Myths

Myth #1

My horse looks good and is in good flesh so, I suppose I do not need to have a dental exam done.

This is absolutely not true.  Just because a horse looks goods does not mean they are not suffering from dental problems. Sometimes the dental problems just have not gotten to the point of seriously affecting their ability to properly masticate and process their feed yet, affecting their hair coat, muscle tone and fat loss.  Once a horse starts showing signs of these conditions, the dental problems are usually in an advanced stage.

Myth #2

I just had my horse's teeth floated by someone that was at my barn and only paid $75.00.  I am assuming that was all my horse needed.

This is a very critical mistake made far to often by horse owners!  First, keep in mind that floating is just the knocking off of sharp points and has nothing to do with proper dental care.  Second, most people that charge $75.00 are considered just floaters, are not certified practitioners, are not educated and are not qualified to practice equine dentistry.  Third, in order for your horse to get the best of care, a comprehensive exam, diagnosis of dental abnormalities, and to have areas of concern such as health and performance addressed, a horse owner must use a Certified Equine Dental Practitioner.

Myth #3

I was told by my vet that my horses did not need to have their teeth looked at until they were about 20.

This is a huge misunderstanding.  By the time a horse is 20, it's dentition (teeth) have gone through such dramatic changes due to attrition, wear patterns and eruption patters that most horses end up having to have corrective dentistry to correct major to severe abnormalities.  They usually have established periodontal disease, have loose teeth, fractured teeth, limited lateral, anterior and posterior movement, may have had health problems such as colic, choking, weight loss, nutritional defeciencies and or performance problems.