Essential Health: Equine Dental Care
Prevent common dental problems in your geriatric horse
By Brooke Johnson, DVM, Kulshan Veterinary Hospital
As many of our horses live into their third and fourth decades of life, proper oral care is essential to the overall health of a senior citizen equine. Dental care is so important that the American Association of Equine Practitioners recently began a campaign to strive for yearly dental exams of every horse. Regular exams and preventative care beginning at an early age will help identify and correct problems that can be devastating or much more serious when present in the geriatric mouth. The goal of this article is to briefly discuss several of the most common dental problems identified in the older horse.
Abnormal Wear Patterns
Terms such as ramps, hooks, rims, steps, and waves are used to describe abnormal wear patterns of the cheek teeth. Normal cheek teeth have a flat, relatively even grinding surface that functions to break down a tough roughage diet. Daily grinding of coarse plant material continually wears down the cheek teeth. This is countered by the fact that equine teeth continue to erupt for the majority of a horse's life. As this dynamic process unfolds, substantial problems with the grinding surfaces can form. These problems greatly limit the ability of the horse to adequately grind food. Routine dental floating can identify and correct problems before they have the opportunity to begin hindering the chewing process. Older horses lacking regular dental care may have abnormal wear patterns present on a massive scale. Once a problem develops on the grinding surface it tends to self-perpetuate. If a horse is having noticeable trouble chewing because of an abnormal wear pattern, the problem is likely at an advanced stage.
Periodontal Disease
Studies show that 60% of horses over age 15 have periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is inflammation of the gums that can result in pain and destruction of the gums or deeper tissues that anchor teeth firmly in place. In advanced stages this “domino cycle” of inflammation, plaque build-up, swelling, tissue destruction and bone loss will lead to tooth loss. Periodontal disease is best addressed with prevention since advanced stages with large amounts of gum loss and erosion can not be reversed. Periodontal disease is painful and often a reason horses quid, or drop feed from their mouths.
Diastemata
Diastemata (singular: diastama) are alignment problems between adjacent teeth that make ideal environments for periodontal disease to begin. Normally, horse teeth sit so closely together that no food can be pushed between them. If a small gap forms between teeth, then feed material packs tightly into the space. Since horses don’t floss regularly, the entrapped food begins to rot and ferment. Sometimes a foul odor is present. Food tightly packed between teeth can be exquisitely painful. If this problem is identified during a dental exam, the gap between the teeth can be shaped with a power float tool so feed doesn’t remain trapped within the space.
Sinusitis
Sinus infection of the older horse is often secondary to dental problems. Horse cheek teeth are very long and the roots of several of the upper cheek teeth actually sit within the sinus cavity. If a path opens for bacteria to migrate along the tooth because of a fractured tooth or severe periodontal disease, then a sinus infection can form. Sinus infections become obvious to owners when the horse develops nasal discharge (usually only on one side) that has a very pungent, foul odor. To completely clear the infection the sinus needs to be flushed, antibiotics given, and the offending tooth removed.
In conclusion, one of the most important activities older horses do during their day is eat! A horse does not need to have one of the problems described above to greatly benefit from an oral exam and routine dentistry. Dentistry is the most important routine care given to older horses. Geriatric horses need one and sometimes two dental exams per year. The goal is to identify and address problems before they begin to cause chewing problems, quidding, oral pain or weight loss.
About the Author
Dr. Johnson grew up in Oakridge, OR and received a BS in Microbiology from Oregon State University. After graduating with a DVM degree from Cornell University, she completed a year-long equine surgery and medicine internship at Pilchuck Veterinary Hospital in Snohomish, WA. As a doctor at Kulshan Veterinary Hospital she especially enjoys equine medicine with specific interests in ultrasound imaging, chiropractic care, neonatology, and technical large animal emergency rescue.
Outside of work, Brooke lives with her dog, Mulak, and cat, Simon. She enjoys mountaineering and hiking in the North Cascades, listening to live music, telemark skiing, quilting and traveling.
By Brooke Johnson, DVM, Kulshan Veterinary Hospital
As many of our horses live into their third and fourth decades of life, proper oral care is essential to the overall health of a senior citizen equine. Dental care is so important that the American Association of Equine Practitioners recently began a campaign to strive for yearly dental exams of every horse. Regular exams and preventative care beginning at an early age will help identify and correct problems that can be devastating or much more serious when present in the geriatric mouth. The goal of this article is to briefly discuss several of the most common dental problems identified in the older horse.
Abnormal Wear Patterns
Terms such as ramps, hooks, rims, steps, and waves are used to describe abnormal wear patterns of the cheek teeth. Normal cheek teeth have a flat, relatively even grinding surface that functions to break down a tough roughage diet. Daily grinding of coarse plant material continually wears down the cheek teeth. This is countered by the fact that equine teeth continue to erupt for the majority of a horse's life. As this dynamic process unfolds, substantial problems with the grinding surfaces can form. These problems greatly limit the ability of the horse to adequately grind food. Routine dental floating can identify and correct problems before they have the opportunity to begin hindering the chewing process. Older horses lacking regular dental care may have abnormal wear patterns present on a massive scale. Once a problem develops on the grinding surface it tends to self-perpetuate. If a horse is having noticeable trouble chewing because of an abnormal wear pattern, the problem is likely at an advanced stage.
Periodontal Disease
Studies show that 60% of horses over age 15 have periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is inflammation of the gums that can result in pain and destruction of the gums or deeper tissues that anchor teeth firmly in place. In advanced stages this “domino cycle” of inflammation, plaque build-up, swelling, tissue destruction and bone loss will lead to tooth loss. Periodontal disease is best addressed with prevention since advanced stages with large amounts of gum loss and erosion can not be reversed. Periodontal disease is painful and often a reason horses quid, or drop feed from their mouths.
Diastemata
Diastemata (singular: diastama) are alignment problems between adjacent teeth that make ideal environments for periodontal disease to begin. Normally, horse teeth sit so closely together that no food can be pushed between them. If a small gap forms between teeth, then feed material packs tightly into the space. Since horses don’t floss regularly, the entrapped food begins to rot and ferment. Sometimes a foul odor is present. Food tightly packed between teeth can be exquisitely painful. If this problem is identified during a dental exam, the gap between the teeth can be shaped with a power float tool so feed doesn’t remain trapped within the space.
Sinusitis
Sinus infection of the older horse is often secondary to dental problems. Horse cheek teeth are very long and the roots of several of the upper cheek teeth actually sit within the sinus cavity. If a path opens for bacteria to migrate along the tooth because of a fractured tooth or severe periodontal disease, then a sinus infection can form. Sinus infections become obvious to owners when the horse develops nasal discharge (usually only on one side) that has a very pungent, foul odor. To completely clear the infection the sinus needs to be flushed, antibiotics given, and the offending tooth removed.
In conclusion, one of the most important activities older horses do during their day is eat! A horse does not need to have one of the problems described above to greatly benefit from an oral exam and routine dentistry. Dentistry is the most important routine care given to older horses. Geriatric horses need one and sometimes two dental exams per year. The goal is to identify and address problems before they begin to cause chewing problems, quidding, oral pain or weight loss.
About the Author
Dr. Johnson grew up in Oakridge, OR and received a BS in Microbiology from Oregon State University. After graduating with a DVM degree from Cornell University, she completed a year-long equine surgery and medicine internship at Pilchuck Veterinary Hospital in Snohomish, WA. As a doctor at Kulshan Veterinary Hospital she especially enjoys equine medicine with specific interests in ultrasound imaging, chiropractic care, neonatology, and technical large animal emergency rescue.
Outside of work, Brooke lives with her dog, Mulak, and cat, Simon. She enjoys mountaineering and hiking in the North Cascades, listening to live music, telemark skiing, quilting and traveling.
Labels: brooke johnson, Doctors Corner, Kulshan veterinarians, November 2008
posted by NWHS at
8:03 AM
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