Like humans, horses need dental care.
But do horses need a dentist? Some believe that the Vet training in dentistry is enough, others believe that lay professionals should be allowed to practice equine dentistry.
Horses from birth onward need regular dental examinations, much the same as humans do.
And, like humans, horses need differing types of dental evaluations.
Newborn and young horses should be checked to ensure their teeth are formed correctly; their bite is sound, etc.
As the horse becomes a "teen" the dental evaluation will ensure that their baby teeth are being replaced in a timely fashion with the adult teeth; that there are no "left over" teeth that are in the way of chewing, biting, or the bit seat.
As the horse is fully mature, the dental evaluation will ensure that the horse does not develop sharp teeth; broken teeth, or even decayed teeth.
And as the horse ages gracefully, the dental evaluation will ensure the horse's ability to continue to eat as it lives out its days.
The dental evaluation is comprised of questions for the horse owner, like Why did you specifically feel the need for an evaluation for your horse? Was it eating differently than normal - balling food in the corners of its mouth; dropping food while chewing; salivating excessively? Did your horse's performance suddenly change - difficult to put a bit in their mouth; difficulty in turning one specific way; incessantly tossing its head? Did your horses's overall weight suddenly change? Does it have bad breath? Then the dental evaluation moves to the horse.
In looking at the horse's anatomy, watch for signs like Is one eye above the other? Does the horse seem to hold its head to one side? Does it seem to chew on one side of its mouth only? Does it seem to be more irritable when the bit is put into its mouth? And finally, the dental evaluation moves to hands on the horse, actually performing an internal examination.
Some teeth are so far back in the mouth that the dental professional may need to put his arm in all the way up to the elbow.
If there is repair work needing to be done on the horse's teeth, sometimes the dental professional will lightly sedate the animal.
Sedation allows the horse to remain calm.
Filing the horse's wolf teeth.
Removing chipped or broken teeth.
Even creating a "bit seat" - all of this work can seem to be invasive to the horse.
Once the dental evaluation is done, and any abnormalities are rectified, the horse's overall appearance, disposition, and performance usually show improvements.
You know yourself how much better you feel after your visit to your dentist.
More and more, horse owners are seeing the need for an equine dentist.
But do horses need a dentist? Some believe that the Vet training in dentistry is enough, others believe that lay professionals should be allowed to practice equine dentistry.
Horses from birth onward need regular dental examinations, much the same as humans do.
And, like humans, horses need differing types of dental evaluations.
Newborn and young horses should be checked to ensure their teeth are formed correctly; their bite is sound, etc.
As the horse becomes a "teen" the dental evaluation will ensure that their baby teeth are being replaced in a timely fashion with the adult teeth; that there are no "left over" teeth that are in the way of chewing, biting, or the bit seat.
As the horse is fully mature, the dental evaluation will ensure that the horse does not develop sharp teeth; broken teeth, or even decayed teeth.
And as the horse ages gracefully, the dental evaluation will ensure the horse's ability to continue to eat as it lives out its days.
The dental evaluation is comprised of questions for the horse owner, like Why did you specifically feel the need for an evaluation for your horse? Was it eating differently than normal - balling food in the corners of its mouth; dropping food while chewing; salivating excessively? Did your horse's performance suddenly change - difficult to put a bit in their mouth; difficulty in turning one specific way; incessantly tossing its head? Did your horses's overall weight suddenly change? Does it have bad breath? Then the dental evaluation moves to the horse.
In looking at the horse's anatomy, watch for signs like Is one eye above the other? Does the horse seem to hold its head to one side? Does it seem to chew on one side of its mouth only? Does it seem to be more irritable when the bit is put into its mouth? And finally, the dental evaluation moves to hands on the horse, actually performing an internal examination.
Some teeth are so far back in the mouth that the dental professional may need to put his arm in all the way up to the elbow.
If there is repair work needing to be done on the horse's teeth, sometimes the dental professional will lightly sedate the animal.
Sedation allows the horse to remain calm.
Filing the horse's wolf teeth.
Removing chipped or broken teeth.
Even creating a "bit seat" - all of this work can seem to be invasive to the horse.
Once the dental evaluation is done, and any abnormalities are rectified, the horse's overall appearance, disposition, and performance usually show improvements.
You know yourself how much better you feel after your visit to your dentist.
More and more, horse owners are seeing the need for an equine dentist.