Equine Dentistry
We offer the full spectrum of dental care to our patients, using modern power tools as required. Our veterinarians may tranquilise your horse so these procedures can be performed comfortably and safely.
Routine dental care is essential to your horse's in health. Periodic examinations and regular maintenance, such as floating may be required.
The process of rasping or filing a horse's teeth is known as floating. This is the most common dental procedure veterinarians perform on horses. Floating removes sharp enamel points and can create a more even bite plane. It also helps keep incisors and cheek teeth at a desirable length.
Proper dental care has its rewards. Your horse will be more comfortable, will utilize feed more efficiently, may perform better, and may even live longer.
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Dental Information
Young Horses
All young horses up to the age of 5 years old should have regular 6 month dental checks. This helps to ensure that all of the horse’s teeth are erupting and shedding correctly. By having regular dental checks you can avoid problems later on in the horse’s life. Young horses will shed their deciduous (baby) teeth approximately at 6 months intervals up until the age of 4 ½ years old and will be full-mouthed with all teeth in occlusion by 5 years of age.
Horses 5 years +
Horses 5 years and over should have an annual dental examination unless stated otherwise. This will ensure that the mouth is kept balanced and free from dental disease. Annual examinations are very important as the horses teeth are continually erupting and the horse’s mouth can change a lot over a year.
Disease
Dental disease has been under recognised as a cause of health and behaviour problems for many years. A full oral examination will highlight any existing or future problems that can be corrected to prevent any problems later on. Cheek teeth abnormalities are least likely to be found without a full oral examination.
Clinical signs associated with dental disease.
· Losing weight (even with a good appetite)
· Failure to gain weight
· Dribbling grain
· Exaggerated roll of the jaw while eating
· Bad odour to breathe
· Discharge from nostrils
· Swellings on lower or upper jaw
· Loss of appetite or not eating at all
· Head tossing
· Rearing
· Hanging on one rein.