You’ll be hard pressed to find a horse with pearl white teeth. Horses have yellowish or brownish teeth. And if it’s your first time tending to a horse, this can be a cause for alarm. The first thing that may come to mind is to get your horse’s teeth professionally cleaned or clean them as you would a cat or dog’s teeth.
And this begs the question; do horses need their teeth cleaned? It’s not necessary to clean a horse’s teeth, but professional checkups are highly recommended. Horses’ teeth continue growing throughout their lifetime. Therefore, the stained part will wear off before decay.
Although cleaning your horses’ teeth is unnecessary, there are certain things you should do in between professional visits to ensure your horse has excellent dental health. In this article, you’ll learn all about proper dental hygiene for horses and your responsibilities as the horse owner.
Do Horses Need Their Teeth Cleaned?
You may be wondering why you don’t need to clean your horses’ teeth because most animals require regular teeth cleaning to prevent periodontal disease. Well, horses’ teeth are not the same as cats’, dogs,’ or human teeth – they don’t have enamel.
According to Equinews, equine teeth are covered with cementum, which is way softer and stains easily compared to enamel. Cementum is also more porous and picks up pigments from what the horse eats.
For this reason, the discoloration you see on your horses’ teeth is normal, and you shouldn’t be concerned about removing it. However, you need to schedule regular dental exams once or twice a year.
But why do horses need their teeth cleaned professionally? Professional dental visits are important because they allow the vet to check for deposits of tartar along the gum line, broken teeth, or any other issue that may cause a serious problem.
During these visits, your horse will also undergo what’s known as floating. This is where their teeth are filed to remove the sharp points that develop as the horse chews.
The other reason why you shouldn’t be very concerned about brushing your horses’ teeth is the fact that their teeth grow throughout their lifetime. Therefore, the stained parts of the teeth will have worn off before the tooth gets to the point of decay.
Dental Care Tips for Horses
Proper dental care practices for your horse will ensure they not only have strong, healthy teeth, but they will also ensure your horse is comfortable chewing. So what’s your responsibility as the horse’s care taker? Is there anything else you can do apart from scheduling professional visits? Yes. Below are some of the things you should do to improve your horses’ dental hygiene.
- Give Up the Idea of Using a Toothbrush
If you’ve owned a cat or dog, you may be tempted to apply the same dental practices you use for your pets to your horse. This isn’t necessary. As we’ve mentioned, horses have a different tooth structure that doesn’t require cleaning.
If you’re concerned about tartar accumulation, Djiugo says you shouldn’t be. According to the site, only a small amount of tartar is formed on the porous surface of the tooth, and this taken care of when the horse chews on fiber because fiber helps in cleaning the horse’s teeth. Therefore, instead of buying your horse a toothbrush, continue to feed them a fiber-rich diet.
- Learn How to Detect a Toothache or Problem
Apart from feeding your horses on a lot of fiber to keep their teeth in tip-top condition, you should also know how to detect toothaches and other teeth issues.
One obvious sign of a toothache is when the horse is resistant to riding or has a hard time chewing on food. Sometimes it may be due to hooks and edges that form due to friction. In such cases, you may need the services of a vet to remedy the situation.
Also, look out for visible mouth sores in the horses’ mouth when they’re not eating as they normally do or resisting rides. And when in doubt, always call a professional to examine your horse.
Some of the common horse dental problems include:
- Gum disease
- Extremely worn teeth
- Loose teeth
- Broken teeth
- Infected teeth or gums
These problems can occur at any stage of the horse’s development, so always be on the lookout for abnormal behavior.
- Know What to Expect in Different Stages of the Horse’s Life
Horses experience different changes in their teeth as they grow older. When they’re young, don’t be surprised to see missing teeth because young horses lose their milk teeth. However, there are times when the tooth doesn’t come out as it should, and it causes pain. You should consult a professional when you notice the following:
- Bad odor
- Foaming or drooling
- Head tossing
- Carrying the head to one side
- Spitting out small amounts of hay or cud
- Head shy
- Odd way of chewing
Mature Horses
When horses mature, the main problem they face with their teeth is developing hooks and sharp edges. This mainly occurs among wild horses that eat all kinds of things. Wild horses are more likely to ingest soil and grass that’s rich in silica that wears down their teeth. A domesticated horse that feeds on softer materials is more likely to retain their teeth in good condition for a longer time.
Nonetheless, it’s essential to have an equine dentist check your horses’ teeth at least once a year for floating. The sharp edges can cut your horse’s tongue or create lesions in the mouth that can cause pain.
Senior Horses
Senior horses tend to lose their teeth. You can tell that your senior horse has dental issues if they start exhibiting the aforementioned symptoms. In this stage, you need to start feeding your horse softer foods they can chew and always keep a close eye to ensure they always get enough in the hay feeder.
However, it’s advisable to consult an equine dentist before making diet changes so that they can advise on the best way to go about it.
Will Your Horse Feel Pain During the Dental Checkups?
If you’ve had your fair share of trips to the dentist, you know that it’s not a walk in the park. It’s therefore normal to worry that your horse will go through the same pain during its time with the dentist, but you shouldn’t worry too much.
Horses do not feel pain during dental checkups because they don’t have nerves inside the teeth. The nerves are located close to the gum line. Therefore, your horse won’t feel any pain when their teeth are being filed down during floating. Don’t you wish it was the same for humans? Dental visits would be so much easier.
In Summary
Do horses need their teeth cleaned? No. The structure of a horse’s teeth and the ability to grow throughout the horse’s lifetime eliminates the need to clean their teeth. Therefore, if you were planning to get a toothbrush or other animal dental hygiene supplies, you can save yourself the trip.
However, as we’ve mentioned, it’s important to ensure your horse undergoes regular dental checkups at least once or twice every year to deal with issues like wolf teeth, sharp edges, sores in the mouth, and other issues. And remember, a horse faces different teeth issues at different stages of their growth. It’s, therefore, crucial to stay on top of any abnormal symptoms you notice to ensure the horse is in perfect condition.