Visiting the Equine Dentist

Dental health is a critical part of your horse's broader health, from your horse's absorption of food to his or her life expectancy. Here's what you should know, and what to be on the lookout for.

How to monitor dental health

If you're wondering whether or not your horse may be having dental problems, you should pay attention to the way they chew food. You may also notice changes in their behaviour that could point you in the right direction.

Common signs of dental problems include:

• Weight loss
• Excessive salivation
• Slow and laboured eating
• Dropping bits of half-chewed food
• Unusually coarse manure

They may be suffering from symptoms such as fussing with the bit, avoiding bit contact, irritation with put into a dropped noseband, head tucking or tossing and not wanting to have their face and muzzle handled.

Sometimes unexplained colic’s which have no apparent cause can be traced back to dental problems. Additionally, young horses will often experience discomfort when shedding their deciduous (baby) teeth or caps and lumps will often appear under the jawbones while the new teeth are trying to erupt, and they may need assistance to remove them.

Horses' teeth grow continuously all of their lives, especially in the early years. They are also constantly being worn down due to the grinding action horses use to chew their feed. Raised edges may appear along the edges of the molars - typically along the outside of the upper set and the inside of the lower set. These edges can be quite razor-like, actually cutting deep into one's finger when rubbed across them while inspecting the mouth. They often cut into the horse's cheeks when they chew and cause soreness where a bit or halter pushes the cheek against a sharp tooth. In some cases, a horse may have to chew unnaturally in an attempt to grind up his food. This action can often result in increased uneven wear on the teeth and in some cases generate significant excess pressure on one or more tooth which can result in serious complications.

A professional equine dentist should be engaged on a regular basis according to your horse's age and if any of the above symptoms are observed.

Recommended periods for dental checkups

• Birth to 18 months: at least once a year
• 18 to 52 months: twice a year
• 4 to 18 years: once a year
• 18 years and older: consider frequent oral examinations to keep their mouths healthy

A horse with regularly maintained teeth will ensure less in feeding costs and a healthy horse in general. For a healthy horse, explore Caribu's range of herbs and supplements.