If you are like most people, you probably dislike going to the dentist, but don’t let that stop you from getting timely dental care for your horse. The way that horses chew, grinding their teeth, up to forty-thousand times a day as they munch on stemmy forage and grain, places strain and stress on their teeth and jaws.
Dental care - Good for humans; good for horses
Like most people, horse owners may dislike going to the dentist, but that shouldn't prevent regular dental care for their horses to prevent discomfort and health issues.
During the chewing process, the horse's teeth grind down developing sharp edges that can injure tender tissues in the mouth, leading to sores and inhibiting proper chewing.
Teeth may crack, the tongue can become sore, and mouth infections may affect normal eating functions. Because dental problems can prevent food from being properly eaten, other digestive conditions can result and lead to weight loss and failure to thrive.
In addition to forage and grain, horses chew on their metal bits and on nonfood items such as wood, stone, trees, and plastic. This activity often causes further damage to the teeth or causes them to grow unevenly, resulting in sharp points, edges, and spurs that can injure the horse's mouth and make chewing painful.
Signs of dental problems include bad breath, drooling and behaviors such as resisting the bit, head tossing and swollen areas in the mouth.
Make sure you check your horse's teeth on a regular basis. By noticing any changes in dental surfaces or eating habits, you can be proactive in making sure your horse gets needed dental care.. These issues can tip owners off to call their veterinarian. Better still, schedule regular dental examinations and floatings based on the advice of your veterinarian or equine dentist.
Scheduling regular oral examinations and keeping on top of routine veterinary procedures before a problem begins should help keep your horse grazing happily and in tip-top condition.
Learn more about Horse Dental Care