Common Questions
My horse’s breathe smells. Is this normal?
A horse’s breathe should normally smell like grass and feed. If the smell is very off putting it could be due to disease, fermented feed, rotten gum or teeth. This should be addressed by an equine dentist. Continue Reading →
Gum Swelling and teeth problems in Horses.
Why does my horse have swelling and teeth sticking out? The swelling is called ‘dental cysts’. This is due to the pressure of the permanent pre-molars trying to erupt through the gum and push the caps (baby teeth) off. These lumps will go away once the permanent Continue Reading →
How old is my horse?
An equine dentist can accurately age your horse up to approx …. Older horses it becomes more difficult to be exact with his age, we can show you some points of reference that can help you determine the age of a horse. Continue Reading →
How long does an examination take?
An average equine dental treatment takes between 25 – 60 minutes from start to finish. But it really depends on the horse teeth care and procedures that need to be undertaken. Dave and I work on horse time and that the time it takes for the horse to cope Continue Reading →
What is Floating?
“Floating” is the process of filing a horse’s teeth. This equine dental procedure removes the sharp points, or cusps, on the teeth. The procedure is usually performed with hand rasp tools. Proper examination and floating require the use of a gag/speculum. Continue Reading →
What is the difference between canine and wolf teeth?
Canine teeth are generally found only in male horses. Mares often have blind canines below gum level and are set between the incisors and first pre-molars. These teeth were the ‘male fighting teeth’. The wolf teeth are found in both male and female horses Continue Reading →
What can regular equine dentistry do for you and your horse?
It is very important for you to keep regular maintenance of your horse’s teeth. The benefits of equine dentistry are: Comfort in your horse’s mouth – free from sharp enamel points. Reduce feed costs Improved head carriage Better general attitude from Continue Reading →
Why do horse’s teeth need regular maintenance?
As we have domesticated the horse, removing him from his natural environment of semi arid conditions, grazing some 16hours per day and travelling all day long he requires some help in maintaining his overall health from feet to teeth. Unlike our teeth, horse’s Continue Reading →
My horse is dropping a lot of feed
A horse may drop its feed for a number of reasons. They include: Horse has too much food in its mouth Horse eats in a hurry Horse is lazy Dental problems The way to tell the difference is to monitor your horse. If it has only recently started to drop feed, Continue Reading →
Do I still need a horse dentist?
Dave and I get this question a lot when people come to visit us at our Equine Dentistry Clinics. People usually ask the question if the horse is really old, or isn’t ridden anymore. The answer is YES! All horses need regular dental treatments if you Continue Reading →