they put the samples in the machine,” Anez explained. “While it’s reading, they can do other things or get more samples ready.” Pacific Crest Equine is now using Vetscan Imagyst daily, often completing batches of 30 or more fecal egg count tests in a single day.
One of Vetscan Imagyst’s key features is the tele-cytology option to have a board-certified clinical pathologist examine slides remotely within just two hours. While most equine fecals don’t require a pathologist’s interpretation—making results even faster—“if we do have concerns, we can send it out and have them review it. It’s been great in that respect, and the support has been fantastic,” said Anez.
A Picture’s Worth 1,000 Words
Pacific Crest Equine has been promoting strategic deworming based on fecal egg count results for nearly 30 years. It’s also a core part of their wellness program. As a result, Anez’s team has a considerable amount of historical data to compare with Vetscan Imagyst results. “The scans have been consistent with our norm, so I feel really confident with it,” he said.
“I also think it gives great client value because we send them the report that has the images (of the parasite eggs) on it,” he added. “And pictures are worth a thousand words, so we get better compliance” with parasite control recommendations.
In the near future, Anez says his team plans to use Vetscan Imagyst to interpret endometrial cytology results on broodmares. The platform’s other testing capabilities include dermatology, hemotology, and urine sediment analysis for small animals. “I think there are a lot more avenues for use in our practice,” said Anez.
About Dr. Doug Anez
Dr. Doug Anez is originally from Little Falls, Minnesota. He attained his undergraduate degree in Equine Studies and Animal Science from the University of Minnesota and Colorado State University and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Minnesota in 1995. After graduation he traveled to Zurich, Switzerland, to work at an equine medical and surgical facility whose clientele included many Olympic dressage and show jumping performance horses. Dr. Anez then joined one of the largest practices in the state of Washington as an associate in equine medicine and lameness. In 1997, Dr. Anez moved to Exeter, California, to start Pacific Crest Equine, the only practice in the area to be devoted specifically to horses, with a special emphasis on treating lameness in performance horses.
About Pacific Crest Equine
Pacific Crest Equine has been dedicated to providing outstanding care to horses from the central and south San Joaquin Valley since 1998. The expert equine veterinary team provides services ranging from dentistry and surgery to internal medicine and lameness evaluations, as well as ambulatory emergency and critical care to horses 24/7/365.
Pacific Crest Equine offers state-of-the-art diagnostics, from imaging technologies like digital radiography and ultrasonography to laboratory tests like hematology and cytology. Their comprehensive wellness plans are designed to provide savings to owners while keeping horses in peak physical condition with services like complete physical evaluations, core vaccines, flu/rhino vaccines, dental exams, and fecal floats. Plus, they can manage equine and companion animal health in one facility, with sister clinic Pacific Crest Companion Animal Veterinary Hospital available for small animal patients.
Further Reading
Vetscan Imagyst: Benefits to Vets, Techs, Horses and Owners. Vetscan Imagyst gives veterinarians a straight line to a clinical pathologist available 24 hours a day who can quickly provide interpretation of cytology samples.
Vetscan Imagyst: Mixed Practice, Positive Results. The team leader at Adobe Veterinary Center in Arizona helps us understand how they have incorporated Vetscan Imagyst into their mixed animal practice.
Editor’s note: For more information about Vetscan Imagyst, visit https://www.vetscanimagyst.com/equine/ or talk to your Zoetis representative.
- Zoetis Data on File: DHX6Z-US-22-131. 2022.
