Dental
1.Horse Info 2. Hoofcare 4. Healthcare 5. Colors and markings 6. Trail Riding 7. Grooming 8. Nutrition
Routine dental care is essential to your horse's in health. Periodic examinations and regular maintenance, such as floating, are especially necessary today for a number of reasons: Read more about Dental Care at Bayer Equine Connection
Teeth and Aging
Horses, like people, have two sets of teeth: temporary teeth, also known as milk teeth, and permanent teeth. The milk teeth are smaller, smother and whiter than permanent adult teeth that replace them. The adult teeth are strong, large and yellowish in color. By the time a horse is six years old, he will have a full set permanent teeth.
Arrangement of The Horse's Teeth
1- Mandible (lower Jaw)
2- Upper molars
3- Root of tooth
4- Maxilla (upper jaw)
5- Upper
6- Upper
7- Lower incisors
8-Lower Canines
9- Crown of tooth
10- Lower Molars
Horses, like people, have two sets of teeth: temporary teeth, also known as milk teeth, and permanent teeth. The milk teeth are smaller, smother and whiter than permanent adult teeth that replace them. The adult teeth are strong, large and yellowish in color. By the time a horse is six years old, he will have a full set permanent teeth.
Arrangement of The Horse's Teeth
1- Mandible (lower Jaw)
2- Upper molars
3- Root of tooth
4- Maxilla (upper jaw)
5- Upper
6- Upper
7- Lower incisors
8-Lower Canines
9- Crown of tooth
10- Lower Molars
The horse has six front teeth in the upper jaw, and six in the lower jaw. These are called Incisors (biting teeth). The pair in the middle are called centrals. The next pair on either side are the laterals, and the outer teeth are called corners. Behind the incisors lie the powerful molars (cheek teeth), which are used to gained up food. An adult horse has 24 permanent molars. while an immature horse has only 12 temporary molars.
Tooth Tables
As a horse grows older, the tables (biting surfaces ) of the incisors are worn away. This reveals different parts of their inside structure. Incisor tables can give an idea of a horse's age.
Care of Teeth
All horses should have their teeth checked every six months. When they chew food, their teeth suffer a lot of wear. Sometimes the wear is uneven. The grinding process on the molder teeth often creates sharp edges.
Mouth Problems
The inside of a horse's cheeks and his tongue can be rubbed sore, and develop ulcers. Chewing ids then painful and difficult, which can lead to indigestion and weight loss.
Tooth Tables
As a horse grows older, the tables (biting surfaces ) of the incisors are worn away. This reveals different parts of their inside structure. Incisor tables can give an idea of a horse's age.
Care of Teeth
All horses should have their teeth checked every six months. When they chew food, their teeth suffer a lot of wear. Sometimes the wear is uneven. The grinding process on the molder teeth often creates sharp edges.
Mouth Problems
The inside of a horse's cheeks and his tongue can be rubbed sore, and develop ulcers. Chewing ids then painful and difficult, which can lead to indigestion and weight loss.
Teeth Care
The only time many owners look in their horses' mouth is to check age or to give a dewormer, but it is important to pay as much attention to our horses' dental health as we do to other areas of equine care.
Tooth problems in horses are common because their teeth never stop growing.
An oral exam is the best way to check for dental problems, but other signs of problems are poor coat and condition; dropping a lot of feed when chewing; turning the head to one side or chewing abnormally; and the presence of whole corn or other undigested grains in the manure.
Poor athletic performance, behavioral problems and colic can also be caused by bad teeth.
Add in the economic loss of feeding grain the horse can't properly chew and digest, and equine dental health becomes an area that deserves a closer look.
Horses' teeth are totally different than ours. Equine teeth have very deep roots located far away from the actual chewing surface. Horse teeth are large, and the majority of the tooth is located deep within the bone of the upper or lower jaw.
Horse teeth are wider at the chewing surface than at the root. As a horse ages, its teeth continue to grow and push further out from the root or base of the jaw. Ideally, the upper and lower teeth fit tightly on top of each other and wear each other down while the horse chews. Humans have a flat occlusal surface (the surface where the upper and lower teeth touch), while horses have an angled occlusal surface.
This design helps in grinding grain, but equine teeth are spaced so they can easily trap food. Trapped food can lead to gingivitis, or inflammation of the gum lining, and ultimately to tooth and gum disease.
The shape, size and method of growth of equine teeth cause specific problems. If a horse is born with an upper jaw that is slightly longer or shorter than the opposing lower jaw, the teeth will not line up correctly. Because the upper tooth depends on a matching lower tooth to help wear its surface normally, and vice versa, jaw misalignment spells dental problems. Horses with well-matched jaws will wear teeth more slowly and evenly, often increasing their life span.
An unopposed tooth will continue to grow, resulting in a hook or a point. Hooks occur on the front of the upper teeth and the back of the lower row of teeth. These points can become sharp and cause chewing difficulty, irritating the gum and possibly leading to an abscess. Points and edges can interfere with the bit and make horses pull away, toss their heads, or display behavior that is often incorrectly attributed to training problems.
Uneven growth or wear can lead to "wave-" mouth horses, where the surface of the teeth, when viewed from the side, looks like a wave, with some teeth being high and some being low.
Due to trauma, such as a kick or a fall, horses can even lose a tooth occasionally. This gives the opposing tooth nothing to wear against, and it will continue to grow out from the jaw. In severe cases, this unopposed tooth will even keep growing into the empty space left by the lost tooth. This can bind the jaw movement, making it very difficult for the horse to chew.
Severe dental problems are frequently seen in older horses and are a prime cause of poor weight, poor coat and general lack of condition. But young horses can have dental problems as well.
Foals begin to get teeth at a few months of age. These first teeth are sequentially replaced by permanent teeth over the next five or six years. After that point, mature teeth continue to grow, wear and gradually wear out over the course of the horse's life.
Routine dental exams and tooth care should not be overlooked. Your horse needs a routine check for points, hooks or sharp edges. Veterinarians use a metal speculum or mouth gag to aid in the examination of the teeth and gums. If points are found, your vet will file the sharp edge smooth using a number of tools called floats. As a horse matures, his teeth should be floated annually.
How common are dental problems?
Dental disease was found in more than 80 percent of the horses in a recent study at the University of Illinois. Five hundred horses, from six months to 30 years old, were examined to try to determine the extent and severity of dental disease.
Sharp points, resulting in ulceration and inflammation of the gums, were seen most commonly in horses under 10 years. Abnormal wear and "wave" mouth conditions were seen in older horses, as was periodontal disease.
Other equine dentistry to help keep horses chewing normally includes reconstructive alignment surgery, tooth extractions, and dental mold replacements.
Your veterinarian can instruct you on the proper method of examining your horses' teeth. Be careful and follow directions, because a horse's jaws are powerful, and teeth can be sharp.
Each type of tooth has a specific purpose with the exception of the first premolar in the horse. The incisors are for grasping and tearing. The canine aids in grasping and moving food back to the cheek teeth for grinding and crushing. The first premolar or wolf tooth serves no purpose, appears most frequently in the upper jaw of males (it can be present in females, and also in the lower jaw) and is frequently removed for biting or other problems.
Horses should have regular dental exams as part of their annual physical. It is important for owners to note changes in eating habits and patterns. This applies especially to young animals with developing dentition and older horses whose teeth are wearing. The nature of the examination varies depending on whether there is a suspected problem or just a routine check up. Next month we will discuss the dental examination and diagnostic procedures that aid in proper evaluation of the equine oral cavity. In the meantime, your assignment is to watch your horse eat. Start at a distance and watch him or her. Try to observe the whole process from bending down, to grasping, chewing and swallowing. Move closer and watch the interaction between muzzle and incisors (the front row of teeth) as your horse grasps food. It is an amazing demonstration of coordination. Watch your horse move the food to the cheeks and then observe the chewing and grinding from both sides. You may notice that the chewing is more accentuated on one side and this is not uncommon. Your horse should chew smoothly and drop very little food. Manure should not contain whole strands of hay or undigested grain both of which can be a sign of improperly chewed food. As you get to know your horse’s eating patterns, it becomes easier to tell when something is amiss before the problem gets out of hand.
The only time many owners look in their horses' mouth is to check age or to give a dewormer, but it is important to pay as much attention to our horses' dental health as we do to other areas of equine care.
Tooth problems in horses are common because their teeth never stop growing.
An oral exam is the best way to check for dental problems, but other signs of problems are poor coat and condition; dropping a lot of feed when chewing; turning the head to one side or chewing abnormally; and the presence of whole corn or other undigested grains in the manure.
Poor athletic performance, behavioral problems and colic can also be caused by bad teeth.
Add in the economic loss of feeding grain the horse can't properly chew and digest, and equine dental health becomes an area that deserves a closer look.
Horses' teeth are totally different than ours. Equine teeth have very deep roots located far away from the actual chewing surface. Horse teeth are large, and the majority of the tooth is located deep within the bone of the upper or lower jaw.
Horse teeth are wider at the chewing surface than at the root. As a horse ages, its teeth continue to grow and push further out from the root or base of the jaw. Ideally, the upper and lower teeth fit tightly on top of each other and wear each other down while the horse chews. Humans have a flat occlusal surface (the surface where the upper and lower teeth touch), while horses have an angled occlusal surface.
This design helps in grinding grain, but equine teeth are spaced so they can easily trap food. Trapped food can lead to gingivitis, or inflammation of the gum lining, and ultimately to tooth and gum disease.
The shape, size and method of growth of equine teeth cause specific problems. If a horse is born with an upper jaw that is slightly longer or shorter than the opposing lower jaw, the teeth will not line up correctly. Because the upper tooth depends on a matching lower tooth to help wear its surface normally, and vice versa, jaw misalignment spells dental problems. Horses with well-matched jaws will wear teeth more slowly and evenly, often increasing their life span.
An unopposed tooth will continue to grow, resulting in a hook or a point. Hooks occur on the front of the upper teeth and the back of the lower row of teeth. These points can become sharp and cause chewing difficulty, irritating the gum and possibly leading to an abscess. Points and edges can interfere with the bit and make horses pull away, toss their heads, or display behavior that is often incorrectly attributed to training problems.
Uneven growth or wear can lead to "wave-" mouth horses, where the surface of the teeth, when viewed from the side, looks like a wave, with some teeth being high and some being low.
Due to trauma, such as a kick or a fall, horses can even lose a tooth occasionally. This gives the opposing tooth nothing to wear against, and it will continue to grow out from the jaw. In severe cases, this unopposed tooth will even keep growing into the empty space left by the lost tooth. This can bind the jaw movement, making it very difficult for the horse to chew.
Severe dental problems are frequently seen in older horses and are a prime cause of poor weight, poor coat and general lack of condition. But young horses can have dental problems as well.
Foals begin to get teeth at a few months of age. These first teeth are sequentially replaced by permanent teeth over the next five or six years. After that point, mature teeth continue to grow, wear and gradually wear out over the course of the horse's life.
Routine dental exams and tooth care should not be overlooked. Your horse needs a routine check for points, hooks or sharp edges. Veterinarians use a metal speculum or mouth gag to aid in the examination of the teeth and gums. If points are found, your vet will file the sharp edge smooth using a number of tools called floats. As a horse matures, his teeth should be floated annually.
How common are dental problems?
Dental disease was found in more than 80 percent of the horses in a recent study at the University of Illinois. Five hundred horses, from six months to 30 years old, were examined to try to determine the extent and severity of dental disease.
Sharp points, resulting in ulceration and inflammation of the gums, were seen most commonly in horses under 10 years. Abnormal wear and "wave" mouth conditions were seen in older horses, as was periodontal disease.
Other equine dentistry to help keep horses chewing normally includes reconstructive alignment surgery, tooth extractions, and dental mold replacements.
Your veterinarian can instruct you on the proper method of examining your horses' teeth. Be careful and follow directions, because a horse's jaws are powerful, and teeth can be sharp.
Each type of tooth has a specific purpose with the exception of the first premolar in the horse. The incisors are for grasping and tearing. The canine aids in grasping and moving food back to the cheek teeth for grinding and crushing. The first premolar or wolf tooth serves no purpose, appears most frequently in the upper jaw of males (it can be present in females, and also in the lower jaw) and is frequently removed for biting or other problems.
Horses should have regular dental exams as part of their annual physical. It is important for owners to note changes in eating habits and patterns. This applies especially to young animals with developing dentition and older horses whose teeth are wearing. The nature of the examination varies depending on whether there is a suspected problem or just a routine check up. Next month we will discuss the dental examination and diagnostic procedures that aid in proper evaluation of the equine oral cavity. In the meantime, your assignment is to watch your horse eat. Start at a distance and watch him or her. Try to observe the whole process from bending down, to grasping, chewing and swallowing. Move closer and watch the interaction between muzzle and incisors (the front row of teeth) as your horse grasps food. It is an amazing demonstration of coordination. Watch your horse move the food to the cheeks and then observe the chewing and grinding from both sides. You may notice that the chewing is more accentuated on one side and this is not uncommon. Your horse should chew smoothly and drop very little food. Manure should not contain whole strands of hay or undigested grain both of which can be a sign of improperly chewed food. As you get to know your horse’s eating patterns, it becomes easier to tell when something is amiss before the problem gets out of hand.
THE AGE OF A HORSE
To tell the age of any horse
Inspect the lower jaw of course;
The six front teeth the tale will tell,
And every doubt and fear dispel.
Two middle nippers you behold
Before the colt is two weeks old;
Before eight weeks two more will come
Eight months the corners cut the gum.
The outside grooves will disappear
From middle two in just one year.
In two years from the second pair
In three years "corners" too are bare.
At two the middle "Nippers" drop:
At three the second pair can't stop;
When four years old the third pair goes,
At five a full new set he shows.
The deep black spots will pass from view
At six years from the middle two;
The second pair at seven years;
At eight the spot each corner clears.
From middle "Nippers" upper jaw
At nine the black spots will withdraw.
The second pair at ten are bright;
Eleven finds the corners light.
As time goes on the horseman knows
The oval teeth three-sided grows;
The longer get - project - before
Till twenty, when they know no more.
To tell the age of any horse
Inspect the lower jaw of course;
The six front teeth the tale will tell,
And every doubt and fear dispel.
Two middle nippers you behold
Before the colt is two weeks old;
Before eight weeks two more will come
Eight months the corners cut the gum.
The outside grooves will disappear
From middle two in just one year.
In two years from the second pair
In three years "corners" too are bare.
At two the middle "Nippers" drop:
At three the second pair can't stop;
When four years old the third pair goes,
At five a full new set he shows.
The deep black spots will pass from view
At six years from the middle two;
The second pair at seven years;
At eight the spot each corner clears.
From middle "Nippers" upper jaw
At nine the black spots will withdraw.
The second pair at ten are bright;
Eleven finds the corners light.
As time goes on the horseman knows
The oval teeth three-sided grows;
The longer get - project - before
Till twenty, when they know no more.