Equine Dentistry

When it comes to responsible equine ownership, there are plenty of different elements of your horse’s health and wellbeing to consider. One of the most important is your equine’s dental care. Not only can looking after your horse’s teeth help ensure that they remain strong and functional during his lifetime, but it will also support his long-term health,
What problems can be caused by poor oral health?
Few people
- The function of the nervous system
- Cardiovascular health
- Muscular balance
- The function of the digestive system
- Chemical balance
- Structural stability of your horse’s tongue,
Other problems can include chronic pain, widespread
Who can support me in looking after my horse’s teeth?
Equine dentistry is a specialism, and so a standard veterinarian will probably not have the knowledge,
Regular
Signs that your horse may have a dental problem
Many equine owners have the benefit of a ‘gut instinct’ when it comes to their horse’s wellbeing, and can often tell if their animal is feeling off-color. Nevertheless, when your horse does start displaying symptoms of a dental problem, these could include:
- Behavior changes
- Dipping feed or hay in drinking water
- Dropping food when eating
- Excessive saliva
- Facial swelling
- Foul breath
- Grass packing in the cheeks
- Head shaking or tossing, or tipping the head to one side
- Napping, bucking or rearing
- Nasal discharge
- Nervousness or dislike of being handled
- Slow to eat
- Stiffness or lameness
- Unexplained weight loss
Floating
Floating is one of the most common parts of equine dental care. It involves filing off any sharp edges or hooks that may form on the edges of the teeth. Most horses will need to have their teeth floated at least once every twelve months. This will help keep them healthy, functional and comfortable for your animal to use.
Age-related dental care
Horse’s teeth grow and change throughout their lifetime. In fact, it is even possible to tell a horse’s age by the appearance of their teeth. However, what this means is that the dental care that your equine requires will vary depending on their age.
Just like humans, foals have a set of teeth that they lose as they mature. When this happens, your horse may experience problems with infections and impacted teeth that could require the intervention of a professional equine dentist. Older horses are at greater risk of developing periodontal disease, a progressive and often painful condition that can cause severe infections and tooth loss.
At Parkside Animal Hospital, you can be certain that your equine gets the dental care that he needs which will help him to live a long, happy and fulfilling life. Contact us to know more.