PREPURCHASE EXAMINATION By Brian S. Burks, D.V.M., Dipl. ABVP, Board Certified Equine Expert foxrunequine The pre-purchase examination should be performed prior to buying any horse to minimize the likelihood of future heartache. Horses seldom come with a money back guarantee. Whether you want the horse as a family pet, performance, pleasure, or breeding, investing in a pre-purchase examination may allow you to purchase a horse that best fits your needs. The actual pre-purchase examination may vary slightly between veterinarians, but should be a comprehensive evaluation of the horses overall health and soundness. Additional testing should be discussed between you and your veterinarian, based on your use of the horse. The examination should begin with a thorough physical examination, from head to tail. The teeth should be examined for sharpness or other dental disease. The eyes should be evaluated not only externally, but also by use of an ophthalmoscope. The heart and lungs should be ausculted, both before and after exercise, and the integument evaluated, as well as the overall body condition and physical shape of your intended purchase. A thorough lameness exam should follow: each limb should be palpated, and hoof testers should be used to show evidence of sore feet. The horse should be jogged in a straight line and lunged in a large circle, preferably on hard ground, and not in a soft arena that may not allow lameness to be seen. Use the following guidelines to help you get the most from a pre-purchase examination: Choose a veterinarian who primarily or solely works with horses; they are more likely to understand your needs. Explain to your veterinarian your expectations and primary uses for the horse, including short and long term goals. Ask your veterinarian to outline the procedures that he or she feels should be included in the exam and why. Establish the costs for these procedures. Be present during the examination. The seller or agent may also be present. Discuss with your veterinarian the findings in private. Ask questions or request additional information about the findings in private. Your veterinarian may want to have additional information regarding the health status of your intended purchase. This may include endoscopy, fecal examination testing, a Coggins test, blood counts, and drug testing. Further imaging modalities may also be required, including radiographs (plain or digital), thermography, nuclear scintigraphy, and ultrasound. Vaccination status and deworming should be discussed. If you are a new horse owner, you may wish to inquire about nutrition. You should understand that your veterinarians job is not to pass or fail the horse, but rather to provide information to you to help you make an informed purchase. The examination is also not a warranty or guarantee of future health or soundness, nor is it an appraisal of the horse=s monetary value. The pre-purchase examination is also not a breeding soundness examination, and the purchase of a stallion or mare for breeding purposes should entail other examination modalities.
Posted on: Wed, 06 Aug 2014 23:00:00 +0000