Unfortunately it is not possible for most owners to check their horses mouths. Even if you know what to look for it is often difficult to get your horse to open its mouth and allow you to insert a torch. You should NEVER attempt to put your hand in a horses mouth to feel its teeth as you could easily loose a finger!

It is therefore advisable to seek the help of your Vet or an experienced Equine Dental Technician who will have the necessary equipment to carry out a detailed inspection.

Any reputable Equine Dental Technician will have the proper equipment needed, he or she will be able and willing to show you any abnormalities and explain what correction needs to be done and how they will do it. They will also supply you with a detailed dental chart showing the condition of your horses teeth, and leave you with a written record of what they have found, and exactly what they have done to correct it, or what corrections need undertaking in the future.

In the vast majority of cases it is not necessary for your Vet to attend, between 95-98% of horses can be examined and treated without sedation. However a small number of horses object so strongly that it is advisable to sedate them for their own safety as well as that of the Dental Technician, this is particularly relevant with a horse that has a tendency to rear.

The other exceptions are if your horse needs power work or extractions, in which case this can only be undertaken whilst the horse is sedated for its own safety. Of course if it is discovered that your horse has gum disease or an abscessed tooth then Veterinary care will be essential as an EDT can not prescribe the drugs or antibiotics needed to resolve the problem

How often and when should I start having my horses teeth examined?

Your horse is born with only 4 partial teeth, during the course of the first 9 months it will erupt a further 8 incisor teeth and possibly up to 4 wolf teeth. By four years of age it will have erupted a further 12 cheek teeth (molars), and in geldings and colts (occasionally in mares) up to four canines. It will have also shed 24 deciduous teeth (caps). The shedding of caps can be traumatic and painful for young horses and sometimes they need help in removing these, especially in competition and race horses. It therefore makes sense to begin your horses dental care from an early age. Like our children many dental problems can be corrected easily and cheaply if identified at an early age. It is generally recommended that horses teeth are examined and routinely floated every 6 months. Once horses pass their teens it is usually possible to extend this to a maximum of 12 months as the rate of tooth eruption slows to around 2mm per year. This will of course depend on each individual horse and should discussed with the dental technician or Vet.

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