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by Dr Meredith Crowhurst, Central Veterinary Clinic & Hospital, Tarneit, VIC
While undertaking a VetPrac BOAS workshop, I came across the iM3 laryngoscope with an attached LED light. I could see it was a useful tool so ordered one for our clinic.
What’s good about it
The LED light is bright and even so, you easily visualise the area you are investigating. Like a lot of vets, I used to use an otoscope but the light really wasn’t strong enough. The improvement is dramatic when using the iM3 laryngoscope to check things inside the mouth.
It’s handy when looking for laryngeal paralysis while the animal is under light anaesthetic. The blade can be used to press down on the back of the tongue for better visualisation. As the light is so bright, I’ll also use it to look inside the nose or when investigating a snake bite. The light works well at getting the pupillary light reflexes going so the pupils constrict.
We mainly use it with dogs and cats but it’s suitable for a range of species. If I need to look in the mouth of a rabbit, I reach for the laryngoscope. I was a bit sceptical about how often it would be used but after owning it for a year, I’ve used it very frequently. It’s a handy piece of equipment to own.
What’s not so good
The only weak point is the charging point at the back. There’s a USB slot and on my one, it came away from the handle. I could still charge it but have had to superglue it back in place.
