Pre-purchase exam on a companion animal worth it?

[AMackechnie]

@ladybugsbw

I have two companion minis. (because the retired mare needed a companion, then the companion needed a companion when dry lotted…)

I did not get a vet check on either. Both were from rough situations and I knew they needed some TLC and was prepared for that. One needed her eye removed upon arrival due to an injury that was years old and ignored. The other went through two months of ulcer treatment before she would finish a meal or gain weight.

The ONLY problem with minis for companions, like mentioned above, is that they often have VERY different diet needs from the horse they are keeping company. This works well for us, as we created a dry lot within the pasture of the horse they are companions for. The only time they get to be truly together is in the winter, once all things green have died.

Minis are fabulous, but are not much of a cost saver compared to regular horses. The vet is the same, farrier is the same, and they tend to tear up stuff (fencing and things) much faster than horses. The only place I make up any money on the minis is in feed…they each get a cup of ration balancer daily and very little forage to meet their dietary needs.

Yes, indeed. Those are very good points.

[SLedbetter]

I didn’t do a PPE on my mini, he came from a not so good situation and was in bad shape when I got him. I’ve had him two years, and he has terrible seasonal allergies, is allergic to some medications, got laminitis after steroid treatment for the allergies. He has a bum leg, a club foot, and is currently on his second round of treatment for ulcers due to pain relievers given for teeth issues.
He is borderline metabolic and Cushings. He is 4 years old.
I don’t know much about PPE’s, so I don’t know that an exam would have necessarily caught some of these things at the time I got him.
But, despite all of his issues, he’s a good, smart boy, and makes a good companion for my elderly Mustang (who also has Cushings by the way). I love him to pieces.
I would think that a PPE would be a good idea in most cases. I would have his feet checked and maybe some bloodwork done at a minimum.

[ABookworm]

Depending on the condition of the mini and your familiarity will help determine if you truly feel a PPE is worth it. I took in a aged small pony who retired from the lesson program I used to board at. I knew the owner fairly well and knew the pony so I had an idea of what to expect with him. I elected to not do the PPE for those reasons but had I not known him or his owner I would have done a PPE because of his former job, size, and age.

In terms of the mini diet requirement I have found that having a small pony still gets you the smaller size for companionship but they seem a bit easier than minis in terms of feeding. A huge rule I follow at my place with the ponies (the small mentioned above, and the large I compete) is no treats and they have a strict diet regiment. Companion minis (and ponies) also tend to be healthier if they have a semi regular “work” schedule. For my small he goes on walks with my dogs or will go on short jogs with me. He’s easier than the riding horses because he doesn’t need as much work as they like but he still does best if provided with a job to keep muscle tone and weight in check.