Prepurchase Conflict of Interest?

[Dirigible]

I’m looking to do a prepurchase exam on a horse in a location that only has one clinic that specializes in equine medicine. This is the clinic that the horse seller uses, but she only sees one vet out of that practice and there are a few other vets I could book to do the PPE. Would you consider it a conflict of interest to use the same clinic with a vet who has never seen the horse, knowing it’s still the clinic’s client?

My other option would be to use a generalized large animal vet, who isn’t specifically trained in equine lameness. I work on vet med myself and have always been very particular about getting a really good, knowledgeable equine vet for my horses. I’ve had to have general large animal vets out for emergencies and found them lacking in the same horse knowledge the equine specific vets have. This is why I’m leaning towards using the equine vet despite the potential conflict of interest.

Thoughts?

[McGurk]

If you end up going this route, have a copy of the vet report and any radiographs sent to your local trusted vet to review.

[anonevent]

I would. Ideally, tell the vet (and possibly the seller, depending on the vibe) that you will be consulting an outside vet about the results before making a final decision. Also, have a follow up call with the PPE vet in case they are hesitant to be forthcoming in front of their clinic’s client.

It would cost you a couple hundred dollars, but would prevent the seller from blaming the PPE vet if the results aren’t to your satisfaction, and it would give the vet a little extra accountability to know that an anonymous third party doctor will be reviewing their PPE report/images. A little peer pressure can go a long way.

[Dirigible]

Yes, definitely I would. I will be present for the PPE as well and have already gone to see/ride the horse in person. The horse rode sound and tacked up with no problems, legs look clean, etc. I’m going to be getting the vet records today so I can look at them myself, as well. Being present for the PPE I’m hoping will be another assurance- I’m not an expert but I’ve got a decent eye and general knowledge from working in vet med so I should be able to tell if something is terribly off or the vet isn’t being thorough.

[trubandloki]

I bought a horse that the owner used the same vet practice that I use, and clearly I wanted to use my trusted vets.

The vet office required us both to sign off that we knew this office had dealings with both sides. They asked the seller to sign a release about the horse’s past vet records. A vet that had not seen this horse before is who came to do the pre-purchase.

Clearly my situation was a little different since the vet practice had a relationship with me already.

[Dirigible]

Good idea, thank you!

[Dirigible]

And I’m assuming it worked out fine for you? Reassuring to hear!

[trubandloki]

Yes, it worked out fine.

[Willesdon]

Depends on the cost of the horse. A vet does have professional standards to maintain and should be acting on behalf of the client rather than a colleague in the same practice. If the horse is low value, no hesitation. If oodles of money, I might feel differently. The PPE is only a snapshot at best.

[McGurk]

Sounds like a good ethical vet practice.

[anonevent]

I always get a couple of opinions on images anyway. It has been surprising to me how different and subjective those opinions can be, but if you get the same opinion from two doctors, that’s reassuring. Good luck with the horse!

[NaturallyHappy]

I’d ask to have blood pulled…

[Dirigible]

Yes, I always do this for every pre-purchase. I am very doubtful this horse was drugged but you can never be too careful or take people for their word anymore.

[Dirigible]

Thank you! I’ve got my fingers crossed, she’s everything I’m looking for temperament wise, and is a very pretty mare to boot.

[Dirigible]

That’s reassuring, thank you. She’s priced at 10k, which is a fair chunk of change to me, but not compared to what other, similar horses are selling for in my area right now or what a warmblood would cost.

[RedHorses]

I would be inclined to take the vet aside prior to the start iof the exam and say that I understand they’re accustomed to dealing with the horse’s owner and I want to remind them that today I am the client paying for this exam and all comments should be directly made to me.

[Foxglove]

Due to the fact that Bob was underpriced (owner wanted him off the property NOW as he was herd aggressive and going after her favorite horse), I looked, tried, PPE, and paid within 24 hours. Owner wanted a good home for him, knew me through my kids, and through the trainer who tried Bob for me (and then I got on after owner and trainer). She said she had a telephone offer for him from someone who wanted her to wait until the weekend for her to come look at him. Offered more than I did --but I was there, cash in hand . . .

The vet I wanted to do my PPE wasn’t available for a couple of weeks (on vacation). My own vet missed ring bone 10-15 years ago on a PPE --I still use him for vaccinations and worming and “small stuff,” but not for a PPE. My county is highly rural, lots of livestock, many horses (Amish) and I’d say there are 10-15 large animal vets practicing within driving distance of where I looked at Bob.

At the suggestion of the trainer we called the owner’s vet --he was also the trainer’s vet, and I knew him, or rather, knew of him, through the 30+ years I’ve lived here. He has a good reputation.

He came within a hour–he stated to the three of us, “I am here to look at a horse Mrs. Foxglove is considering buying. I am here to find any condition that would make this horse unsuitable or unsound. I won’t tell Mrs. Foxglove to buy him, or not buy him. I will tell her what I find. Remember, I am acting in Mrs. Foxgloves interest.”

Vet went over Bob top to bottom and took 6 x-rays: He watched him w/t/c. I picked one place to xray (I always pick front pasterns after that missed ringbone.) Vet picked hocks then suggested front knees as long as he was there and had the machine out (extra $100). Except that Bob had not had his teeth floated for at least 2 years, maybe longer, vet found nothing wrong with him. Using pix from my phone that I sent him, my farrier said Bob’s shoes were poorly set and he needed to be trimmed correctly.

Because I knew OF the vet, and my trainer vouched for him, I was good with that. My farrier knew him too, so all good.

@RedHorses idea is a good one. I would have done that if vet had not made his statement first.

[Jarpur]

@trubandloki

The vet office required us both to sign off that we knew this office had dealings with both sides. They asked the seller to sign a release about the horse’s past vet records.

This is basically what happened when I sold a horse to an out-of-state buyer who wanted to use a clinic local to me of which I was an occasional client (as always, I had offered to haul gratis to a clinic of buyer’s choosing within a reasonable distance). Buyer received a copy of the horse’s records from the clinic (all of them, not just the PPE record).

[MorganMaresVT]

I had to do the same this past spring; very rural location, only one equine vet who was the seller’s vet. As others said, I had my own vet on standby to receive X-rays and vet report and all worked out. Loving the new mare!

[joiedevie99]

As long as the seller signs a release allowing the vet clinic to disclose all past records to you, and your vet reviews the report and imaging for any abnormalities, I’d be fine with it.