Volume 2 Issue 1


                 
                                 FOOD FOR THOUGHT


                       
 Equine Dentition

Before we get started with what to feed, how much to feed, whether or not to give supplements or any other issues, I believe it is important to understand the physiology of the horse.  The first three Issues of this Volume will cover the horse’s dentition, digestive tract,  nutrient classes including what role each of them plays in maintaining a healthy horse. In this Issue, I will cover the horse’s dentition.  For further information on this subject, please refer to “I’ve Got People”, Volume 4, Issue 5 for an in-depth interview on Equine Dentistry.

On a day to day basis, we never really think much about our mouths, or teeth…….until they start to hurt or ache that is.  Then all of a sudden we realize just how important good dental health is.  Without our teeth, we cannot eat so it is imperative to keep our teeth as healthy as possible.  The same holds true for your horse and it is our job to see that his teeth are kept as healthy as possible.  In order to do that, we need to understand a little about the horse’s dentition.

The horse has three types of teeth.  The molars (large surfaced teeth running the length of the jaw, behind the bar) are used for grinding.  The incisors (front teeth) are used for cutting or “scissoring” grass off for grinding by the molars. The canine teeth sit behind the incisors on the lower jaw and the “wolf” teeth sit just in front of the molars on the upper jaw. Most people believe that the canine and the wolf teeth are different teeth.  However, others believe that they are one and the same with just a slightly different location between the upper and lower jaw. It is not certain what these particular teeth are used for. There is a school of thought that these teeth are used by the stallion when mating or fighting with another stallion.  Although each gender can have them they predominate in male horses.

In a mature adult male horse there are usually 24 molars (12 upper and 12 lower), 12 incisors (6 upper and 6 lower), and 4 canine/wolf teeth (2 upper and 2 lower). In a mature female horse, there are 24 molars, 12 incisors, and usually no canine/wolf teeth.

The canine/wolf teeth usually appear around 4 years of age.  Quite frequently they are extracted as they have a tendency to interfere with the bridle and bit fit.  It can be quite uncomfortable for the horse to have the bit rubbing or hitting these teeth and can result in some unfavorable reactions from the horse such as head tossing or rearing.

During the aging process the teeth start to slant and change shape. The dental star changes shape and position on the tooth as well.  This is one of the ways that your vet can determine the age of your horse )which is usually quite accurate) and one of the reasons we have our horse’s teeth floated.

There are basically two types of Dental Unsoundness in horses.  One is Congenital.  This means that it is something that the horse is born with such as a parrot mouth, or an undershot jaw. The other type is Non-congenital.  This is something that happens through the course of growth such as a dental wave (usually found in aged horses) or retained incisors.  It is extremely important to have these problems addressed by a qualified Equine Dentist or Veterinarian.  This is done by “Floating” the teeth at least once a year for mature horses and twice a year for younger horses. 

The hooks that form on the horse’s teeth (upper teeth on the outside or cheek side, lower teeth on the inside or tongue side) need to be filed off with an instrument called a “Float”.  Basically it is a rasp or file with a long handle.  In a maintenance float about 1/8” is removed.  On a horse that hasn’t been done in two years or more ¼” or more may need to be removed.  The purpose is to permit the upper and lower jaw to slide in a sideways motion to its full extent.  This is how the horse grinds his food so that it can be digested properly and full nutritional value can be utilized.

Some signs to look for to determine if your horse needs his teeth floated are: drooling, spilling food, wadding up hay and spitting it out, weight loss, tossing head, rearing, not bending when ridden, eating food extremely slowly and visible hay in manure.

Just as a note of interest, the age of a horse can be falsified by floating the horse’s teeth.  This practice is called Bishoping.  If you suspect that your horse is really older than you have been told check with your vet.  He will be able to determine if Bishoping has taken place.

I have included 2 diagrams in this issue, to help you understand the dentition of the horse.  The more we know and understand the easier and more accurate it is to communicate with our vet.

 For the rest of this article, including the diagrams, as well as other articles, visit my store.