How does a prepurchase or insurance examination differ from a routine physical examination?

Pre-purchase and insurance exams are often more detailed than a routine exam and require a
careful recording of every identifying mark, brand or tag, and all scars or blemishes. Many
times the person or company requesting the exam will require blood work to be done, looking
for unapparent disease or presence of chemical agents. All breeding animals will require a
complete fertility exam as well. A horse may have apparently healthy joints radiographed and
even nerve blocked to identify hidden infirmities. Great care must be taken to record all
findings completely and accurately.