| Learn
to Recognize your Horse’s Dental Problems Horses
with dental problems may show obvious signs, such as pain or
irritation, or they may show no noticeable signs at all. This
is because some horses
simply adapt to their discomfort. For this reason, periodic dental
examinations are essential to your horse’s health.
It is
important to catch dental problems early. If a horse starts behaving
abnormally, dental problems should be considered as a potential cause. Waiting
too long may increase the difficulty of remedying certain conditions or may
even make remedy impossible.
Look
for the following indicators of dental problems from the American
Association of Equine Practitioners
(AAEP) to know when to
seek veterinary attention for your horse:
- Loss
of feed from mouth while eating, difficulty with chewing, or
excessive salivation.
- Loss of body condition.
- Large or undigested feed particles (long stems or whole grain)
in manure.
- Head tilting or tossing, bit chewing, tongue lolling, fighting
the bit, or resisting bridling.
- Poor performance, such as lugging on the bridle, failing to
turn or stop, even bucking.
- Foul odor from mouth or nostrils, or traces of blood from the
mouth.
- Nasal discharge or swelling of the face, jaw or mouth tissues.
Oral
exams should be an essential part of an annual physical examination
by a
veterinarian. Every dental exam provides
the opportunity to perform
routine preventative dental maintenance. Mature horses should get a
thorough dental exam at least once a year, and horses 2 –5
years old should be examined twice yearly.
For more information
about proper dental care, ask your equine veterinarian for “Dental Care: The Importance of Maintaining the Health of Your
Horse’s Mouth,” a brochure provided by the AAEP in conjunction
with Educational Partner Bayer Animal Health. Additional information
is available on the AAEP’s horse health Web site, www.myHorseMatters.com.
Reprinted with permission from the American Association of Equine Practitioners.
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