Your horse’s dental health is a crucial aspect of their overall care, and if allowed to deteriorate, it can lead to serious ramifications.
A horse’s teeth are constantly emerging from the gum at a rate of about 3mm per year. In the wild, the horse’s diet will see the teeth worn away at a similar rate, but this is often not the case with our domestic animals. Our horses also live a lot longer, meaning this situation can be exacerbated.
Sharp, overgrown or unhealthy teeth can cause discomfort for horses which lead to unpredictable behaviour and difficulty feeding. If a horse cannot chew and break down its food properly before swallowing, this can cause weight loss, choking and colic.
Our vets are experienced at dealing with dental issues in horses, and will assess the condition of your horse’s mouth during consultations. In the case of full exploration, some horse’s may require sedation.
We can carry out a number of procedures to correct issues, including filing sharp edges and overgrowths with a rasp, flushing diastema and removing wolf teeth.
If you have any questions about your horse’s dental health, please call the practice and speak to a member of the team.