In Part 1 of this series, we discussed preparing for your appointment and tips on how to make the most of your exam. Now, let’s move on and discuss prepurchase exams, knowing your horse’s medical history, and the best way of handling the bill. If you don’t remember what was discussed in the first part, please review it again before reading part 2.
Prepurchase Exams
- Regarding a pre-purchase exam, sometimes the horse should be refused and other times, despite having issues, the horse should be bought. A veterinarian can give you good information either way, but you need to be willing to listen to him or her. Going into a pre-purchase exam as a prospective buyer means you need to have a line of acceptability – what you can handle and what is a deal breaker for you. However, if you go into the exam with the mentality you are going to buy the horse, and you do not listen to a word your vet says, you are wasting your money.
- When possible, have the trainer and owner of the horse present for the exam and diagnosis. Feel comfortable walking in the trailer and being an active participant in your horse’s exam. In some cases, the vet technicians will handle the horses. This is especially the case with injections, as the horse must be manipulated into certain positions in order to effectively reach certain joints. However a trainer or skilled handler is always a bonus, particularly if your horse is difficult to twitch or hold. Dr. Roth adds, “Trainers are helpful when twitching or holding horse so the techs can scrub or do invoices and medical records.”
Know Medical History
- Try to come to your appointment prepared by knowing at least six months medical history on your animal, and a year’s history would be even better. Have a list of injections, medications (amounts and types) and whether your horse receives banamine or bute and its most recent dosage. It is your responsibility as a client to help them by being as prepared as possible regarding past medical history. This will make for a more effective and more efficient appointment.
Dr. Cumper explains, “At major events, we are asked to work on a shortened time frame to produce results and we love the challenge. Previous medical records, such as prior diagnoses, radiographs and treatments are all easily obtained in this digital age and can greatly improve the ability to address a problem accurately and with the horse’s short term and more importantly long term outcome in mind.”
Handling the Bill
- Despite the size of your bill, it is considered tacky and rude to challenge it, unless there has been some sort of accounting error. One common misconception about the mobile vet clinic is that the prices of service are elevated above regular farm vet calls. Dr. Roth clarifies, “Many people think we are only here to make a ton of money which is incorrect. What people do not realize is we have extremely high cost to be there. Vendor fees are high, common incidentals such as fuel to get there, salaries, hotels, and food for the entire staff, but mostly, the medication cost is huge. And, last but not least, our doctor education is extremely costly. Human medical doctors charge four times what we do and they have the same costs (same meds, same education costs). If we were just money hungry we would have been MDs, but we do it because we love the people and the horses.”
- Dr. Donnell informs us, “There is a new college, American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, that started about seven years ago which graduates only a select few veterinarians that become Board Certified in Equine Sports Medicine. This is the same three year program for accreditation that is required to become a Board Certified Specialist in Surgery or regular Medicine. Equine Sports Medicine is on the leading edge of this specialty accreditation with Dr. David Frisbie, Board Certified and myself, a third year resident.”
Be Patient
- And lastly, be patient. These dedicated medical professionals love their job. They have to. Why else would that travel months at a time, leaving the comfort of home, family and friends? We, as exhibitors, do it because we enjoy the show circuit and often we forget that others are there as service providers for us. You may not be happy to visit the vet, but the vet is happy to see you. And they can be your best friend in a desperate time of need.
About the Author: Mo (Maureen) West grew up on a large vegetable farm in rural Ontario, Canada where she began riding and showing quarter horses as a child. Her interests mostly include all-around horses that lean toward hunter under saddle events. While continuing to compete in the quarter horse circuit across the province, Mo graduated from the University of Western Ontario and subsequently D’Youville College. She excelled at her career for 14 years as a high school English teacher and Department head. She now lives with her husband in Dublin, California.
