Did you know your horse needs a dentist?
This is one of the most important and most forgotten about aspects of equine ownership.
Routine dental care is essential to your horse’s health and well being. Humans have modified the horse’s diet through domestication and confinement and have not selectively bred for dental quality and considerations, so we must intervene to keep the horse’s mouth healthy and balanced. With proper dental care your horse will be more comfortable so he may perform better, will utilize his feed more efficiently, and even live longer. Many behavior issues start with a sore mouth and the equine has no way to tell you it hurts except to act out or misbehave.
There are many common dental problems horses may suffer from:
Sharp points on molars causing lacerations, cuts or sores
on cheeks and tongue and discomfort while eating and chewing.
Retained caps from baby teeth
Discomfort caused by bit contact with wolf teeth
Hooks forming on molars causing chewing difficulties
Long and/or sharp canines interfering with the bit or tongue
Lost or broken teeth
Mouth sores or abscesses
Infected teeth and/or gums
Recognizing these problems at an early stage can
prevent infection, behavior issues and long term treatment and expenses. Some
signs are more obvious than others. Indicators of dental problems can include,
but not limited to:
Dropping of feed from their mouth while eating, difficulty chewing, or excessive
salivation
Loss of weight or utilization of feeds
Large or undigested feed stuffs in manure
Choke accompanied with possible aspiration
Foul odor or traces of blood from mouth
Nasal discharge or odor, swelling of face, sinuses, jaw, mouth or cheeks.
Head tilting or tossing
Resisting the bit or bridle
Rearing or bucking
Poor performance, failing to turn, yield, or stop
Veterinarians are an excellent choice for equine dentistry, but one can also
look into a specialist, which would be your equine dentist, one who has been
certified and/or practicing dentistry.
What credentials should one look for when hiring an equine dentist?
One would be well-advised to seek a practitioner who has done a lot of thorough equine dentistry. Certification in an organization such as the IAED is a good indication, for one thing. See www.iaeqd.org (LCR does not support each and every EqDT, and that the information here is for instructional and informational purposes only, if you would like to contact LCR we would give you a list of recommended equine dental technicians.)
Get a vet recommendation or a qualified equine
professional’s opinion.
Ask for references, several of them, and follow up by calling them.
Another source of good practitioners: see the directory at
www.horsedentistry.org
Don’t be fooled by initials and memberships!
Jane Doe, Member of IAED, VFTRA, AQHA, ApHC, APHA, TWBEA
What do these this mean? Are they just initials to make it sound impressive?
Well are you impressed? Let me explain what this means:
EqDT = Equine Dental Technician
IAED-International Association of Equine Dentistry
AQHA-American quarter horse association
ApHC-Appaloosa horse club
APHA-American paint horse association
TWBEA-Tennessee walking horse breeders and exhibitors association
All of these clubs are easy enough to join for $30-$50 a year, anyone
could do it online if they wanted to-this does not give any qualifications for
ability or experience.
IAED Membership is open to any interested persons…basically just pay
your 100 bucks and you are in.
IAED
certified is the key word, which is what most EqD's recommend as the
FIRST thing to look for in a dentist.
CEqD - Certified Equine Dentist with at least 300 hours of training.
ACEqD - Advanced Certified Equine Dentist with at least 500 hours of training.
PCEqD - Principle Certified Equine Dentist with at least 1000 hours of training.
MCEqD - Master Certified Equine Dentist with at least 1000 hours of training.
ASED-American school of equine dentistry (EqDT)
Remember; always ask for references and proof of certifications. Don’t be taken by someone who talks a good game or has expensive looking equipment to show off. The wrong dental practices could be irreversible, dangerous, and possibly deadly to your equine friend.
