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Pre-Purchase Examinations
A pre-purchase examination or ‘vetting’ is a thorough clinical examination of the horse prior to the purchase of the horse. This is carried out on behalf of the prospective purchaser to assess the horse’s suitability for its intended purpose.
The purpose of a pre-purchase examination is to assign a risk to any abnormalities found, and therefore is not to pass or fail the horse but to alert the buyer to any existing conditions. The pre-purchase exam is not a guarantee or an insurance policy, it is an examination of the horse’s health on a particular day.
The Examination:
· Stage 1: Preliminary examination
This is a thorough clinical examination of the horse at rest, including checking the eyes, heart and lungs.
· Stage 2: Examination during walking, trotting, turning and backing.
The horse is walked and trotted in hand on a hard, level surface to detect any abnormalities of gait and action. Flexion tests of all four limbs are then performed, which can help highlight any potential problem joints. It may also be requested to see the horse move on a lunge if the animal and facilities allow.
· Stage 3: Examination during and immediately after exercise
The horse is usually ridden during this phase in walk, trot and canter. This includes getting the horses heart and respiratory rates up to check for any abnormalities.
· Stage 4: Examination after exercise
The horse is allowed to stand quietly following exercise and recovery of vital signs are checked.
· Stage 5: A final examination during walking, trotting, turning and backing.
The horse is trotted in hand again to look for any lameness brought on my exercise. Flexion tests may be repeated at this stage.
Additional Tests
On top of the examination you can also request radiographs, endoscopy, ultrasonography of tendons, ECG, reproductive exam or a blood test for prohibited substances (e.g. bute/anti-inflammatories).
Paperwork
Prior to the pre-purchase examination, we require statements to be completed by the buyer and the current owner. These statements will be emailed to you after booking your pre-purchase appointment. Please ensure they are completed and returned to us before the appointment and all blank spaces are filled in, if you are unsure of an answer please write ‘unknown’.
Please contact us at Vets North if you have any further questions.
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Pets are a beloved and integral member of our family and should be treated the same in regards to their health. It is vital to safeguard your pets from a young age to ensure they are protected from often serious and sometimes fatal diseases or parasites. Our vets have decades of training and can help in preparing a preventative vaccination or worming program for your pet, whether it be a dog or cat.
As a general rule of thumb, your pets are given an initial round of 2-3 vaccines while they are young, and then receive annual boosters to ensure they are protected all year.
We review each animal and do a general check-up, ensuring the vaccinations we use are appropriate and aligned with their current age, health, and breed. As professional veterinarians, we only the best vaccinations on the market, ensuring they last for as long as possible.
Leaving your dog unvaccinated will leave it open a diverse mix of diseases that are easily prevented. The most common are Parvovirus, Canine Distemper, Canine Hepatitis, and Canine Cough. Without proper vaccination, it is almost certain your dog will catch one or more of these common infections over the course of its life.
To ensure against this vaccinating your puppy from a young age is vital. Generally, we recommend the following program
When:
6-8 weeks old: First core vaccination
10-12 weeks old: Second core vaccination
14-16 weeks old: Third core vaccination
Generally, some of these can be combined depending on the breed of your dog. After the initial vaccinations, they will generally get a booster from 12-18 months. And then an appropriate program will be formulated depending on your dogs’ lifestyle, behaviour and environment.
The vaccination schedule of your cat or kitten is generally quite similar to that of a dog. It’s important to protect them against common diseases such as Feline parvovirus (FPV), feline herpesvirus, Chlamydophila felis, and cat flu.
As with most pets, the vaccines will be divided up into core and non-core, one protecting against all widespread diseases and the other based on a variety of factors such as age, breed and environment.
When:
7-9 weeks old: First core vaccination
13-15 weeks old: Second core vaccination
16-20 weeks old: Third core vaccination
Following the initial vaccines, a booster 12-18 months later is strongly recommended. However, after that, vaccines may be required as infrequently as every 2-3 years, once again depending on a range of factors.
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