Read About Horse Dental Care

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Proper Horse Dental Care

The horses teeth are a very essential part the horses health and well-being. In having proper dental care it is important to choose the correct food and take care of the horse's mouth. The adult horse usual has 36 to 44 teeth.

When horses teeth are not properly cared for, they can become very ill and not eat at all, this will lead to an unhealthy life, demeanor and/or may cause death of the horse.

Since horse graze frequently throughout the day, some foods given to the horse can cause lacerations in their mouth, damage to their tongue, gums and inside their molars. Wild barley grass seeds are an example of food the horses must avoid at all times possible.

Dental disease is also a big problem in the care of the horse's teeth.

If the following symptoms are being witnessed, please contact your veterinarian as soon as possible: weight loss, head tossing, dropping food, chunks of food in their stool, facial swelling, colic, soaking of their food prior to consumption, bad breath, feed packing or keeping in their mouth without chewing or swallowing, biting problems, for example stiff, resistant or refusing to take the lead. These are all signs of dental disease and should be taken seriously.

Another problem horses run into with their teeth is called "floating teeth". This is when the horse's teeth have large rivets or are not smooth. When this happens it makes the horses teeth unable to align and they are unable to chew or eat properly and the grain gets caught in their teeth.

Tips on keeping your horses teeth healthy would be to evaluate your horses teeth frequently, watch for changes in the horse's behavior and see a dental care provider recommended by your veterinarian.

It is suggested the horse see the dental care provider during the following stages of their life, to assist in the upkeep of teeth: birth to 18 months (yearly), 18 to 52 months (every 6 months), 4 to 10 years (yearly), 10 to 18 years (yearly), with 18 years and older (will need many visits for oral examinations and dental maintenance to make sure the teeth and mouth stay healthy).

In all, you need to make sure to find a dental provider for the horse. To find a proper provider seek a recommendation from your veterinarian. Having healthy teeth will lead the horse to being happier and healthier. It will also help keep it temperament and improve the horse's quality of life.

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