FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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Q. At what age should I have my horse's teeth looked at?
A. Foals should have their mouths examined fairly soon after birth. This will allow for any problems, possibly congenital, to be identified and dealt with or noted for future care. Proper handling and examination of the mouth will also prepare the young horse for regular dental maintenance.

Q. How often should my horse be looked at?
A. After the initial visit as a foal, the next should be at 1 year, to check the balance of the mouth, take off any sharp edges and remove wolf teeth if they have erupted. Then every six months is recommended, until 5 years old, as by then all permanent teeth have erupted. After that will depend on what you are doing with your horse. One visit a year may well be sufficient.

Q. How will I know if my horse needs dental attention?
A. The most obvious sign is a change in chewing habits. Dropping feed, packing food into its mouth, wetting feed to soften it, or chewing on one side of the mouth resulting in "quidding" (balls of hay or grass rolled like sausages lying on the floor). The horse may not be masticating its food correctly and may be swallowing feed before adequate chewing, resulting in choking, indigestion, possibly even colic.

Q. Will my horse be better to ride?
A. Horses with dental problems can become head-shy and develop head-tossing, rear or be generally unsettled and not perform well. Also, bad habits can develop and may be difficult to break. Sometimes re-schooling may be needed.

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