Dentistry

Feedback on Equine Dentistry edition

Written by HH readers

Dear HH,

I got my issue of Holistic Horse today and was strongly disappointed by the picture on the cover. ... Being a horse dentist myself, I know that if you take hold of a horse’s tongue like that, [you] could damage the delicate bones in the back of the tongue. If you damage them, the horse could have a balance problem and all the dental work in the world would not help. The horse would move with its head tilted to one side. I would never EVER hold a horse’s tongue for fear of damaging the balance of the horse. Please use better judgment on picking pictures for your magazine!

-- David E. DeYoung

[Mr. DeYoung is correct regarding the potential damage to the small bones. “The Equine Tongue Tells All” (HH Issue 58, Dec08/Jan09 pp4-5) by Peggy Fleming, DVM, mirrors this alert. We were remiss in not including a cautionary note with our cover information.]

Letter to Editor: Equine Dentistry

Written by Geoff Tucker, DVM

Dear HH: My name is Geoff Tucker, DVM. I have been an equine veterinarian since 1984 and have floated horse teeth since 1983. Since 1998 I have limited my practice to equine dentistry. I have floated over 47,000 horses since 1983 and I remain a horsemanship based equine dentist. I have the credentials and the money to purchase the “modern” equine dentistry equipment and perform “modern” equine dentistry but I choose not to. The main reason is because I do not believe they do a better job. More importantly, I do not think it is in the best interest of the horse.

Equine Dentistry: Sedation or No?

Written by Marsha Wyatt

Teeth floating is a part of nearly everyone’s scheduled treatments for their horses. The rule of thumb for how often to schedule floating is at least every two years, more frequently if specific problems exist. Inherent to the floating procedure is the decision of whether to opt for sedation. Both sides of the sedation issue have pertinent, valid points. Where do you stand?

Is Your Horse a "Quidder"?

Written by Stacey Stearns

Quidding is a potential problem for aging horses but it’s easily addressed with regular dental care. A horse who quids will drop partially chewed food out of his mouth while chewing. James Cormier, Jr., of Precision Equine Floating in Fall River, MA, says 99% of the time, quidding is related to the aging process of the horse.

The Mysterious Wolf Tooth

Written by Steve Sampson, Master Equine Dentist

Do you have a horse who refuses to turn one way or the other? Does your horse consistently fall off the lead behind after a reluctant lead exchange? Will your horse work fine in a halter or hackamore, but won't accept a snaffle? Do you know a horse who carries his chin too high or tucks his head until his chin is on his chest? All of these evasions are typical characteristics of wolf teeth.