AN animal’s health and well-being is of the utmost importance to their owners.
Part of ensuring a horse’s good health is knowing what it needs and when. It could be as simple as a quiet day in the field after a hard day’s hunting, a call to the vet because of a knock or wound, or having their teeth examined by an equine dentist. It is our job as owners to make the right call and look after our horses to the best of our ability. However, sometimes we may overlook our horses’ dental health. This week, in Horse Sense, I sought the advice of an equine dental technician to explain what it is we should look out for and how we can manage our horses’ dental health.
One of the questions most commonly asked of equine dentists and veterinarians is “How often should I have my horse’s teeth checked?” The answer, in most cases, is annually. However, this time-frame can vary from case to case.
This is because horses have hypsodont (continually erupting) teeth. To put it simply, a horse’s teeth are almost always growing. This allows them to graze naturally in the wild for long periods of time.
The domestication of horses and change in diet over the years has made the need for regular dental treatment even more important. An equine dentist helps to maintain a healthy, comfortable and balanced mouth.
As you may have noticed, the horse masticates (chews) in a circular motion. It does this by the mandible (lower jaw) moving below the maxilla (upper jaw) and grinding the food. This causes the horse to develop sharp points on the outside of the upper teeth termed as the buccal edge (see accompanying image) and the inside of the lower teeth (the lingual edge).
If the sharp edges are left untreated, they may cause soft tissue damage to the horse’s cheeks, damage to the horse’s tongue or ulceration which causes a lot of discomfort to the horse and can result in loss of condition and performance.
Therefore it is important that your horse receives regular dental check-ups as prescribed by your equine dental technician or veterinary surgeon.
COMMON PROBLEMS
Some of the most common equine dental problems include:
SYMPTOMS
How do you know if your horse is suffering from any of the above? Here are some symptoms to keep an eye out for:
If the answer to any of the above is yes, then the likelihood is that your horse is due a visit from the dentist.
The symptoms listed would be seen on a daily basis by an equine dentist or a vet and the treatment would range from basic re-floating (removal of sharp edges that develop on the molar as a result of the honing action of chewing) and re-balance work to advanced cases, where referral to a veterinary professional may be necessary in order to achieve the best possible outcome for the horse.
BABY TEETH
Deciduous teeth are baby teeth and a horse will lose up to 24 baby teeth from between the ages of 18 months and five years. Occasionally a deciduous tooth will get ‘stuck’ between the teeth on either side of it and will not fall out. This is called a retained cap.
If your horse has a retained cap, it may lead to your horse developing eruption bumps which form under the mandible (lower jaw) or above the maxilla (upper jaw). Eruption bumps can often be seen and felt. They can be warm in temperature and slightly painful for the horse. If you feel that these are bothering your horse then you should call your equine dental technician or vet.
WOLF TEETH
Wolf teeth can cause an awful lot of pain and discomfort for a horse while being bitted. Wolf teeth are generally the smallest teeth in a horse’s mouth and are peg-like in appearance. Not all horses have wolf teeth; in fact only 45%-50% of horses have them.
Some horses have one and some horses have two. If a horse is going to develop wolf teeth then this will happen in the first 18 months of its life. Wolf teeth are most commonly found on the upper jaw (Maxilla) and sit just before the first pre-molar where the bit should sit.
WOLF PROBLEMS
Wolf teeth reduce a horse’s performance due to the discomfort caused when pressure is applied by the bit. Wolf teeth are often seen as the bane of a rider’s life! It is advisable to remove wolf teeth before breaking a horse in.
This helps to prevent any discomfort to the horse and eliminates the risk of bad habits developing that could occur when the wolf teeth/root(s) remain in place. Although a wolf tooth is small, it can be very difficult to remove, as some can have large roots that can break easily.
If part of the wolf tooth remains in place, this may cause more harm than if the original wolf tooth was left in place. Therefore it is vital when getting your horse’s wolf teeth removed that you get a qualified, experienced equine dental technician or a veterinary professional to carry out the procedure.
THE BENEFITS
The main benefits of maintaining your horse’s teeth and keeping their mouths well-balanced and comfortable are:
John Ellard
Equine Dental Services
Tel: 087-447-6908