07/06/2026
30 seconds. That's all it takes to check your horse's incisors for signs of EOTRH.
EOTRH stands for Equine Odontoclastic Tooth Resorption and Hypercementosis.
It's a progressive dental disease that affects the incisor and canine teeth. Over time, the teeth become painful, unstable, and in advanced cases, need to be extracted.
It's far more common than most owners realise, particularly in older horses, and because horses are masters at hiding discomfort, it often goes unnoticed for a long time.
You can easily check your horse’s incisors by gently lifting their top lip and taking a look at the gum line around the front teeth.
✓ Healthy gums should look pink and smooth, sitting neatly against the base of each tooth
EORTH can present as:
❌ Gums that look inflamed, red or bulging/lumpy
❌ Gums receding away from the tooth (making the tooth look longer)
❌ Discolouration - yellow, reddish or brown incisors
❌ Small red pimples on the gumline (which as pus-draining tracts)
❌ Teeth that are loose, sitting at an odd angles or even fractured
❌ Bad breath (halitosis)
❌ Behaviour changes - difficulty eating (especially hard treats like carrots), dropping feed (quidding), resistance being bridled or increased head shaking
In the picture you can see healthy gums on the left, EOTRH on the right. The difference is pretty clear once you know what you're looking for.
If anything you see matches the right-hand photo, or you're just not sure, start a conversation to have with your horse’s dentist. Catching this condition early can save a horse months or even years of discomfort.
