When you go to the dentist for a routine checkup, the doctor can determine the health of your teeth and gums, and provide you with the services or tools necessary to fix any problems.
Although the human mouth is complicated and prone to conditions like tooth decay and periodontal disease, a horse's mouth is just as complicated (if not more so), and requires regular attention to ensure its overall health. Since horses have long, hypsodent teeth that continually grow to accommodate constant grinding, they can develop unique problems. If the teeth wear away unevenly, for example, they can become hook-shaped or pointed and cut into the horse’s tongue.
As you can imagine, this type of complication is very painful for the horse and makes it difficult to eat. If you see your horse spitting out food while eating, this could be the cause. To ensure that your horse’s teeth aren't wearing down unevenly and causing discomfort, it's important to have them checked and floated (if necessary) once per year. Floating involves filing the sharp or rough parts of the tooth, making them grind together properly when chewing. If your horse has a mouth pain, you might see it quidding, which means it will spit out food when eating. Whether or not your horse display is signs of quidding, it's important that you have your horse seen regularly to avoid complications.
Spring is a great time to schedule your horse’s routine check-up with an equine dentist. You heard it from the horse's mouth.
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What is Quidding?
When you go to the dentist for a routine checkup, the doctor can determine the health of your teeth and gums, and provide you with the services or tools necessary to fix any problems.
Although the human mouth is complicated and prone to conditions like tooth decay and periodontal disease, a horse's mouth is just as complicated (if not more so), and requires regular attention to ensure its overall health. Since horses have long, hypsodent teeth that continually grow to accommodate constant grinding, they can develop unique problems. If the teeth wear away unevenly, for example, they can become hook-shaped or pointed and cut into the horse’s tongue.
As you can imagine, this type of complication is very painful for the horse and makes it difficult to eat. If you see your horse spitting out food while eating, this could be the cause. To ensure that your horse’s teeth aren't wearing down unevenly and causing discomfort, it's important to have them checked and floated (if necessary) once per year. Floating involves filing the sharp or rough parts of the tooth, making them grind together properly when chewing. If your horse has a mouth pain, you might see it quidding, which means it will spit out food when eating. Whether or not your horse display is signs of quidding, it's important that you have your horse seen regularly to avoid complications.
Spring is a great time to schedule your horse’s routine check-up with an equine dentist. You heard it from the horse's mouth.
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