Should you be able to spot COPD at a 5 stage vetting?

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Cai Boy

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I think I already know the answer to this but thought I would ask those with more knowledge and expertise in this area.

With all the exercises/checks during a 5 stage vetting, would you be able to ascertain whether or not a horse had COPD? I know vetting your horse is a bit like taking your car for an MOT, and what you get is as it is on the day, but I'm keen to understand whether COPD is one of those things that can be identified at the time?

I suspect the answer is dependant on a lot of factors, but any advice/guidance very much appreciated.
 
If it is managed well it probably will not show at vetting, this is something that should be asked about/ declared prior to that stage, if the sellers are managing it they obviously know there is an issue and it should really be discussed when the purchaser asks if the horse has any health issues, if the buyer fails to ask the right questions or the seller gives a less than honest response it may be a case of managing the horse as it would be hard to prove and have grounds to return.

If it is not managed then I would expect the vet to notice, many vets now ask about management, whether the horse gets soaked hay and why, whether it is kept on shavings especially if others are on straw but they still rely on the seller being honest with the answers.
 
If managed well then it would not necessarily be picked up by the vet. If no one aks the question to the seller then unfortunately there is no onus on them to disclose it. Only if the horse became unfit for purpose due to it.
 
As others have said it will depend on the horse's current management, and also how bad the COPD is. However in a 5 stage I would expect it to be picked up as obviously the horse will be worked and lungs listened to - my vet picked up my boy's COPD and it is very mild. So mild that the only 'management' I do is ensuring he doesn't have hay (he can't tolerate steamed or soaked either) and I have to be careful as to what bedding I use.
 
Broke_But_Happy said:
As others have said it will depend on the horse's current management, and also how bad the COPD is. However in a 5 stage I would expect it to be picked up as obviously the horse will be worked and lungs listened to - my vet picked up my boy's COPD and it is very mild. So mild that the only 'management' I do is ensuring he doesn't have hay (he can't tolerate steamed or soaked either) and I have to be careful as to what bedding I use.
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If you are getting a horse vetted and worried about COPD definitely get it scoped.
 
If you worried get the horse scoped .
However in a well managed environment the horse may show no symptoms and all it takes to change the environment and you have an issue and that's exactly what happens when a horse changes hands .
 
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