Meadowbrook Equestrian Center

* PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Dentals are so important for the health of our horses but often times are looked over. If you don't stay up on your horses teeth they WILL develop "hooks" which are very sharp points on their teeth which cut and dig into their cheeks and gums making very painful sores. Along with the sores those points will stop the horses jaw from moving all the way back and forth side to side grinding their food to a pulp which is what the horse needs for their body to turn that expensive over priced hay into flesh keeping our horses at a good weight year round. Without proper dental care from a licensed dental specialist (think about it, are you going to go to you general practitioner for a dental check up and root canals? I think not) bad teeth with waves, hooks and long incisors will affect everything from weight, attitude, being hungry constantly because the food is not being completely chewed up to fill them and it just goes out the other end serving no purpose. 

Signs you may have a dental problem:

1) Not holding weight

2) Dropping excessive food from mouth while trying to eat

3) if you find balls of food on the ground these are called "Quid Balls" those form because food is stuck between the teeth and cheek unable to get out so it just rolls around in there until it finally falls out

4) Head tossing and raising when you get contact on their mouth. if there are sharp points that means every time you pull on that bit you are pushing their cheek into that sharp point causing pain.

5) When horses turn their heads to the side (eyeball facing the ground and sky) this could and has been an indication they are having pain on that side

6) Long incisors are a big problem. here's an exercise for you, put your front teeth even with each other touching....do your back teeth touch? answer is likely no but for us its fine because we chew differently but if you were a horse and went side to side how are you going to chew your food if your back teeth aren't touching? ding ding your right, you cant. wonder why your older horse is getting half a bale of hay plus supplements and a little grain but not gaining much weight....because they cant grind the forage properly for their bodies to digest it and turn it into lbs. of flesh. this problem can also cause impaction colic.

I think that's enough examples and explanations to get you to think about getting your horses teeth done by a professional who specializes in dentistry and can trim those incisors. I know I know the next excuse is "I don't have the money right now". first of all you are probably spending a boat load of extra money on supplements, bigger blankets, vet exams, or sadly vet bills from colic all which cost way more than a dental would. It never hurts to ask if you can make a few payments. Most will say yes, not all but if you have a good relationship with them I bet they will.

Lastly I want to emphasize if you have someone "float" your horses teeth by hand with a file and its not a power float you might as well throw your money in the manure pile because there is no way to do a proper dental without a power float. I know some will disagree and that's ok but I don't believe anyone can get the pressure needed to level out ramps and get all the hooks smooth and rounded out by hand. I have had a hand float done once and it was a complete mess and done in 5 minutes. A few points were off in the front but when I had the vet out for continued weight loss there was a huge wave and large hooks in the very back making a hole in the gums. and that hand float only "saved" me $50 at the time but cost me over $600 after paying for vet care, antibiotics for infected gums and a second dental fee. Within 2 months my horses weight was back to normal and no more chomping on the bit and tossing her head.

Perfect example a friend of mine had her horses teeth floated by her vet and 2 weeks later I was riding the horse who kept chomping on the bit and tossing her head which was not normal for her. I asked her to let my dentist check her out. sure enough she had hooks in the very back, a slight wave and A BROKEN TOOTH THAT WAS INFECTED! So again, be careful who gets in your horses mouth

my point do your horse a favor and have an equine dental specialist do your horses teeth. Educate yourself and ask to see whats going on in their mouth and ask questions. Some vets know what they are doing but more don't than do. Don't make the mistake I made just to save a few dollars up front. It costs much more in the long run.

Performance Dentals (incisors are also trimmed. If they are to long the back teeth don't touch to grind the food) by Tony Basile  are around $375.00 depending on location & includes sedation by Slate Creek Veterinarian Dr Chris Vos.

CLICK HERE for more information on Dentals from UC Davis