Lampas

Description

Lampas, a hard swelling of the palate, was once thought to be a growth or tumor in the horse's mouth; however, over the years, it has become recognized as part of the normal growth process. During the eruption of the permanent incisors, a ridge forms that sometimes projects below the level of the upper teeth, causing difficulty in eating. At one time, scraping the palate was recommended, but the scraping proved ineffective and is no longer practiced.

Although the ridge may be more pronounced as young horses transition to hard feed and grain, this swelling or thickening is normal and requires no treatment. If the horse has difficulty eating during this time, a soft, moist ration should be fed.