When considering horse care, one of the most important aspects is their teeth. Good oral hygiene has immediate repercussions on their health and performance.
At Equspaddock, we manufacture equestrian equipment and accessories for horses, and we’ll tell you everything you need to know about equines and their teeth.
Importance of a horse’s teeth for its overall health
Among a horse’s basic care needs, you should always consider its dental health. This is essential for the animal’s comfort and longevity. It’s important to know that an equine’s teeth undergo changes throughout their life. Therefore, it’s important to take them into account and perform certain periodic checkups to ensure proper hygiene and health.
What are the teeth of an adult horse like?
In adult horses, you can find the incisors at the front of their mouths, which they use to bite and tear grass or hay. In addition, at the back of their mouths, they have several molar teeth, which they use to grind food.
For proper horse care, dental treatments are required once or twice a year.
Evolution of teeth from a newborn foal to an adult horse
It is known that the age of horses can be determined by their teeth up to five years of age. Foals have both primary and permanent teeth, depending on their age:
- Birth: 2 primary incisors.
- One month: 10 primary teeth, 4 incisors, and 3 molars on each side.
- Six to nine months: 6 incisors and 6 molars.
- One year: 6 incisors and 4 molars on each side.
- One and a half years: 6 incisors and 10 molars.
- Two and a half years: first 2 permanent teeth replace 2 primary teeth.
- Three and a half years: 4 permanent incisors.
- Four years: 4 permanent canines and 6 permanent molars.
- Four and a half years: all permanent teeth.
What are the horse’s molars for?
Horses have a total of 6 molar teeth on each side of both jaws, making a total of 24. The molars allow them to grind the food they eat.
Most common dental problems in equines
For proper horse care, knowing the potential dental problems that may arise is very useful, as you’ll be able to better prevent them.
Wolf tooth in horses: what it is and how to treat it
A wolf tooth in a horse refers to extra teeth that can cause bite problems. It’s a small, vestigial tooth located just in front of the premolars. This occurs when the tooth is pressed against the bit, during turns, braking, or simply when it comes into contact with the rider’s reins.
To resolve this, you should see a veterinarian to have it surgically removed, avoiding any discomfort it may cause.
Irregular wear and tooth overgrowth
The passage of time can wear down a horse’s teeth, especially if they chew particularly hard or fibrous foods. Uneven tooth wear can cause chewing problems and make it difficult for the animal to eat properly. For this problem, veterinarians usually prescribe a special diet and regular filing.
Tooth overgrowth occurs most frequently in the molar teeth. This condition can also cause pain and make proper feeding difficult.
Symptoms of dental problems in a horse
When caring for your horse, you should pay attention to any possible symptoms it may present. Typically, loss of appetite or weight is a warning sign. Some more specific signs include:
- Difficulty or slowness when eating.
- Reluctance to drink cold water.
- When the horse chews, it stops and then starts again.
- It holds its head to one side, as if in pain.
- Excessive drooling, bloody mucus in the mouth, and bad breath.
The most important thing is to pay attention to any changes in your horse’s behavior and contact your veterinarian if any problems arise.
Checking and caring for your horse’s teeth
When symptoms of a dental problem appear, a thorough physical examination is necessary, as well as a complete and detailed examination of the mouth and teeth.
For the care of your horse and its mouth, preventative treatments are recommended. To achieve this, the enamel edges should be filed twice a year while the permanent teeth emerge (up to age 5) and then as needed depending on the horse’s diet.
How often should equine teeth be checked?
It is recommended to perform at least one dental checkup per year, depending on several factors such as diet, breed, use of the horse, and its previous dental history. Depending on the horse’s age, the following are recommended:
- Young horses (up to 5 years old): one checkup every 6 months.
- Adult horses (between 6 and 15 years old): one checkup per year.
- Older horses (over 15 years old): one checkup every 6 months.
Who should be responsible for the horse’s dental care?
If your horse has an oral problem, we suggest you visit a veterinarian specializing in equine dentistry for an evaluation and appropriate treatment.
Tools used in filing equine teeth
When filing a horse’s tooth enamel, monitored dental instruments and carbide files are used, making dental care more comfortable and precise.
It’s worth noting that filing (or dental prophylaxis) can be performed either with simple clamping or with the use of sedatives and pain-relieving medications.
Relationship between dental care and other basic horse care
In equine care, dental health is linked to several areas of overall care. Untreated oral problems can lead to systemic complications that affect the animal’s quality of life.
Daily horse care and prevention of dental problems
In equine care, problems must be prevented through daily actions that improve your animal’s quality of life. Some techniques used to maintain proper dental balance include:
- Regular brushing with a soft brush and horse-specific toothpaste.
- Regular checks of the condition of teeth and gums to identify any abnormalities.
- Provide clean, quality food to prevent the buildup of debris in the oral cavity.
- Provide access to fresh water at all times to promote oral health.Cuidado de cascos, alimentación y salud bucal: el trío esencial
There are three key factors to consider for basic horse care: hoof care, diet, and oral health.
Hoof care is very important because if the hoof becomes diseased, so will the animal. Infections can spread to other areas and even the entire body.
Food plays a fundamental role in a horse’s overall health, so you must ensure it is balanced. Hard, fibrous feed helps promote proper chewing and keeps teeth clean and naturally worn.
Oral health, as we’ve already explained, is essential for overall health and the proper functioning of the digestive system.
Caring for young horses: newborn foals, ponies, and colts
Caring for a newborn foal is very important and will determine its future development. You must keep in mind that they nurse approximately every 45 minutes and then sleep.
It is important for the care of a newborn foal that it always has access to its mother, especially at birth, to suckle its first milk (colostrum), which will help with its immunization. You should also check that the navel is healthy and is healing properly. In addition, it should be provided with a complete diet and supplemented with vitamins.
From 6 months of age, caring for a foal consists of:
- Balanced nutrition.
- Safe and comfortable housing.
- Regular veterinary visits.
- Progressive horse training.
- Socialization with other horses.
- Hoof and shoeing care.
Regarding pony care, you should brush it regularly, provide it with a high-fiber, low-sugar diet, and exercise it daily.
Tips to keep your horse’s teeth healthy
To maintain good oral health, the main tips are:
- Have frequent dental checkups with a specialized veterinarian.
- Control your diet to encourage proper chewing.
- Use appropriate accessories that promote good oral health.
- Regard any symptoms of pain or discomfort when chewing.
Proper nutrition and chewing control
To promote proper chewing, nutrition is a key factor. Therefore, you should:
- Provide quality forage that stimulates chewing and promotes salivation.
- Avoid diets based on concentrated feeds, which can cause problems due to lack of wear.
- Monitor the diet to prevent the formation of tooth points and ensure good digestion.
Avoid habits that damage the horse’s teeth
Horses should be prevented from ingesting grains without sufficient chewing, as this not only damages the horse’s teeth but can also cause digestive disorders.
Importance of veterinary follow-up in equine care
Regular visits to a veterinarian specializing in dentistry are essential for horse care, as they can detect any abnormalities and correct them, preventing pain and other long-term health problems.
Oral hygiene and horse welfare
Maintaining proper oral hygiene and regular checkups will keep your horse’s teeth in the best possible condition.
At Equspaddock, as manufacturers of equestrian equipment, we love sharing information about this wonderful animal. Check out our website and learn more!
