A Guide To Equine Dental Care
Like humans, horses get two sets of teeth in their lifetime.
The baby teeth (also called deciduous teeth) are only temporary.
Normally, a horse will have a full set of baby teeth by the
age of 9 months. These teeth will start to be replaced around
the age of 2 1/2 years. By the age of 5 most horses have their
full complement of permanent teeth.
Veterinarians recommend that your horse’s teeth be examined
at least once per year - this applies whether or not there are
any manifested signs of dental problems. Horses with dental
problems may show obvious signs such as pain or irritation or
they may show no noticeable signs at all.
Some horses simply adapt to their discomfort. For this reason,
periodic exams by a veterinarian are important. Some visible
indicators of dental problems include:
- Loss of feed while eating
- Excessive salivation, slobbering
- Difficulty with chewing
- Long stems or whole grain particles in manure
- Resistance to bridling
- Fighting the bit
- Nasal discharge
- Foul odor from mouth or nostrils
- Swelling of the face, jaw or mouth tissues
Preventative Maintenance
The process of rasping or filing a horse’s teeth is known
as "Floating". This is the most common dental procedure
Veterinarians perform on horses. Floating removes sharp enamel
points and can create a more even bite plane.
Removing wolf teeth is also a common procedure although not
all wolf teeth are troublesome. Wolf teeth are small baby teeth
that commonly erupt in the upper jaw. Veterinarians routinely
remove these teeth from riding aged horses to prevent pain or
interference from a bit. Removal of the wolf teeth also allows
the veterinarian to properly float the cheek teeth.
Age Factor
The age of a horse can have a profound impact on the degree
and frequency of dental care required. Horses aged 2 - 5 may
require more frequent dental exams than aged horses. Deciduous
teeth tend to be softer than permanent teeth and may develop
sharp enamel points more quickly. There is also an extraordinary
amount of activity in a horse’s mouth during its first
5 years - 24 teeth will be shed and replaced during this time
with the potential for 12 - 16 teeth to be erupting simultaneously.
Rewards
There are many rewards to proper equine dental care. Your horse
will be healthier and more comfortable, will utilize feed more
efficiently, may perform better and may even live longer.
How Horse’s Teeth Develop
Deciduous (baby) Teeth
Fully developed by the age of approximately 9 months.
Permanent Teeth
- Wolf teeth 5 - 6 month
- 1st molars 9 - 12 months
- 2nd molars 2 years
- 3rd molars 3.5 - 4 years
- 1st incisors 2.5 years
- 2nd incisors 3.5 years
- 3 incisors 4.5 years
- Canines 4 - 5 years
- 1st premolars 2.5 years
- 2nd premolars 3 years
- 3rd premolars 4 years
Veterinarians recommend yearly dental exams for all horses.
Consult your Veterinarian for more information on your horse’s
equine dental care.
