Horses and donkeys rely on grazing for food and we rely on their mouths as a tool of communication whilst riding - so dental care and freedom from discomfort should not be neglected. A 6 monthly check-up will ensure your horse is in the best health for the work you require of it and for your horse to live as full and healthy a life as possible.

The Horses Teeth

Your horse's teeth are the result of millions of years of evolutionary change. The horse has adapted to the changing environment over the years resulting in a grazing animal. Their teeth have developed to cope with a grass diet - front teeth (incisors) for cutting the grass and back teeth (cheek teeth) for chewing. Their teeth are continuously growing and have a high resistance to wear and tear with irregular surfaces for the continuous grinding motion eating involves. Your horse needs regular check-ups to make sure the teeth are wearing down properly.

Domesticated horses find themselves in conditions very different to those in the wild. These conditions affect the growth and wear of the teeth. Domestication, change in diet and using a bit, alter the way your horse lives, eats and moves which has a significant effect on the teeth.

Dental Checks

Ideally the vet should check your horse's teeth at least once a year - twice is optimal.

Newborn foals should have their mouths checked for any abnormalities. Within a few weeks of life foals will develop four incisors: two at the top and two at the bottom. The vet will need to check if they are erupting properly and that all 24 cheek teeth are coming through. Eventually the 12 premolars will be replaced by permanent teeth. The molars do not have precursors, so these remain throughout the foal's life. Having your foal's teeth checked at such a young age will ensure he becomes accustomed to having his mouth handled.

2-4 year old horses start to produce their permanent teeth. The vet needs to check that these are erupting and coming through properly at the right time, he will also assess if they are causing irritation to the soft tissues (gums) around them.

5 year old horses should have all their permanent teeth. The vet needs to check them to make sure they have all erupted without causing any problems. Canine teeth are often seen in stallions and geldings, these will erupt between the ages of four and five years. Female horses (25-30%) have rudimentary canine teeth. At this age the vet may rasp the cheek teeth to ensure there are no uncomfortable sharp edges.

Horses over 5 years old will have had their permanent teeth for a while. It is essential that your vet sees your horse regularly to look for any problems, rasp any sharp edges or hooks and check for decay or damage. A horse that receives regular dental care will keep his teeth for up to 5 years longer than a horse who does not.

Horses over 15 years old will have a higher incidence of dental problems because of wear and tear and 6-monthly examinations may be necessary to prevent further deterioration.

If you are not sure how old your horse is, your vet will be able to estimate his age by careful examination of the appearance and conformation of the teeth. The teeth can provide information for an 'informed guess' of the age but is not particularly accurate as the past lifestyle of the horse will have affected the wear of the teeth.

The Dental Check-up

The vet will look for a variety of common problems, including:

• Cracked teeth.
• Mouth ulcers and sore areas of mucosa.
• Gum inflammation.
• Problems with tooth eruption.
• Sharp teeth edges and hooks.
• Teeth misalignments including parrot mouth or sow mouth.
• Wolf teeth interference.

Rasping is a very common job for a vet which can be done at home. It involves using various sized rasps to remove sharp enamel points and hooks from cheek teeth, levelling tall or long teeth, rounding and smoothing of teeth to improve the fit of the bit. A dental mouth gag may be used to keep your horses mouth open throughout the procedure - no pain is involved - preventing your horse form biting the vet by accident. Rasping may sometimes involve sedating your horse if he is particularly lively or if extensive work needs to be done. 

Signs a Horse has a Problem with its Teeth

Keep an eye out for abnormal behaviour:

• Aggressive butting or shaking of hay before eating it - your horse will try to knock off the leaves to make chewing easier.
• Drinking less - cold water may cause discomfort to decaying teeth.
• Dropping half-chewed food (quidding) - related to mouth pain or incorrect alignment of teeth.
• Eating food slowly - reflects painful teeth.
• Head shaking or peculiar head carriage while being ridden - indicating discomfort in the mouth and possible dental problems.
• Head-shaking while eating - caused by a painful mouth.
• Putting hay in his water bucket - horses will soak the hay to make it easier to chew and swallow.
• Reluctance to work in collection, 'on the bit' - when the reins pull on the bit, the horse's lips are pulled towards the first cheek teeth, it's essential that this area is kept free from sharp or rough edges.

You will also be able to notice other unusual signs:

• Bad breath (halitosis) - a sign of dental decay, just like humans.
• Drooling excessively - reflects painful teeth.
• Increased incidence of some types of colic.
• Nasal discharges.
• Sores on tongue, lips or gums - a result of sharp points and hooks.
• Swellings on the face or lower jaw.
• Tongue sticking out of mouth - your horse will try and keep his tongue away from sharp teeth edges.
• Weight loss - because your horse is unable to eat properly.

Routine management and regular check-ups will ensure your horses dental health. If you want your horse to be happy and free from pain, make sure his teeth are checked at least once a year (twice a year if any problems are found) and always keep an eye out for any abnormal signs or behaviour.