Embedded Files
Overview and Objectives of the PPE
Overview and Objectives of the PPE
• Definition: A thorough examination to assess the general health, soundness, temperament, and appropriateness of a horse for a buyer’s intended use.
• Definition: A thorough examination to assess the general health, soundness, temperament, and appropriateness of a horse for a buyer’s intended use.
• Range of Examination: Varies from a basic physical/soundness exam to a highly comprehensive assessment including diagnostic imaging, laboratory testing, and video documentation.
• Range of Examination: Varies from a basic physical/soundness exam to a highly comprehensive assessment including diagnostic imaging, laboratory testing, and video documentation.
• Standardization:
• Standardization:
◦ In the US: Not standardized; varies by practitioner, price, and the horse’s discipline.
◦ In the US: Not standardized; varies by practitioner, price, and the horse’s discipline.
◦ International: Standardized by national organizations in Australia (EVA/AVA) and the UK (BEVA), which issue specific examination forms.
◦ International: Standardized by national organizations in Australia (EVA/AVA) and the UK (BEVA), which issue specific examination forms.
• Nature of Findings: A comprehensive PPE will identify abnormal findings in almost every horse; veterinarians must use clinical experience and literature to interpret these.
• Nature of Findings: A comprehensive PPE will identify abnormal findings in almost every horse; veterinarians must use clinical experience and literature to interpret these.
Approach and Methodology
Approach and Methodology
• Systematic Methodology: Veterinarians should use a checklist to ensure consistency.
• Systematic Methodology: Veterinarians should use a checklist to ensure consistency.
• Additional Procedures: Warranted based on the value of the horse, its intended use, or specific concerns.
• Additional Procedures: Warranted based on the value of the horse, its intended use, or specific concerns.
• Conflict of Interest:
• Conflict of Interest:
◦ Ideally, the veterinarian has no prior relationship with the seller or the horse.
◦ Ideally, the veterinarian has no prior relationship with the seller or the horse.
◦ Any current or past relationship between the vet and seller must be disclosed to the buyer.
◦ Any current or past relationship between the vet and seller must be disclosed to the buyer.
Essential Communication
Essential Communication
Before the Examination:
Before the Examination:
• Seller Disclosure: The seller should provide a written medical and surgical history, plus dates for recent vaccinations, deworming, shoeing, and dentistry.
• Seller Disclosure: The seller should provide a written medical and surgical history, plus dates for recent vaccinations, deworming, shoeing, and dentistry.
• Buyer Logistics: Determine the main point of contact and their availability (physically or by phone) to approve additional testing as the exam progresses.
• Buyer Logistics: Determine the main point of contact and their availability (physically or by phone) to approve additional testing as the exam progresses.
• Contextual Factors: Discuss the horse’s intended use, past performance, current work level, and the intended rider’s expertise.
• Contextual Factors: Discuss the horse’s intended use, past performance, current work level, and the intended rider’s expertise.
• Limitations: The buyer must understand that a PPE cannot guarantee future soundness and that some disorders (like subclinical neurological disease or myopathy) may not be detectable.
• Limitations: The buyer must understand that a PPE cannot guarantee future soundness and that some disorders (like subclinical neurological disease or myopathy) may not be detectable.
After the Examination:
After the Examination:
• Relaying Results: Findings are often shared with the buyer’s regular veterinarian for a second opinion, often across different states or countries.
• Relaying Results: Findings are often shared with the buyer’s regular veterinarian for a second opinion, often across different states or countries.
• Technological Integration: Common use of video for soundness footage and digital radiography files.
• Technological Integration: Common use of video for soundness footage and digital radiography files.
• Challenges: Managing large digital files, clerical tracking, and communicating across time zones or languages.
• Challenges: Managing large digital files, clerical tracking, and communicating across time zones or languages.
• Final Decision: The decision to purchase rests solely with the buyer; the veterinarian’s role is to advise and interpret.
• Final Decision: The decision to purchase rests solely with the buyer; the veterinarian’s role is to advise and interpret.
Minimum Examination Components
Minimum Examination Components
• Identification: Verification of age and ID via microchips, tattoos, brands, or markings.
• Identification: Verification of age and ID via microchips, tattoos, brands, or markings.
• Physical Examination (at rest): Includes a thorough assessment and ophthalmoscopic evaluation (checking for cataracts, uveitis, or chorioretinitis).
• Physical Examination (at rest): Includes a thorough assessment and ophthalmoscopic evaluation (checking for cataracts, uveitis, or chorioretinitis).
• Soundness Evaluation:
• Soundness Evaluation:
◦ Gait: Walk and trot in a straight line on a hard surface (viewed from all sides).
◦ Gait: Walk and trot in a straight line on a hard surface (viewed from all sides).
◦ Ideal Additions: Evaluation on circles (hard and soft ground) and at the canter.
◦ Ideal Additions: Evaluation on circles (hard and soft ground) and at the canter.
◦ Auscultation: Heart and lung checks after exercise are strongly recommended.
◦ Auscultation: Heart and lung checks after exercise are strongly recommended.
• Flexion Tests: Considered a standard element unless precluded by the horse's age or temperament.
• Flexion Tests: Considered a standard element unless precluded by the horse's age or temperament.
Additional Diagnostic Modalities:
Additional Diagnostic Modalities:
• Radiography:
• Radiography:
◦ Young/Sport Prospects: Often include full series of front feet, fetlocks, carpi (essential for racehorses), hocks, and stifles.
◦ Young/Sport Prospects: Often include full series of front feet, fetlocks, carpi (essential for racehorses), hocks, and stifles.
◦ High-End Prospects: May include the cervical spine and dorsal spinous processes.
◦ High-End Prospects: May include the cervical spine and dorsal spinous processes.
• Neurological Evaluation: A comprehensive exam is prompted if concerns arise during the initial gait assessment.
• Neurological Evaluation: A comprehensive exam is prompted if concerns arise during the initial gait assessment.
• Ultrasonography: Used to screen for suspensory ligament desmitis or flexor tendinitis in racing or dressage horses.
• Ultrasonography: Used to screen for suspensory ligament desmitis or flexor tendinitis in racing or dressage horses.
• Upper Airway Endoscopy: Performed for race/sport horses or if respiratory noise is detected.
• Upper Airway Endoscopy: Performed for race/sport horses or if respiratory noise is detected.
• Laboratory Testing:
• Laboratory Testing:
◦ Drug Testing: Screening for NSAIDs or analgesics; blood must be drawn before any sedation.
◦ Drug Testing: Screening for NSAIDs or analgesics; blood must be drawn before any sedation.
◦ Health Panels: CBC, serum biochemistry, and genetic testing for myopathy.
◦ Health Panels: CBC, serum biochemistry, and genetic testing for myopathy.
◦ Infectious Disease: Required for international export (e.g., equine piroplasmosis).
◦ Infectious Disease: Required for international export (e.g., equine piroplasmosis).
• Breeding Soundness: Not part of a standard PPE unless requested; involves semen evaluation for stallions or uterine/ovary ultrasound for mares.
• Breeding Soundness: Not part of a standard PPE unless requested; involves semen evaluation for stallions or uterine/ovary ultrasound for mares.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse