At Alpine Animal Hospital, we are committed to maximizing the quality and longevity of your horses’ lives. Because the mouth and teeth are vitally important for general health, we emphasize dental health as a priority.  Dr. Louise Marron is a Board Certified Veterinary Dental Specialist.  She can provide both basic and advanced treatment options for your horse’s oral care.

Horses need a different kind of regular preventive dental care than dogs, cats, and people. Horses’ teeth have an eruption rate of 2 to 3 mm per year. This means the teeth continually grow into the mouth and must correspondingly wear down, by grinding on course fibrous food, at the same rate. Malocclusions, or improper position of the teeth, can lead to irregular wear patterns and can negatively impact periodontal health, resulting in painful oral disease.

Before dental care is provided, it is important for your horse to have a comprehensive oral exam, facilitated by sedation, a speculum, a light, and a mirror or camera. Information acquired during the examination will guide specific therapeutic procedures. Dental floating removes irregular, unworn, sharp points from the cheek teeth and adjusts the chewing surfaces as necessary. If present, periodontal disease should also be addressed when your horse is sedated to have his teeth floated.

Some horses show no noticeable signs because they instinctually adapt to their discomfort. Waiting too long for treatment may significantly increase the complexity of treatment needed.

A list of clinical signs associated with dental problems includes:

• Nasal discharge or facial swelling
• Dropping feed from mouth while eating
• Weight loss
• Foul odor from mouth or nostrils
• Difficulty chewing or excess salivation
• Large, undigested food particles in manure
• Head tilting or tossing, bit chewing, tongue rolling
• Fighting the bit or resisting the bridle
• Bucking or failing to stop or turn