Equine Dentistry: Why It’s Crucial for Your Senior Horse’s Health

For senior horses, proper dental care isn’t just about a healthy mouth—it’s fundamental to their overall health, nutrition, comfort, and longevity. As horses age, their teeth undergo significant changes, making regular and skilled equine dentistry an essential part of their senior care regimen.

Equine Dentistry

How Horse Teeth Change with Age

Horses have hypsodont teeth, meaning they erupt continuously throughout most of their lives to compensate for wear from grinding fibrous forage. However, as they reach their senior years (typically 18-20+):

  • Tooth Eruption Slows/Stops: Eventually, the reserve crown within the jaw is used up, and teeth stop erupting.
  • Worn Chewing Surfaces: Years of grinding can lead to smooth or cupped-out chewing surfaces, reducing their ability to efficiently break down hay and feed.
  • Increased Risk of Periodontal Disease: Gaps (diastemata) can form between teeth, trapping food and leading to painful gum infections and tooth root abscesses.
  • Loose or Missing Teeth: Teeth can become loose and may eventually fall out or require extraction.
  • Wave Mouth/Step Mouth: Uneven wear can lead to abnormal dental patterns where some teeth are longer than others, preventing proper jaw movement and grinding.
  • Sharp Enamel Points: These can develop throughout life but may become more problematic if chewing patterns change due to other dental issues, causing painful ulcers on cheeks and tongue.

Why Dental Care is Paramount for Seniors:

  1. Maintaining Nutritional Intake:
    • Painful or inefficient chewing leads to “quidding” (dropping partially chewed balls of feed), reluctance to eat hay, or eating very slowly.
    • Poorly chewed food is harder to digest, leading to weight loss, malnutrition, and an increased risk of choke or impaction colic.
  2. Preventing Pain and Discomfort:
    • Dental problems like sharp points, periodontal disease, and tooth root abscesses are extremely painful.
    • Pain can lead to behavioral changes, head tossing, resistance to the bit (if ridden), and a general decline in well-being.
  3. Reducing Risk of Systemic Illness:
    • Chronic dental infections can release bacteria into the bloodstream, potentially affecting organs like the heart or kidneys.
    • Severe dental disease can contribute to conditions like sinusitis.
  4. Improving Quality of Life:
    • A comfortable mouth allows a senior horse to eat well, maintain body condition, and enjoy their food, which is a significant part of their day.

What to Expect from Senior Equine Dental Care:

Senior horses typically require more frequent and sometimes more specialized dental attention:

  • Regular Exams (Often Every 6 Months): A thorough examination by an equine veterinarian or a qualified equine dental technician (under veterinary supervision where required by law) is crucial. This usually involves sedation and a full-mouth speculum.
  • Floating (Odontoplasty): Routine rasping of sharp enamel points.
  • Addressing Specific Problems: Correcting wave mouth, reducing overgrown teeth, managing periodontal disease (which may involve cleaning out diastemata and packing them), and extracting loose or infected teeth.
  • Dietary Recommendations: Your vet may suggest changes to your horse’s diet based on their dental condition, such as soaked hay cubes, pellets, or senior feeds that are easier to chew and digest.

Many veterinary organizations, like the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), provide excellent resources on equine dental health.

Investing in regular, high-quality dental care is one of the most important things you can do to support the health and happiness of your senior horse, helping them age gracefully and comfortably. This directly impacts their ability to thrive in their later years.