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Equine
Elders' Dental Care
Dental FAQ's
Why frequent
dental exams (Photos)
How do
wild horses cope?
A typical dental
appointment Routine
dental care is important throughout a horse’s life, but becomes an
essential element of caring for an older horse. (See
Saoradh,
below.) Once all of his
permanent teeth have come in, usually by 5 years of age, the horse’s
teeth will continue to erupt through the gumline for the majority of his
life. Regular chewing, especially of grass, wears down the teeth as
they continue to grow. Because of the way the horse chews, sharp points
develop on the premolars and molars (the cheekteeth) over time, causing
ulcers on the cheeks and tongue. This can be painful to the horse,
causing abnormal chewing and either dropping a portion of the feed or
not chewing it completely, leading to inefficient digestion. Sometimes,
the length of the teeth are not all worn down at the same rate, causing
some teeth to be longer and their opposing teeth to be shorter. In some
cases, a long tooth can even wear its opposing tooth all the way down to
the gumline causing deep infections. When the lengths of the teeth are
not even, the horse cannot chew in a normal circular grinding motion and
is forced to chew up and down. Again, a portion of the feed may be
dropped and/or the food may not be chewed completely leading to
efficient digestion.
The best
way to treat dental problems in the horse is by prevention. The teeth
are floated, or filed, to remove all of the sharp points and excessively
long areas of the teeth. It has also been demonstrated that routine
floating may slow down the natural rate of tooth eruption, thereby
increasing the longevity of each tooth. Most veterinarians and equine
dentists recommend that an adult horse with no dental abnormalities be
floated annually. In older horses, however, dental problems may already
exist either from inappropriate preventative maintenance, trauma,
missing teeth via surgery or natural causes, or conformation of the
mouth. For these horses, floating may be necessary 2-3 times per year.
 Routine
dental care for your horse can be provided by your equine veterinarian
or by an equine dentist. A dental appointment should include a complete
oral exam using a full-mouth speculum to open the horse’s mouth and a
light to examine all of the teeth, followed by floating and correction
of dental abnormalities, and a description to the owner of the findings
and the procedures. There are two methods used to float the teeth:
either “by hand,” using hand-held files that are scraped back and forth
along the teeth to file them down, or by using motorized equipment with
varying sized and shaped heads that file down each tooth using a high
speed motion. If other procedures are necessary for your horse, such as
sedation, x-rays, and tooth extractions, an equine veterinarian should
be called.
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Signs of Possible
Dental Trouble
(Please remember that many times there will
be no obvious signs of dental disease until problems are severe.)
-
dropping more food than previously.
-
eating more slowly than before.
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the appearance of "quids" (wads of grass
or hay that the horse tries to chew, then spits out.)
-
head shaking
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holding the head to one side while
chewing
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whole grains in the manure
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bad odor in the mouth and nose
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swelling on the face or along jaw
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bleeding gums
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tossing the head while being ridden
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uncharacteristically fighting the bit
-
weight loss or poor condition
If you notice any of these signs of
developing problems, contact your veterinarian or equine dentist as soon
as possible.
As with human teeth, preventing the
progression of trouble is much easier than correcting problems at a
later time!
International Association of
Equine Dentistry Member List
(many qualified dentists may not have listed
themselves here. Ask local clubs or organizations for references.)
"Quids"
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How do
horse in the wild cope without dental care?
contributed by Katherine Cilinski, DVM*
The horses in the wild graze continually
during the day, while our domesticated horses eat a variety of grasses,
hay, and processed feeds. These dietary differences lead to
differences in the way the horses chew, the amount of chewing, the types
of small particles that are produced during chewing, and ultimately the
way the teeth are worn down.
Other major differences between wild and
domesticated horses are their lifestyles and life spans. Wild
horses usually live 15 - 20 years, while a domestic horse receiving good
management and veterinary care can live into its 30's or 40's.
During the domesticated horse's life, it may also be expected to perform
with a bit in its mouth. Inadequate dental care can lead to pain
while eating and while being ridden. Most importantly, long term
effects can include premature tooth loss and poor nutrition.
*Dr.
Katy Cilinski is a graduate of the VA-MD Regional College of Veterinary
Medicine. She is a member of the International Association of
Equine Dentistry and the American Association of Equine Practitioners.
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A Typical
Dental Appointment
contributed by Katherine Cilinski, DVM*
The exam begins with getting the horse's
history, including feeding, riding discipline, and medical problems.
The a physical exam is done, paying special attention to the head and
face. Swollen and tender areas are noted and pointed out to the
owner. The lips, gums, tongue and cheeks will be checked for sores
and the motion of the jaw will be evaluated.
The horse is then
sedated (see note below) enough to make him stand relaxed for the procedure. A
speculum is used to open his mouth and his head will be supported by a
stand or dental halter. Using a bright light, a dental probe and a
mirror, the size, shape and position of the teeth will be evaluated.
The owner will be able to see all of the teeth and abnormalities will be
pointed out.
Motorized dental
equipment will be used to "equilibrate" the teeth and address all of the
irregularities. The motorized equipment helps to make the
procedure quicker so the horse's mouth isn't open as long, and
trauma to the teeth and gums (if any) is any. Water is used to
keep the teeth and the instrument cool. A hand file is used at the
end to ensure that all of the edges are smooth.
If any extractions
are necessary, they are usually done toward the end of the dental
procedure. Additional sedation and pain medication are given for
the horse's comfort. Antibiotics are given when necessary.
When all procedures
are complete, the owner will be shown the results and given a copy of
the record with recommendations for the next appointment.
(Editorial NOTE: Sedation must, in most
states, be administered by a veterinarian. If your dentist is not
a veterinarian, you will need to coordinate a visit involving both
professionals.) |
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Saoradh
dramatically illustrates both the dire consequences of
long-term dental neglect and an inspiring recovery made possible by a
determined new owner and lots of TLC.
Photos courtesy of Kym Lambert
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Saoradh, 2001 - age 27 |
2003 - age 29 |
May
2004 - age 30 |
Kym Lambert first met Saoradh in 2001.
The 27-year-old Arabian was in a pasture, starving to death because he
could not chew the grass in which he stood. Saoradh was also
distrustful of people, behaving as though he had been treated very
harshly in the past.
Using Natural Horsemanship techniques, Kym
was able to break through Saoradh's emotional barriers, healing his
spirit as well as his body. Today, Saoradh enjoys a customized
diet, sees his dentist on a regular basis, and still takes Kym out on
short rides, he wanting to go faster than Kym feels is necessary!
Thank you, Kym, for keeping Saoradh healthy,
happy, and at home. |
