Prepurchase evaluation of horses: 134 cases (1988-1990).
To quantify some components of prepurchase evaluations in horses, records from 134 evaluations performed during a 2-year period were reviewed and the outcome was determined via telephone follow-up interview. Sixty-two percent of the prepurchase evaluations had been performed at the clinic and 38% had been performed in the field by the ambulatory service. All evaluations included physical and lameness examinations, whereas radiography (49%), endoscopy (15%), nerve blocking (5%), transrectal palpation (3%), hematologic analysis (2%), electrocardiography (2%), drug testing for analgesic agents (2%), and ultrasonography of the flexor tendons (1%) were not always performed. Fifty-nine percent of horses evaluated at the clinic were radiographed, compared with 33% of horses evaluated in the field (P less than 0.05). Thirty-seven percent of horses evaluated were judged serviceable for their intended use. Thirty-five percent of horses evaluated at the clinic were assessed to be serviceable, compared with 41% of those evaluated in the field (P less than 0.05). Horses used for pleasure riding (48%) tended to be considered serviceable more often than horses used for more athletic endeavors (3-day eventing, 33%; hunter/jumper, 24%; show, 31%; dressage, 30%). The most common basis for finding a horse unserviceable was lameness (88%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Dart
A J
AJ
Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, University of California, Davis 95616.
Snyder
J R
JR
Pascoe
J R
JR
Meagher
D M
DM
Wilson
W D
WD
D000818:Animals; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006736:Horses; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007794:Lameness, Animal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000662:veterinary*; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013689:Telephone