Why Equine Dentistry Is So Important For Your Horse
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Before horses were domesticated and made to live the life that we make them live they roamed for hours only grazing on grass. The diet that we have introduced to a horse means that the wear pattern on their teeth has changed and they may develop dental problems. Equine dentistry is a vital part of your horses care.
You will know if you have ever had pain in your teeth that it can be excruciating. The difference for horses is that they cannot tell you that they are in pain. If a horses teeth are not cared for regularly they can develop sharp edges that cut into the gums of the horse.
This pain can lead to a horse not being able to eat properly therefore missing out on the vital nutrients that are in their feed. If your horse appears to be losing weight and has a dull coat and appears depressed you should contact your vet to see if he has a problem with his teeth. Painful teeth can also lead to colic, a potentially life threatening illness for your horse.
Loss of condition is especially worrying in sports horses. Not only will they be lethargic and unable to compete to their usual standard but may also have problems accepting the bit due to the pain in his mouth. Carrying the bit in the horses mouth can be extremely painful for him and this can manifest itself in behavioural problems.
Many so called behavioural problems stem from pain in the mouth. These behaviours all involve the horse trying to communicate to you that they are in pain. Being reluctant to have his head touched and throwing his head around are signs that there may be a problem with his mouth and a vet should be called to check his teeth and his back, which can also cause problems.
There are a number of symptoms that a horse may be having trouble with his teeth. These include head shaking, bad breath, dropping food or food being bunched in their cheeks, manure with large chunks of food in it, being reluctant to eat and frothing from the mouth.
Older horses particularly need equine dentistry. They may have missing or ground down teeth and may find it hard to chew foods, therefore not getting the required nutrition from it. It is important to feed these horses soft foods that are very easily chewed. You should get your horses mouth checked every 10 to 12 months to make sure you can catch any problems early.
Equine Dentistry
Article Source: Articlelogy.com
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