Tooth Trouble
October 30, 2008
Give your horses’ teeth the attention they deserve.
Make an appointment with an equine dentist!
Have you ever paid much attention to your horse’s teeth?
Dr. Jack Easley, D.V.M., and equine dentist, recommends that you do.
By evolutionary design, horses are grazing machines. Their long heads and necks allow for continuous grazing, increasing the height and complexity of the tooth shape. The forward teeth, or incisors, function as grass trimmers. The cheek teeth, including the molars and premolars, have wide, flat, grooved surfaces to easily grind feed into mash before it is swallowed.
Dr. Easley says the domestication of horses is one reason they require dental care.
“Typically, horses keep their heads on the ground and eat grass 16 hours a day, but we keep them in a stall with their heads up and feed them hay, oats and sweet feed. Stabled horses tend to have more problems with periodontal disease and abnormal wear.”
Learn more practical ways to keep your horse healthy and happy. Become an AQHA or AQHYA member and receive America’s Horse magazine 10 times a year. It’s packed with great horse health information.
While there are equine dentists to keep your horse’s teeth in line, Dr. Easley recommends that horse owners find an equine veterinarian for equine dental procedures because veterinarians can sedate horses, which non-vets can’t do.
To find a qualified veterinarian contact the American Association of Equine Practitioners at (800) 438-2386.
Learn more about horse health, including dental needs, in America’s Horse magazine, the official member publication of AQHA.
Symptoms of Tooth Problems
AAEP offers this list to help you identify symptoms of dental problems:
- Loss of feed from the mouth while eating, difficulty chewing or excessive salivation
- Weight loss or loss of body condition
- Large or undigested feed particles (long stems or whole grain) in the manure
- Head tilting or tossing, bit chewing, tongue lolling, fighting on the bit, or resisting bridling
- Poor performance, such as lugging on the bridle, failing to turn or stop, even bucking
- Foul odor from mouth or nostrils, or traces of blood in the mouth
- Nasal discharge or swelling of the face, jaw or mouth tissues
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4 Comments on “Tooth Trouble”
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February 7th, 2009 at 10:00 am
When using a snaffle bit on my older gelding he started bowing his neck clear to his chest, audibly huffing and puffing and crow hopping. We had the vet check his teeth and sure enough he had both a cracked tooth and it’s loose. He floated his teeth and said he wouldn’t recommend pulling the tooth (floating seemed to be severe under the circumstances associated with the horses’ behavior – i.e.,it must be very painful). We brought him home and I experimented with first a hackamore and he did fine, like his old self. Then I tried the same snaffle bit and he returned to the same behavior as before. (The particular tooth is the first cheek tooth next to the bar on the bottom). I want to have it pulled. Iknow how I’d feel if i had a cracked and loose tooth and the nerves must be painful. He licks constantly, probably due to the loose tooth. What is your opinion on whether to leave it as suggested by the vet or having it pulled? IF it is pulled, how will the absence of that tooth affect his ability to chew appropriately on the opposing tooth that would have been the grinding mechanism if it were still in place? Also, how will that missing tooth affect use of a snaffle since it would obviously slop around in the mouth as it would be misaligned???
Can a dental vet please help me with these questions??
July 15th, 2010 at 10:32 pm
the best way to avoid dental problems is to always see a dentist;:-
July 20th, 2010 at 6:01 am
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