Equine Dentistry

The Importance of Equine Dentistry

Dentistry is probably the most important, yet often overlooked health practice we can provide for our hourses. Properly done, it can lead to balanced body functions, that in turn improve performance, improve health and even prolong life. Poor equine dentistry on the other hand increases pain, contributes to lameness, and leads to neurological imbalance with a host of negative ramifications. Minor imbalances in the mouth transmit through the spinal and skeletal system , creating imbalance somewhere else as the body tries to compensate, and create a pseudo balance. These erroneous “corrections” result in muscels being strained, joints over stressed, are major factors in dysfunction and pain.

Purpose

The purpose of equine dentistry is to remove painful issues which cause inefficiencies that limit the horse’s bio-mechanical function. When restoring that bio-mechanical function, effects are manifest through the entire body.

Many health and performance problems are a direct result of improperly maintained teeth. The application of proper techniques to float and balance your horse's mouth is critical to the performance, health and quality of life of your horse. This is accomplished through a thorough knowledge of dental anatomy, understanding of bio-mechanics and the most sophisticated instrumentation available.

Routine Care

Every horse deserves a complete dental exam on a regular basis – at least once a year. There are however, different requirements due to a horse’s job. Competitive horses need more frequent examination, as the stress of competition, travel and environmental variances are all factors in tooth erruption and wear. Back yard horses that graze on pasture may not need examination as frequently.

Beyond tooth erruption and wear issues, horses can develop a variety dental problems, some which may be very serious and require surgery. It is therefore important that horse owners, the dentist and the veterinarian work with each other for the benefit of the horse’s health.

The Best For Your Horse

Dentistry is much more than filing down sharp points on the teeth. A good equine dental practitioner must be able to recognize not only the big things, but also the minute details tha may indicate some other problem. Understanding that the horse is not independant from his mouth, Phil puts together the entire cause and effect picture.

Special Needs of The Geriatric Horse

When the animal reaches old age, the crowns of the teeth are very short and the teeth are often lost altogether. Very old horses, if lacking molars, may need to have their fodder ground up and soaked in water to create a soft mush for them to eat in order to obtain adequate nutrition. Commercially prepared hay pellets and Hay cubes can be moistened for this purpose. Beet pulp may also be a suitable feed.

Causes of Dental Problems

Many factors influence dental pathology such as age, feed, stress, hauling, the natural cycle of tooth growth and wear, congenital problems, breed and trauma to name a few. Unfortunately another major factor is improper maintenance and aggressive structural changes made by power floating.