Equine Dentistry - Out of Sight, Out of Mind

"Out of Sight, Out of Mind"  -- These are the words that come to mind when most people are asked about their horses and Equine Dentistry.

100+ years ago, horses were used routinely as the basic mode of transportation and motive power for farm work.  The horse was an integral component to a business' success and livelihood, as well as the survival of most rural dwellers.  If their horse(s) were unable to work, businesses were unable to make their deliveries, farm workers could not plow the fields, and urban dwellers could not travel long distances into town for supplies.

As a result of this dependance on the horse's ability to work, people took great care to insure that their horses were sound, and able to chew effectively.  This required periodic visits from the farrier, veterinarian and Equine Dentist.

The Equine Dentists of the 19th century were highly qualified, provided very thorough dental exams and performed advanced dental procedures.  Livestock was such an integral part of everyone's success, that even dairy cows received regular dentistry.  It was not uncommon for a dairy cow to live to be 14 years-old or more in that era.

With the advent and popularity of the automobile, almost everybody had the capability to purchase a vehicle that did not require daily feeding, housing, or dental work.  Cheap fuel and the ability to sustain high speeds for long distances spelled the near death-knell for many equine breeds.

With this drop in demand for Equine Dentistry, the practice soon became a lost art.  Any horse that was being used would be lucky if its mouth was ever looked at, let alone receive a thorough dental exam.  It was near impossible to locate an Equine Dentist, and veterinarians were lucky if they learned how to effectively hand float a horse's teeth.

Horse owners began to think that having their horse's teeth "floated" was all that was necessary for proper oral health.  Many owners became complacent about their horse's teeth.  Since they rarely if ever saw their horse's teeth, they were "Out of Sight, Out of Mind".

Since horse owners can readily see their horse's feet, it is much easier for them to be alerted to a potential foot problem and get it corrected.  Unfortunately, the horse's teeth are one of the areas that get overlooked for years, if not a decade or more!  This long-term neglect means that problems that began small, could snowball into a major dental emergency.

Most horses get their teeth looked at when they start losing weight or exhibiting odd behavioral problems when being ridden or driven.  If the horse has gone for a long time without routine dental care, the initial small problem may have compounded into a major dental disaster.  Most of these problems could have been avoided by having the Equine Dental Practitioner out for routine exams.

With routine dental exams (once a year), the horse has the best possible opportunity of reaching his full potential, both nutritionally, and when being ridden/driven.  A well-balanced, "Equilibrated" mouth is highly efficient in grinding food and releasing nutrients from feed and hay.  This results in a lower feed bill.  Another benefit is the horse's teeth will last longer, allowing him/her to continue eating hay into their senior years.

The annual cost savings of having your horse's teeth equilibrated by a Qualified Equine Dental Practitioner should easily pay for the cost of the dental exam and maintenance.

The past 20 years or so have seen a rediscovery and resurgence of Equine Dentistry, and highly qualified practitioners are now more easily located.  We have caught up to and surpassed the level of competence that was common in the 19th century, and are continuing to evolve the techniques and procedures with regular, required continuing education.

Please give some serious thought to Equine Dentistry, and have your horse examined every year.

Both you and your horse will be happier, and your equine friends will be given the best possible chance to be with you well into their senior years.

Please contact John Mares to set up an exam or free group seminar.

(408) 476-2052

Horse_Dentist@Mac.com

www.My-Horse-Dentist.com