Pre-purchase exam

We make sure the horse you’re looking to purchase is healthy and fit

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Dr Sutter examining multiple horses in Olathe, Kansas A pre-purchase examination is a thorough physical examination stating an opinion of the horse on the day of the exam. The guidelines we follow in doing the examination are current with the standards set by the veterinary profession.  What To Expect The exam is performed for the buyer and not the seller. It is the buyer’s responsibility to inform the veterinarian of the intended use of the horse and what past history they know. The buyer must also inform us of what radiographs, blood work, (CBC, Fibrinogen, Equine Profile, Serum Amyloid A (SAA), Coggins, drug testing), or diagnostics (endoscopy, reproductive exams for mares, etc…) are to be done. Purchase examination fees can be expensive, and it is the buyer’s option to decide what is to be done in a particular case. If a professional is acting as an agent for the buyer, he or she should be aware of what diagnostics are to be done.  Dr Sutter examining multiple horses in Olathe, Kansas A woman in a green shirt is lifting and examining the front hoof of a brown horse inside a stable with wooden and metal walls, as part of a routine checkup by a vet. Two women stand beside a brown horse in a stable. One woman faces the camera while the other, possibly a veterinarian, examines or treats the horse's back as if performing a veterinary procedure.

When doing a pre-purchase examination, we are asked to give an opinion as to whether a horse has any indications of problems. We cannot predict the future of any horse. We give the best opinion possible from examining the horse on that particular day. Horses are like people in that they have different pain tolerances. Therefore, it is impossible to be positive on any day that no sub-clinical problem exists. It should be understood that the veterinarian does not issue a warranty on any particular case, and if one is desired, this should be contracted with the seller. The horse will not receive a “pass” or “fail.” The decision to buy can only be made by the buyer. It is not our job to state talent, suitability, disposition, or value. Only the buyer is able to decide if these parameters meet his/her satisfaction.

Please discuss any questions regarding the exam with us before you pay for the horse. Radiographs are a legal part of a medical record and are the property of the veterinarian. They are only mailed to veterinarians requesting them and only after the invoice has been settled.

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