15/07/2020
A good reminder!
ARE DENTAL EXAMINATIONS CONSIDERED PREVENTATIVE EQUINE HEALTHCARE?
The answer is YES. Routine dental examinations qualify as preventative equine healthcare just as much as foot care, nutrition, parasite control, and vaccinations. Like in humans, dental care and early recognition of dental disease in your horse could prevent major treatments and surgery. That is why dental healthcare is the most cost effective when the patient is examined by an experienced healthcare professional, such as a veterinarian.
Equine dentistry should not be confused with just tooth "floating." Dentistry is a veterinary discipline concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of mouth, teeth, and associated head structures. The goal of equine dentistry is to:
• improve mastication (the chewing process by which food is crushed and ground by teeth);
• provide comfort and pain relief;
• promote general health, productivity and longevity.
Horses over 5 years of age should be examined at least once a year to maintain correct dental alignment and to diagnose dental problems as early as possible. Senior horses (17+) are a greater risk for developing periodontal disease, and horses 20+ years old should receive dental evaluation and nutrition counseling at least annually in order to maintain their conditioning and quality of life.
While the COVID-19 pandemic has been causing the delay of non-essential appointments such as dental procedures, be sure to not skip your horse's dental examination this year. Just because your horse is not showing any obvious symptoms of dental disease, it does not automatically mean all is well with your animal's mouth health. Horses simply adapt to their discomfort and most horses with dental problems will show no noticeable signs at all, until the disease is severe.
