Pony & Horse Portal

Taking care of your horse’s teeth is an important part of ensuring a healthy and well-maintained horse. Without adequate dental care, your horse will not be able to chew or eat properly.

How do you know when your horse requires dental care? Most people do not seek out dental care for their horse until they notice he is losing weight. Most inexperienced horse owners do not detect dental problems right away, as these are not always obvious and can be difficult to detect.

Just like human beings, horses need to have their teeth inspected and cleaned on a regular basis. Horses wear down their teeth fast, especially if they have developed bad habits, such as chewing on wood or fences. Worn down teeth can make it difficult for your horse to chew and absorb the right kinds of nutrients.

How do you know if your horse is suffering from any serious mouth disorders? Here are some questions that you should ask yourself. Is your horse eating normally? Does any food seem to fall out of the side of your horse’s mouth while eating? These are early symptoms that something may be wrong. Treating them in a timely manner will help prevent premature tooth loss. It will also help make feeding and tooth replacement easier. Proper dental care may also lower the incidence of colic and impaction in your horse.

One of the most serious problems your horse may be suffering from may include a tooth abscess. If your horse has lost weight, dropping food from the sides of his mouth or emitting a foul odor from his mouth, he may be suffering from an abscessed tooth. Make sure to consult with your vet if you notice any foul mouth odors.

What are some other signs of an abscessed tooth? Swelling is one of the biggest signs that something is wrong. Swelling is most often a sign that a horse has an abscessed tooth. Your vet will have to make a diagnosis before you can progress with treatment.

Other problems include colic and impaction. Make sure to be on the lookout for these dental problems as well. Other signs of dental problems may include swallowing large amounts of improperly chewed food. This is a problem because food can get stuck in his intestines. This can lead to blockage or impaction. When a horse cannot eliminate, it may become prone to colic. Doing a full dental examination twice a year can save you a lot of health problems down the road.

What else should you be on the look out for? Another sign your horse may have dental problems is if you notice large chunks of undigested food in his manure. Dental problems can cause serious health problems.

Dental disease is more common in horses than you might think. Other signs to look for include a horse that may not want to be bitted up. Another sign is that the horse may shake his head often when he is being ridden. In advanced cases, your horse may even already have broken or cracked teeth. Your horse may be suffering from a painful tooth infection. If your horse seems to be sensitive to hot and cold, it’s time to have a full examination.

It is not uncommon for vets to examine teeth carefully these days. Some vets even take full x-rays of horse teeth as part of a regular exam. It is essential to make dental care a routine part of your horse maintenance rituals. Make dental care a routine part of your vet visit, and make sure to have a horse’s teeth inspected as part of a pre-purchase examination.

Your vet may recommend that your horse’s teeth are floated. This process involves rasping your horse’s teeth so that they are more level and with less sharpened points. Some horses will tolerate this treatment well, but others may have to be sedated. The good news is that it is a painless procedure, akin to filing down your nails. Consult with your vet to decide how often your horse should have his teeth floated.