Fluoroscopy as a Diagnostic Tool in Veterinary Medicine

Dr. Phillip Kapraun stands out as one of the pioneering professionals in the treatment of lameness in performance horses. An independent practitioner in Illinois since 1984, Dr. Phillip Kapraun frequently uses fluoroscopy as a diagnostic tool.

Using low-dose X-ray technology, fluoroscopy allows the visualization of a horse's bones and joints. One of the primary benefits of this technology over other imaging techniques is that fluoroscopy permits veterinarians to see literally thousands of views and angles of the bones and joints. Fluoroscopy also makes it possible to enlarge the view up to 10 times normal.


Fluoroscopy is a highly flexible diagnostic tool. The movable C-arm can shift position according to the needs of the test and the dimensions of the animal's body. This allows veterinarians to effectively image the horse's bones and joints in a way that is difficult to do with conventional X-rays. Fluoroscopy is very effective at diagnosing OCD lesions and stress fractures.

AVMA Hires New Chief Economic Professional

Throughout a decades-long career that encompasses the ownership and operation of Harvard, Illinois-based Harvard Equine Practice since 1984, Dr. Phillip Kapraun has developed a reputation as an authority on treating lameness in racehorses. Actively involved in the evolution of his profession, Dr. Phillip Kapraun maintains active membership with the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).

In March 2018, the AVMA announced that it has named Dr. Matthew J. Salois to serve as the top official in the organization’s Veterinary Economics Division. The 5-year-old division had been led by the retiring Dr. Michael R. Dicks.

In his new role, Dr. Salois says he plans to prioritize efforts aimed at analyzing the economic landscape of the profession in order to give veterinarians a clear look at the future of the profession. In his comments, AVMA President Dr. Michael J. Topper praised Dr. Salois’ background and experience, saying that he is the right fit to take the economic data the organization has already collected and turn it into actionable content.

The Presentation of Suspensory Ligament Injuries in Horses

Dr. Phillip Kapraun received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. With more than 40 years of experience practicing veterinary medicine, Dr. Phillip Kapraun treats a range of equine lameness conditions, including those affecting the suspensory ligament.

Suspensory ligament injuries commonly occur in horses, yet often get misdiagnosed or remain undiagnosed for a period due to several reasons. These injuries typically present with no physical cues, as there is minimal or no noticeable swelling in the limb, which may only cause mild or intermittent lameness. Most horses with suspensory injuries are affected bilaterally and will shorten their stride rather than limp. They may display symptoms such as pain in the sacroiliac region of the back and poor performance.

Radiographs generally show little evidence of a suspensory ligament injury, and lameness exams can also fail to diagnose the problem. Some horses with suspensory injuries show a brief response to systemic medications or joint injections, which can falsely lead to a misdiagnosis of a joint-related problem.

The Horse Lameness Scale

Dr. Phillip Kapraun is an equine veterinarian in Harvard, Illinois, with more than three decades of experience. Moreover, Dr. Phillip Kapraun is highly experienced in the treatment of equine lameness.

Equine lameness does not affect all horses uniformly. With this in mind, the American Association of Equine Practitioners has developed a numerical scale for the description of the condition. The scale ranges from zero to five, with a Grade 0 horse being sound.

At Grade 1, the condition is still very difficult to detect, and the symptoms are not always visible. At Grade 2, the horse starts to consistently demonstrate signs of lameness in specific situations. However, it may be difficult to notice its lameness when it is trotting in a single direction or walking. Regarding Grade 3, some degree of lameness is apparent in the animal when it is trotting under any conditions. At Grade 4, lameness is apparent in the walking animal.

Grade 5 equine lameness is the most severe version of lameness. At this stage, animals struggle to bear their weight on their limbs while in motion and at rest. Alternatively, they may be completely immobile.

A Brief Overview of Western Pleasure Competition

An Illinois-based veterinarian focused on diagnosing and treating lameness in horses, Dr. Phillip Kapraun oversees an equine veterinary practice in Harvard. He specializes in treating Standardbred racehorses and racing quarter horses. Over the course of his nearly 40-year career, Dr. Phillip Kapraun also has treated a variety of other performance horses, including those used for Western Pleasure competitions. 

Unlike racing competitions that emphasize a horse’s speed, Western Pleasure events evaluate a horse’s ability to move in an easy and collected manner. For horses that compete in the Western Pleasure class, a calm and relaxed gait and demeanor that support an overall pleasurable ride are of the utmost importance. 

With proper movement and a horse’s manners at the top of a Western Pleasure judge’s evaluation list, any breed can do well in a pleasure competition. That being said, there are some horses that perform better than others do. Quarter horses are perhaps the most common, but other stock horse breeds such as Appaloosas and American paint horses also do well in the Western Pleasure class.

AAEP Starts Disaster Fund for Wildfire-Affected Horses

An equine veterinarian in private practice since 1984, Dr. Phillip Kapraun primarily treats lameness in performance horses. In addition to his everyday work with horses, Dr. Phillip Kapraun is a member of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP). 

Between hundreds of acres of scorched land and the loss of homes, the cost of the 2017 California wildfires has been extremely high. What can sometimes get lost in the shuffle, however, are the urgent equine community needs that can arise in the wake of such a disaster. That is why the AAEP’s charitable arm has an Equine Disaster Relief Fund. 

The fund is seeking to help horses that the wildfires in California have adversely impacted. The money from the fund will go to organizations and programs involved in recovery efforts as well as rebuilding efforts and to those working on dealing with future disaster situations. To learn more about the fund, visit aaep.org.

University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine - DVM Program

Before becoming a practicing veterinarian as the owner of Phillip R. Kapraun DVM, PC Harvard Equine Practice in Harvard, Illinois, Phillip Kapraun attended Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa where he earned a bachelor of science in biology. He also attended the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in Champaign-Urbana, where he obtained a doctor of veterinary medicine (DVM).

Organized in 1944, the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine began after veterinarians and farmers in the local area called for a training program for the education of current and future veterinary professionals. Today, DVM students attend core courses such as clinical practice, pathobiology, and professional development. In addition, they choose electives that range from veterinary forensic medicine and advanced therapeutics to equine animal husbandry and equine critical care.

Enrolled students may also take advantage of other opportunities related to their studies. The college offers summer research programs as well as a two-week rotation in shelter medicine that allows students to participate in up to 50 surgeries. Additionally, interested individuals can pursue a DVM-Master’s in Public Health joint degree, administered in partnership with the University of Illinois-Chicago.