Your horse's performance and disposition may be suffering because of dental problems. A healthy and pain-free mouth is evident for a horse. The animal is then able to properly grind his food, which benefits its welfare and wellbeing. This also helps to avoid technical riding problems. A young horse starts replacing its molars and teeth from the age of 2,5. This does not always go without problems. Besides this horses also tend to get hooks on their molars. Back in the days horses ate more roughage, which made their teeth wear down better. Hook formation can result in a horse developing problems with the grinding of his food, making digesting more difficult. Eventually this can cause condition problems, emaciation, esophageal obstruction and even colic. Also, the previously mentioned technical riding problems can occur. Before the horse is prepared for saddling it is important the check the horse for the presence of wolf teeth, baby teeth and molars (caps), hooks, elevations, biting hooks, etc. A horse with mouth pain resists against its rider, it is difficult to drive and performance thus will definetely not be 100%. This is just a small list of the problems that can arise when the teeth of a horse are not in order and not taken care of in time and properly. Therefore, regular monitoring by an equine dentist is desired. My advice is check a horse below the age of 4,5 twice a year, because they still replace teeth in this period. For horses older than 4,5 years, that do not have any dental abnormalities, a check once in a year will be sufficient. SYMPTOMS
* Tilting the head while eating and/or driving
* Creating cram
* Play with cistern
* Tampering with food
* Condition loss and emaciation
* Shaking head while driving
* Walking on one bridle
* Resisting to bend inwards
* Oppose to the assigned work
* Abnormal stools
* Swelling or fistula (external)
* Fetid nasal discharge
* Regular esophageal obstruction
TREATMENT
1. The grating of hooks
2. Removal of milk teeth if necessary and/or other separate elements
3. Grating of heightening’s or bite hooks
4. Balancing the four tooth rows
5. With sport horses bitseats will be made (completing the first four teeth. This will improve the horse’s bridle
6. Removing tartar and shortening the hook teeth
7. Removing of wolf teeth (on request)
The work is done with professional (electrical) equipment. For treatment of the horse it occasionally is necessary to cede the horse. This is usually done in consultation with you or recommended by the veterinarian. For surgical procedures, such as tooth extractions, I work with a number of renowned horse clinics and horse veterinarians. Before and after treatment, the owner will get a thorough explanation of the treatment and aftercare. I will invite the owner to feel and look into the horse’s mouth to experience it personally. During the treatment, a dental chart will be filled in so that at the next check it will be easy to see which treatments the horse has had in the past. Aftercare will also be listed on the card.
