The state of your horse's oral health can have a large impact on their overall health and well-being. Today, our Meadow Vista vet dentists discuss how you can tell if your horse has bad teeth, and the importance of equine dentistry.
Your Horses Teeth
Like humans, horses get two sets of teeth in their lifetime. The baby teeth, also called deciduous teeth, are temporary. These teeth begin to be replaced by adult teeth around age two. By age five, most horses have their full set of permanent teeth.
A horse’s teeth are continuously erupting throughout their entire life. They chew their food by moving their jaws from side to side in a figure-8 motion. The combination of these two factors results in the development of sharp points along the outside of the upper cheek teeth and along the inside of the lower cheek teeth.
Over the course of a year, these points can develop enough to begin to damage the soft tissues in the mouth as your horse chews.
In addition to the sharp points, horses can also develop dental abnormalities or poor dental conformation, which will continually get worse if not addressed frequently.
Some horses are just cursed with bad teeth, and will need a veterinarian's dental care to help get them feeling right again.
Common Dental Issues For Horses
Horses can experience a range of dental issues if their teeth are not properly maintained. Some examples include:
- Sharp points form on cheek teeth, causing lacerations of cheeks and tongue
- Deciduous teeth that have not fallen out
- Discomfort caused by bit contact with the wolf teeth
- Hooks forming on the upper and lower cheek teeth
- Lost, broken, misaligned, or worn teeth
- Abnormal or uneven bite planes
- Abnormally long teeth
- Infected teeth and/or gums
Additional Potential Problems
Wolf Teeth
It is estimated that about 70% of horses develop wolf teeth. These small, often pointy, teeth can appear in front of the premolars. In some cases, these teeth cause little or no discomfort, but many times they interfere with the bit and lead to damage of the surrounding soft tissues. It is common for veterinarians to recommend the removal of wolf teeth to help ensure the horse's comfort and good oral health.
Dental Abscesses
Abscesses are caused when bacteria enter a horse's tooth and cause an infection. Abscesses are often associated with sharp points on the teeth as well as cracked or fractured teeth. Signs of a dental abscess can include difficulties eating, bad breath and facial swelling.
Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease (gum disease) is an uncomfortable inflammation of the gums. Typically caused by food debris impacted between the cheek teeth, periodontal disease can lead to discomfort, loose teeth and even tooth loss if left untreated.
Equine Odontoclastic Tooth Resorption & Hypercementosis (EOTRH)
EOTRH is a painful, progressive dental condition that typically affects the incisors of older horses. This condition is characterized by the loss (resorption) of the bone and tissue surrounding the roots of the horse’s incisors and/or canine teeth. Affected teeth often become brittle and prone to breakage. The condition is also characterized by a bulbous enlargement of the affected tooth roots.
Signs Your Horse Is Having Dental Problems
If your horse is experiencing tooth pain, they will likely display some of the following symptoms:
- Loss of body condition
- Large or undigested feed particles in manure
- Head tilting or tossing, bit chewing, tongue lolling, fighting the bit, or resisting bridling
- Nasal discharge or swelling of the face, jaw, or mouth tissues
- Foul odor from mouth or nostrils, or traces of blood in the mouth
- Loss of feed from mouth while eating, difficulty with chewing, or excessive salivation
- Poor performance, such as lugging on the bridle, failing to turn or stop, even bucking
You know your horse better than anyone, so if they start showing signs or behaviors that are unlike them, then it may be time to schedule an equine dental appointment with our experienced equine and large animal vets at Meadow Vista Veterinary Clinic.
What can be done to correct or prevent this?
Annual equine dentistry appointments are important to check your horse's teeth. At these equine dental visits, your Meadow Vista equine or large animal vet dentist will perform what is commonly called 'floating.' Essentially they will be grinding down the points with a tool that looks like a large dremel.
Floating removes the sharp enamel points, smoothing out the teeth, correcting malocclusion, and correcting other dental problems. this is often performed under sedation, to limit the amount of stress put on your horse, and allow your equine vet dentist the best opportunity to get their teeth fully taken care of without resistance.
Does My Horses Age Affect Their Teeth?
Your horse's age does impact the level of care they may need. Once examined, your vet dentist will have a better understanding of their needs. Here are some typical effects age has on equine dental care.
- Foals should be examined shortly after birth and often during the first year to diagnose and correct congenital dental issues.
- Horses going into training for the first time need a comprehensive dental check-up before training begins to prevent training problems related to sharp teeth.
- Horses aged 2 to 5 years may require more frequent dental exams because deciduous teeth are softer than permanent teeth and may develop sharp enamel points more quickly.
- Mature horses should get a thorough dental examination at least annually to maintain correct dental alignment and to diagnose dental problems.
- Horses 17 years old or older are at increased risk for developing periodontal disease. This painful disease must be diagnosed early for successful treatment. Beyond the age of 20, the tooth surfaces may be worn excessively and/or unevenly, and dental alignment correction may be impossible.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding animals or professional advice regarding equine regulations. For the diagnosis of your animal's condition and help to navigate rules governing the care and transportation of equine animals, please make an appointment with your vet.