Horse Dental Care is an important issue for every owner to consider. Here's everything you need to know about this area of horse care and wellness.
General Dental Care
Most horses will have a full set of teeth at six to nine months of age. Not only should they have an oral exam soon after birth, they should also receive a general dental exam every six months. This will aid an owner in preventing problems such as sharp teeth digging into the cheeks. This can cause gouging ulcerations that often harbor bacteria and can lead to serious medical problems. In fact, some owners believe that proper dental care can add fifteen years onto a horse's lifespan.
Signs of a Problem
While preventative care is important, an owner should also be attentive to signs of developing dental problems. Head tossing, unexplainable drooling, inability to hold feed, and noticeable weight loss may all be signs of dental issues. An equine dentist or veterinarian should be contacted immediately before the problem worsens.
Horses with genetic dental problems will likely need to see a specialist more regularly than horses with a healthy dental history. Poor dental alignment is a common cause for a number of different oral problems a horse may have. Owners should be aware of these potential problems in order to adequately care for the horse's health.
Consult an expert on proper feed to make sure you are not perpetuating any possible problems. Regular exams will head off most issues before they become a serious problem.
