30/07/2024
Good information and reminder about equine dentistry
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/Haw1Fw7tvRPJJKFP/?mibextid=qtnXGe
Dental health: This is one of the main reasons why our horses are living so much longer but do YOU know why regular dental care is so important?
Dental disease ranges from sharp enamel points that can cause pain with the bridle to infected teeth and other dental abnormalities that can cause severe, chronic infections if not addressed early. All horses should have a dental exam at least once yearly to screen for these issues and address them before they become a serious problem.
So what is the value of having your veterinarian provide dental services?
First and foremost, veterinarians have undergone extensive training in equine anatomy, which means that they are much less likely to cause complications such as over-floating. Over-floating a horse can cause fractured teeth, early expiration of teeth, and even inability to chew. If a horse’s teeth are over-floated and smooth, they will not be able to properly grind hay and forage to get adequate nutrition. As a result, they will starve and can even develop fatal colic due to impactions from an inability to chew their feed.
Secondly, veterinarians are also more equipped to perform a thorough oral exam because of their knowledge of anatomy/physiology and access to diagnostic tools. More than just sharp points and infected teeth, they are trained to diagnose and treat diastemas, secondary sinusitis, congenital defects, EOTRH, and other diseases. They also have more specialized equipment, such as intraoral cameras, x-ray and endoscopy - along with the training required to interpret those results.
Third, veterinarians are also trained in anatomy and physiology of all body systems, not just the mouth. This allows them to perform a more comprehensive evaluation of the entire horse to see if any testing is warranted for systemic illness, such as Equine Metabolic Syndrome, Cushing’s Disease, internal parasites or even internal organ dysfunction such as kidney or liver failure. They also provide extensive nutritional consultation based on the condition of your horse to see if any changes to feed or supplements are warranted.
Lastly, and possibly most importantly, in Washington State it is not legal for any person who is not a licensed veterinarian OR a licensed veterinary technician directly supervised by a veterinarian to perform dentistry in any animal species. There are no standards for certification of lay dentists, and clients who use lay dentists do not have any consumer protection for any complications or permanent damage done to their horses as a consequence.
To illustrate the value in using your veterinarian for regular dental care, we will be putting out a series of dental cases we have helped with comprehensive dental care. Look for the first one tomorrow! Please call the clinic if you have any questions or to schedule an oral exam for your horse - our veterinarians would be happy to partner with you in your horse’s care.
https://horsesidevetguide.com/do-you-know-what-your-dentist-is-doing
https://www.mvsequine.com/the-problem-with-lay-dentists/
https://thehorse.com/1121396/dental-pain-and-equine-behavior/
