Fayette County Veterinary Clinic, Inc.

La Grange TX

Learn to Recognize your Horse's Dental Problem

FAQ

Horses with dental problems may show obvious signs, such as pain or irritation, or they may show no noticeable signs at all.  This is because some horses simply adapt to their discomfort.  For this reason, periodic dental examinations are essential to your horse's health.

It is important to catch dental problems early.  If a horse starts behaving abnormally, dental problems should be considered as a potential cause.  Waiting too long may increase the difficulty of remedying certain conditions or may even make remedy impossible.  Look for the following indicators of dental problems from the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) to know when to seek veterinary attention for your horse:

     1.  Loss of feed from mouth while eating, difficulty with
          chewing, or excessive salivation

     2.  Loss of body condition

     3.  Large or undigested feed particles (long stems or whole
          grain) in manure

     4.  Head tilting or tossing, bit chewing, tongue lolling, fighting
          the bit, or resisting bridling

     5.  Poor performance, such as lugging on the bridle, failing to
          turn or stop, even bucking

     6.  Foul odor from mouth or nostrils, or traces of blood from
          mouth

     7.  Nasal discharge or swelling of the face, jaw or mouth
          tissues

Oral exams should be an essential part of an annual physical examination by a veterinarian.  Every dental exam provides the opportunity to perform routine preventative dental maintenance.  Mature horses should get a thorough dental exam at lease once a year, and horses 2-5 years old should be examined twice yearly.

Additional information is available on the AAEP's horse health web site: www.myHorseMatters.com

Reprinted with permission from the American Association of Equine Practitioners






Fayette County Veterinary Clinic, Inc.
PO Box 397
227 Svoboda Ln
La Grange TX  78945
979.968.3535
faycovet@verizon.net