| THE EQUINE PRE
PURCHASE EXAMINATION (P.P.E) A personal view of some selected aspects by Nick Bowen MRCVS Chalgrave Equine Clinic, Featherbed Lane, Chalgrave, Beds, LU5 6JL A colleague recently invited me to a 25 year university reuninon. This brought home the rather shocking realisation that I must have been 'vetting' horses and ponies for almost a quarter of a centrury! I still enjoy this aspect of my job. Each horse is a blank sheet until I perform my examination. I then try to learn as much about it as I can in about ninety minutes. The PPE is based on the joint RCVS/BVA memorandum of 1975. It consists of the following five stages: STAGE 1 Methodoical examination of the animals body to assess general appearance and condition. It includes examination of the teeth, the resting heart, the eyes by opthalmascope, the skin, the limbs and feet and flexion of the limb joints to reveal pain and limitation of movement. STAGE 2 Trotting up. The animal if walked and trotted on hard, level ground to detect gross abnormalities of gait and action. STAGE 3 The animal if given sufficient strenuous exercise to: a. make it breathe deeply and rapidly so that any unusual respiratory sounds may be heard. b. Increase heart rate so that abnormalities maybe more easily detected. c. Tire the animal so that strains or injuries may be revealed by stiffness or lameness after a period of rest. STAGE 4 A period of rest. The horse is allowed to stand quietly for a period. During this time the breathing and the heart rate are checked as they return to their resting levels. STAGE 5 The second trot and foot examination. The horse is walked and trotted again, turned sharply and backed, in order to reveal abnormalities exacerbated by the strenuous exercise. |
| FLEXION
TESTS LUNGEING ON A FIRM SURFACE PRE PURCHASE RADIOGRAPHY DRUG TESTING AGEING POTENTIAL PURCHASERS WOULD BE VENDORS |
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Some
clients require an abridged, cheaper examination. This is referred
to as a 2 stage examination. Our professional insurers strongly recommend
that we ask clients to sign a disclaimer if they decide to rely on
a 2 stage examination. The 5 stage examination is rigorous. It is
not appropriate for your horses that haven't been lunged, of for geriatric
animals. The horse should be adequately shod and at least half fit.
In winter it should be clipped. The scope and aims of the procedure have developed during the last 25 years. Originally we talked in terms of pass or fail and of soundness or unsoundness. Legal advice has resulted in the adoption of the concept of risk assessment. We now state that on the balance of probabilities the findings of the PPE will or will not be likely to affect the animals future usefulness for a specific purpose e.g. dressage. An animal which is deemed likely to be suitable for say hunting may not be suitable for dressage. It is difficult to recommend a horse for a specific purpose if you have only performed a 2 stage examination as you haven't even seen the animal tacked up! Most vets restrict themselves to generalities such as 'general purposes' when certifying a 2 stage examination. Simple adherence to the RCVS/BVA memorandum would be viewed by most vets (and clients) as inadequate. Individual vets have, therefore, developed their own routines. There is an element of inconsistency between examinations. Many vendors have had an animal turned down by an examining veterinary surgeon only for it to be recommended by another veterinary surgeon a few days later. There will always be an element of personal opinion but I feel that we must all work towards a more consistent approach. |
