Teeth Problems in Horses??

Caring for your horse’s teeth can be your ticket to success. Equine dentistry has its importance for the success of the equines.

Horse’s teeth are different from human teeth. Theirs is made to grind roughage. These teeth are also referred to compound teeth, which mean that they are especially made to perform efficient grinding. Teeth of a horse is also continuously erupting and worn down. As a result, irregular sharp enamels will form. Smoothing out the teeth is a process commonly called as floating.

Floating is necessary for two primary reasons: one is to correct feeding problem and the other is for bit accommodation.  When a horse has uneven teeth, he could have difficulty chewing the feed properly. Eventually, this results to loss of condition and food wastage due to improper mastication.

A horse’s teeth will keep erupting, which only means that once the teeth are smoothened with floats, it’s going to stay that way. Horses will also experience a change from their baby premolars. The newly grown permanent teeth may wear out to have sharp points. Usually, it’s the younger horses that may need more dental attention compared to senior horses as this will help prevent problems with bit.

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Your horse can be suffering from parasite infestation. Know if your horse is under attack by equine parasites. Be familiar with the symptoms of parasitic infections and the different equine dewormers used to solve the problem.

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However, I still think that floating teeth is done just to accommodate proper chewing. It is more on promoting proper acceptance of the bit. Problems with bit can simply be prevented or avoided through dental correction. But it’s not convincing for me that the primary reason for caring for their teeth is to respond to bit pressure properly. The rider may have influence over accommodation of bit. Too much pressure on the horse’s bars may bring about insensitive scar tissue and a horse with a hard mouth. These bars are interdental space on the mandible where bit sits. The condition of the horse’s bars is more relevant to a productive performance rather than the condition of the overall teeth.

On the other hand, caring for the teeth is essential to make sure that the horse has a healthy oral cavity. The sharp teeth formed from wearing down can injure the gums, causing mouth sores for horses. The horse may not be able to chew its food as mentioned, and will result to poor appetite.

Dental checkup may be needed by your horse annually. This is to ensure that your horse will not only be healthy physically but also orally. If you think your horse does not need any dental care, think again. They do! Consult your veterinarian for the proper dental program for your horse.