Importance of Dental Care in Horses

Articles on Horses | Topics: horses, horse, equestrian

by Yejide Middleton

Taking care of your horse's teeth is as important as taking care of your own. The importance of dental care in horses is as important as taking good care of his feet. If he can't eat properly, he will not be able to maintain his weight and energy.

Most people give no thought to their horse's teeth until they begin to lose weight. At that point desperation kicks in, and they try every supplement under the sun to try to boost their horse's weight. When nothing else works, they call their vet, who suggests checking the horse's teeth. Teeth? Horses have teeth?

As with anything else, proper care of your horse's teeth will make life a lot better for you and for him in the long run. With age, a horse's teeth will deteriorate or become uneven. Even a young horse could have sharp points on his teeth, which can make chewing difficult. It is imperative that you maintain an even chewing and biting surface on your horse's teeth so his chewing is not compromised.

So how do you know if your trusty steed has any mouth disorders? Has he been eating as normal? Does food fall out of the sides of his mouth as he chews? Catching these signs and symptoms early, and treating them in a timely manner will help prevent premature tooth loss, allow for easier feeding and tooth replacement, and may lower the incidence of colic and impaction in your horse.

If your horse is losing weight, dropping food from the sides of his mouth, or is emitting a foul odor from his mouth, he may have an abscessed tooth. You will need to consult your vet immediately if you notice an odor.

It's kind of hard to miss a golf or softball sized swelling on the side of your horse's face. If you see something of this nature, you can almost bet your horse has an abscessed tooth. Your vet will have to make an accurate diagnosis and take the appropriate treatment measures.

аBit of History

I have just read your dispatch about sore tongued and fatiegued [sic] horses. Will you pardon me for asking what the horses of your army have done since the battle of Antietem that fatigue anything?

—Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865)

How do poorly cared for teeth cause colic and impaction? This is part of the importance of dental care in horses. If a horse cannot properly chew his food, and is swallowing large amounts of improperly chewed food, it can get stuck in his intestines, which becomes a blockage, or impaction. When he cannot eliminate, he will be more prone to colic. Trust me, taking care of his teeth once or twice a year is by far the easier route.

Another sign your horse has poor teeth is to notice large chunks of undigested food in his manure. Not all cases of poor teeth are attributed to abscessed teeth. Some of the problems with teeth go much deeper.

Dental disease is more common in horses than one would think. With dental disease, the horse may not want to be bitted up, and may shake his head often when he is being ridden. In more advanced cases of dental disease, your horse may have broken or cracked teeth or an abscess, or all three afflictions. As in people, infected teeth are painful. These teeth are more sensitive to hot and cold, so is the same for your horse.

Diagnosing a dental problem includes a thorough exam of your horse's mouth, and just like you would get at the dentist, your vet will test each tooth for soft spots and decay. Some vets will go so far as to x-ray your horse's teeth. This is not uncommon anymore.

Preventive maintenance is essential. Routine yearly examinations by your vet or equine dentist should be part of every horse owner's routine. It is especially important to make a dental exam part of any pre-purchase examination for your protection.

When your vet comes to your farm to do a dental exam, he may find your horse needs to have his teeth floated. This simply involves rasping your horse's teeth to a point of being level and without sharp points. Some horses will tolerate this procedure without sedation, some will need to be sedated to complete, or even attempt such a procedure. It is a painless procedure, much like filing your fingernail with an emery board. Most horses require floating only once a year. Many get by with a good rasping every two to three years. It's up to you to make sure your horse is taken care of.

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Please note: All personal opinions expressed in the "Importance of Dental Care in Horses" article belong to the contributing author and are not necessarily shared by DogsPetsCats.com.

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