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  Discussion on Pre-Purchase Exam Results
Author Message
Member:
joannr24

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 18, 2009 - 2:29 pm:

I had a pre-purchase done on a horse I fell in love with today but it didn't go well. I turned the mare down but I thought maybe I could get some more information from this website.
This horse is a 3 year old Hanoverian who is currently 17'. Her owner raised her from a baby and never fed her grain. Only bermuda hay and grass pasture. Recently, she has added in some alfalfa.
I setup the prepurchase mainly because I was concerned about OCD due to her height and young age. Sure enough she got that diagnosis.
Here is my question. The vet immediately noticed some swelling in all four of her fetlocks. I did not see this but also am not as experienced. The horse was sound at all gaits on a tiny circle during the exam. However, when the vet did flexion tests the horse tested positive on all four limbs. It would be about two off steps and then she would go off sound. At this point, the vet said she really felt this was OCD as a 3 year old should not test positive on flexion tests. By the way, she is not started under saddle yet and hasn't started lunging.
I requested an xray of her back ankles as I have heard stories of positive flexions with nothing really wrong. She took x-rays and one seemed clean. The other one of her right hind had a little white dot in front of the Proximal Phalanx and a small white dot under the sesamoid bone. The vet said this was OCD. At that point I requested the xrays be given to the owner so that she could decide about surgery etc.
My question is that the xrays didn't look like any of the descriptions of OCD. There was no flap, no cyst, no floating lesions etc. It looked like a little pin sized dot of extra bone. Is it true that horses can flex positive for other issues? I requested the owner take the xrays to a specialist. I just want to make sure I made the right decision on this vet check. It was weird to me that this horse is perfectly sound on a tiny circle but then fails flexions on every leg.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

joAnn
Member:
leslie1

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 18, 2009 - 3:19 pm:

Hi Joann
Incase you didnt see it, here is DrO article on OCD.
https://www.horseadvice.com/horse/messages/4/5292.html
And some interesting threads on it at the bottom of the article page.
BW
L
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 19, 2009 - 1:30 am:

Hello joAnn,
We have a complete description of the interpretation of flexion tests in the sound horse at Horse Care » Routine Horse Care » Pre Purchase Exam of the Horse. I think your course of recommending a reevaluation of the radiographs by a equine radiologist or orthopedic surgery a good course of action.
DrO
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