Pre-Purchase Exam of Horses Flashcards
Why do we do them?
- Carried out for purchaser
- taking their intended sue into consideration
What approach to risk?
Finding & quantifying them to help purchaser make and informed dicision ->
- What is the risk?
- How likely is it?
- Ho severe is it?
What is the 5 stages of vetting?
» Stage 1: Preliminary Examination
» Stage 2: Trotting up
» Stage 3: Strenuous exercise
» Stage 4: Period of rest
(examination after exercise)
» Stage 5: Second Trot-up
Detail stage 1 -> Prelim exam at rest?
- Be thorough, don’t rush
- Check the passport/microchip
- Careful auscultation of the heart and lungs
- Careful visual examination and palpation of whole horse
- Examine eyes in a dark stable
=> use all senses, touch & smell incldued
=> stand back - look at conformation too!
describe step 2 - trot up?
» Walk away and back
» Trot away and back
» Turn on a tight circle
» Back up
What additional procedures might we do in stage 2?
-> Flexion tests - not a core part fo the 5 steps btu done in most cases
- > Trot a circle on a firm surface (both reins)
Describe stage 3 - strenuous exercise?
- Generally ridden (doesnt have to be)
- whatever most appropriate fro use of horse
Describe Stage 4 - perido fo rest?
» Auscultate heart and lungs immediately after exercise
» Leave to rest, monitoring rate of recovery
Could also:
» Take bloods for drug screening?
» Check shoes, feet again?
» Complete some paperwork – Vendor’s declaration
Describe Stage 5 - second trot up?
Final re-exam during walking , trotting turning and backing up
Examining a horse unaffected by medication?
- Blodo test
- VDS/LGC
How do we report out vetting findings?
» Avoid using the words Pass/Fail
» Limitations
» No guarantee
» Opinion of one vet…
» On that one day…
» Verbal report (in person/phone)
* Document all verbal communication
» Written report (Emailed)
What goes on PPE certificate?
» Notes on the reverse match
guidance notes
» Lists what the examination
doesn’t include:
* Pregnancy examination
* Height measurement
* Examination of inside of
prepuce
* Detailed mouth examination
with speculum
hwo to give opinion?
This is what I found … this is my opnion on it -> consider grading risk (Nil, slight, or severe inc in risk)
What if you can’t make an opinion?
» “I need to seek specialist advise about him before I can advise
you properly”
* Cardiac
* Eyes
* Radiographic abnormalities (if radiographs carried out)
» Referral can aid a more successful sale and is appreciated by both seller and buyer
» Further additional investigations?
Additional procedures?
» Case dependent
» Radiography
» Ultrasound (lower limbs – less useful as
survey tool, but is still requested)
» MRI/CT/Scintigraphy – elite horses – Pros/cons?
» Resting endoscopy (upper resp tract, laryngeal function) +/- dynamic to investigate resp noise
» Haematology & Biochemistry
» Oral Exam
When might we do radiographs?
» 1. Recommended by vet (eg pick up on effusion of a joint, or +ve flexion)
» 2. Requested by purchaser (Sport horse and TB industries)
» 3. Requested by insurers (Valuable animals)
At what point are the radiographs taken?
» If requested, can be performed after the conclusion of the PPE
» Owner may be required to send them to the prospective insurance company for examination by
their veterinary advisor prior to purchase of the horse
What projecitons might we do?
» Projections required varies according to intended use/type/age/situation. (TB vs Sport Horses)
What might be a standard set of PPE radiographs?
What specific things might we be trying to survey (predileciton sites) ?
» Foot balance issues
» Navicular syndrome
» Developmental changes such as OC or OCD, bone cysts
» Arthritic changes
» Impinging Spinous processes
What should we consider with these predilection sites?
- Risk of lesion becoming active
- Risk to trainability should the lesion become active
- Risk for future resale and/or racing eligibility
Describe Auctions & repository radiographs?
» TBs (Tattersalls in UK) – “The Repository”
» Voluntary but regularly 100% uptake for premier sales
» Digital format, uploaded within specified time before sale, and must be dated within specified time
* 28d for yearlings
Who has access to ‘the repository’
» Vendor cannot add or alter any material without consent of sales company
» Only vets registered to the sales company can view
What is negligence?
» You can only be negligent if you owe someone a duty of care
» That person must suffer a loss because of your action
» Doing something that no reasonable vet would do…
Or…
» Failing to do something that all reasonable vets would do
WHo sorts out negligence claims?
VDS!
When is there conflicts of interest
» A situation in which you have multiple interests (financial or otherwise), one of which could
possibly corrupt the decision-making of your primary responsibility.
» Doesn’t mean there’s been dishonesty
» Sometimes perception of conflict of interest is just as important
» When the seller is an existing client - how to manage this conflict of interest?
If the seller is a client/ friend …?
» We must declare our professional relationship with the seller to the purchaser before the PPE
» We must be able to declare all previous history to the purchaser
» We must seek permission from seller to do that
WHen should there be a ‘not quite vetting’?
“It’s just a pony, it doesn’t need a whole vetting. Please just check his heart and eyes.”
* PPE or nothing!
* You are not insured for anything other than a proper PPE
-> There may be 2 stage vettings (‘Limited PPE’) -> must be a request fo the purchaser & purchaser must sign a letter of request
If you HAVE to communicate with a potential purchaser what should you do?
» Declare that you are the seller’s vet
» Declare any limitations to your knowledge
» Advise the purchaser not to rely on your information to make a decision about buying the horse
» Advise the purchaser to find a vet to act for them
» Liaise with their vet
