Dental & Hoof Care

 

Dental Care

Since the horse has evolved as an herbivore, it will only live as long as its teeth are able to adequately chew and grind its food.  Routine dental exams and care will assure that your horse gets the utmost utilization of its diet.  Retained baby teeth can occur from 3-5 years of age, and can interfere with proper chewing.  Horses five years of age and older should be examined yearly for the presence of sharp points on the outside of the upper molars.  “Floating” is the term used to describe the filing flat of these points, and is often necessary yearly to maximize the horse’s ability to fully masticate its food.  Unlike humans, your horse’s teeth continue to grow during most of its life.  The upper molars are wider than the lower molars and because feeding practices are much different today, the teeth wear differently and the outside edges need to be correctly filed to prevent damage to the cheeks and tongue and ensure proper chewing.

Routine examination and maintenance includes identification and correction of any of the following common dental problems:

  • sharp points forming on cheek teeth causing lacerations of cheeks and tongue
  • retained caps (deciduous caps that are not shed)
  • discomfort caused by bit contact with the wolf teeth
  • hooks forming on the upper and lower cheek teeth
  • long and/or sharp canine teeth interfering with the insertion or removal of the bit
  • lost and/or broken teeth
  • abnormal or uneven bite planes
  • excessively worn or abnormally long teeth
  • infected teeth and/or gums
  • misalignment/poor apposition
  • periodontal (gum) disease

Signs your horse might need dental work:

  • head shaking/tossing/gagging
  • loss of body condition
  • pulling to one side or difficulty turning
  • blood on the bit
  • spilling feed while eating (quidding)
  • excessive saliva production
  • decreased appetite
  • bad smell from the mouth
  • undigested feed in the manure

Hoof Care

Horse hooves seem to grow slower in the Southwest than in other areas.  Optimal growth is often less than ¼” per month.  Soft soles, hoof cracks, poor hoof confirmation, and overgrown feet can all lead to lameness problems.  Most horses require trimming and shoeing every 6-8 weeks.  We find that hoof supplements can be beneficial in strengthening the hoof wall and increasing the growth rate.