EQUINE DENTISTRY

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Why horses need dental technicians
You may think that equine dentists are a new phenomenon; another modern invention. However, tooth rasps and other equipment for looking after horses' teeth were being produced as long ago as the 19th Century. CLICK HERE TO SEE SOME EXAMPLES OF EARLY TOOLS.

When horses were in their heyday, vets routinely "floated" (rasped) their teeth knowing that it was important to keep horses comfortable in their mouths. Without correct care problems can cause behavioural problems, lack of performance and loss of condition in all horses.

Top 10 reasons why your horse needs regular treatment
1. Horses' teeth erupt throughout their lives.
2. The upper jaw is 30% wider than the lower jaw, creating sharp points on the cheek surface of the upper teeth and on the tongue surface of the lower jaw.
3. These points can cause discomfort, pain and even lacerations in the mouth and can hinder performance in the working horse.
4. Because their diet is mainly roughage, horses need teeth of an even height.
5. Roughage digestion occurs by microbial fermentation in the caecum. Particles that are too large pass through undigested and nutrients are not digested.
6. Inadequately chewed roughage increases the risk of intestinal obstruction (colic).
7. Incisors do not wear at the same rate as the molars due to the non-abrasive nature of the diet of the domestic horse.
8. Early or late tooth eruption causes an uneven chewing surface, this becomes exaggerated over time.
9. Tall, sharp canine teeth can pinch or cut the tongue (primarily a problem in geldings and stallions).
10. Horses chew in a figure of 8 type of pattern which requires an angle of about 15 degrees on the molar surface to chew efficiently.

Routine tooth care
All horses and ponies need checking by a qualified equine dental technician (EqDT) at regular intervals. Youngsters need looking at to check that all is normal and progressing as it should from an early age. Once the permanent teeth start coming through it is necessary to ensure that they are correct, remembering that this is the time that most horses are being bitted and starting their ridden careers. Thereafter, the EqDT will ensure that the horse/pony stays comfortable throughout its life. Don't forget that the retired horse/pony will still need attention to enable them to utilize their food well into old age!

A Case Study (Pictures to follow soon!)
Cloudy is a 10 year old Welsh Section C mare owned by Judith Hubbard. Cloudy's done a bit of everything, including dressage, show-jumping, Hunter Trials, one day events and even some Western Reining. Through the winter her workload is fairly light, mainly hacking and a bit of schooling. There were no particular problems with bitting, and she's been checked regularly by an equine dentist. A few weeks ago Cloudy started "pouching" on the right hand side (accumulating food between her cheek and molars, a bit like a hamster). Judith suspected straight away that this was related to her teeth, and called Bill. After a treatment session lasting about 30 minutes, Bill had diagnosed and dealt with the problem - basically she'd had a very sharp hook on the last molar that had prevented her from chewing properly. Immediately after the treatment, Cloudy was able to eat properly, without pouching. The benefits are obvious - not only is Cloudy now comfortable again, but the risks of colic and bitting problems when working are avoided. At the next visit, in a few months time, Bill will address the fact that Cloudy has what equine dentists call a "smile". (Have a look at the "Terminology" link to see exactly what a "smile" is!)

Terminology (More coming soon. Keep watching!)
CLICK HERE TO SEE A SMILE.

HOME | ABOUT BILL LOMAS | EQUINE DENTISTRY | FAQs | ASK BILL | LINKS