Horse teeth care

Your horse's dental health is a crucial component of its overall well being so good horse teeth care is essential. Of course you'll refer treatment of dental problems to an equine dentist but it always helps to have a general awareness of how important these issues are, to be aware of factors that can affect your horse's dental health and of checks you can carry out yourself. Your horse's teeth are growing all the time, and it spends much of its time grazing – so there's always a risk of a dental problem occurring. If you notice that your horse is chewing with difficulty, seems to be having difficulty swallowing feed or drops a lot of feed when eating, it might be time to call a vet out. Read on for some pointers about horse teeth care.

A common dental ailment to befall horses and ponies is known as gingivitis. This is inflammation of the gums which is primarily caused by food that gets stuck between the teeth when the horse is grazing and, if not treated, can lead to gum disease and tooth decay. If you notice gum inflammation, then, or think that your horse seems to be eating with difficulty, don't hesitate to call a vet. Remember that if you purchase vets fees insurance through our site you won't have to pick up the bill yourself.

Because they're continually growing, horses need to wear down their teeth to keep them from developing sharp edges that can damage their gums. Some horses are born with a slightly elongated upper jaw: the resulting disruption the alignment between upper and lower jaw can mean that the horse can't grind down its teeth as normal. Abscesses can result from cuts to the gums and can be costly to treat. So if your horse starts tossing its head, eating with difficulty or performs poorly it could be because a such a dental problem. In extreme cases, a vet might recommend surgery to properly align the upper and lower jaw: although less radical treatment may be sufficient, don't leave it to chance. Regular checking of your horse's teeth will enable you sort a dental problem before it becomes too serious.

Teeth care can be included in your horse insurance quote

Protect your horses teeth with dental care insurance provided in our horse insurance policies.