Are you stuck in the "Old School" way of thinking and approach when it comes to dental care for your horse and the cost?
This is a must read article for horse owners who have never used a certified equine dental practitioner but are wanting to or considering it.
Myself along with many colleagues of mine have heard time and time again from horse owners "I have never paid over $55.00, $75.00, $85.00 to have my horses teeth floated or rasped off by my vet or farrier". What? Seriously? Well, it is time to step out of the dark ages, into the present and get educated about proper dental care for horses and the cost. ****Please read my cost and cost comparison page****
For decades, horse owners have been under the misleading impression that when their equine vet came out to "float" their horses teeth, that this was all the dental care a horse needed and is why it was so cheap. Why were you thinking this? Was it because you trusted your equine vet and that what he/she told you about the care of your horses teeth, if anything, was the truth? He/she should know right? Besides, this person was a veterinarian so he/she must be an expert in the field of equine dentistry as well. WRONG AND YOU HAVE BEEN MISLEAD!!!!
Think about it and ask yourself, what was actually being done to my horse's teeth when I was paying $55.00 - $85.00? Was I providing my horse with the best of care? Even though I was using my veterinarian did this person go above and beyond their vet school education to obtain the training, knowledge and expertise necessary to properly diagnose and treat the oral condition of my horse's mouth or was this person just running a float or farrier's rasp over my horse's teeth, saying everything was ok and then taking my money? More than likely, you were getting exactly what you were paying for....poor dental care for your horse with little to no improvement in it's health, weight, longevity, performance, attitude, well-being, nutritional intake, over feeding, founder, colic choke and the list goes on and on. Among specialized equine dental practitioners, this is in no way acceptable dental care nor has it ever been!!
Was your horse's oral condition being truly examined for abnormalities in the dentition, wear patterns, mastication patterns, crown height irregularities, tissue lacerations, periodontal disease, oral cancers, fractured teeth, congenital defects, abnormalities in bone growth, etc.?
How about was your horse's performance, health, diet, proper positioning of feed buckets, weight, eating difficulties, over feeding, bit problems, training difficulties, etc., being addressed and explained to you?
Was your horse getting a complete external exam of the facial bones, checked for bone abnormalities, TMJ difficulties, asymmetry, muscle hypertrophy and atrophy?
Was proper dental care being performed to restore normal functions to ALL aspects of a horse's mouth, body condition, health, ability to completely and efficiently process food intake, to stop chronic colic, choke, diarrhea, nutritional deficiencies, to restore longevity, training, and performance?
FOR $55.00 - $85.00? I DON'T THINK SO!!!!!
Certified equine dental practitioners are highly trained specialist who can address all the above issues for every horse. However, if you think they are going to do it for $55.00, $75.00, $85.00, etc., you are wrong!!. It will cost you to use a specialist in the field of equine dentistry just as it would to use a specialist in any profession.
Now, you as the horse owner, have the right to use whomever you want to provide dental care to your horses except, in states where it is illegal to use anyone other than a certified equine dental practitioner or veterinarian even if, the veterinarian has NOT had formal training in the field of equine dentistry. Whether it be a equine dental specialist, veterinarian, farrier, your barn manager, trainer, Joe Blow off the street, etc., it is your choice.
However, if you plan on using a certified equine dental practitioner, make no mistake about it, it will cost you. Just like it does in human dentistry and many other professions. So, if you are looking to pay the same old $55.00 - $85.00, remain uneducated about proper dental care and the vital role it plays in every aspect of your horse's life, keep the "Old School" mentality, have no intentions on doing what it takes to provide the best care in dentistry for your horse, you think that you are a leading expert in equine dental care and that knocking off rough edges and sharp points is all the dental care your horse needs, you do not need to be using a specialist.
Unfortunately, not every horse owner can afford to use a certified equine dental practitioner. It is up to you as the horse owner to make the determination of whether or not you can afford to use a specialist before you pick up the phone to set an appointment. Don't set an appointment, have a practitioner come out, examine your horse, chart out the dental abnormalities, go over treatment options, address issues that you may be experiencing with your horse and cost with you only to be shocked at the cost and decide you can't afford it. That is wasting a practitioners time.
Do your research and homework. There are plenty of equine dental websites out there to give you information and examples of what to expect when using a certified equine dental practitioner. Keep in mind that every practitioner has their own set of fees and services. Some maybe cheaper in price than others. This could be do to the fact that he/she may be certified at a beginning practitioners level and will only have enough education, training, experience and knowledge to address the basic dentistry needs of a horse.
In every profession, you have the best of the best of which, is why they are usually very expensive. Whats makes them the best at what they do is the fact that they go above and beyond in their education and training, providing unsurpassed quality of service and or care and getting great results from it, specialization, dedication, good intent and integrity, honesty, determination, having the client and or patients best interest at heart among, many other qualities.
The choice of who you use to provide dental care to your horse is yours. Just realize that if you want the best in care and you decide to use a specialist, be prepared to pay. If you choose to use a person in states where you can, who does not posses the same education, skills, experience and knowledge that a specialized equine dental practitioner has, cheaper prices, poor dental care, little to no improvement in your horse, a great risk of harm and problems are what you get to look forward to of which, you will be completely responsible for.
This is a must read article for horse owners who have never used a certified equine dental practitioner but are wanting to or considering it.
Myself along with many colleagues of mine have heard time and time again from horse owners "I have never paid over $55.00, $75.00, $85.00 to have my horses teeth floated or rasped off by my vet or farrier". What? Seriously? Well, it is time to step out of the dark ages, into the present and get educated about proper dental care for horses and the cost. ****Please read my cost and cost comparison page****
For decades, horse owners have been under the misleading impression that when their equine vet came out to "float" their horses teeth, that this was all the dental care a horse needed and is why it was so cheap. Why were you thinking this? Was it because you trusted your equine vet and that what he/she told you about the care of your horses teeth, if anything, was the truth? He/she should know right? Besides, this person was a veterinarian so he/she must be an expert in the field of equine dentistry as well. WRONG AND YOU HAVE BEEN MISLEAD!!!!
Think about it and ask yourself, what was actually being done to my horse's teeth when I was paying $55.00 - $85.00? Was I providing my horse with the best of care? Even though I was using my veterinarian did this person go above and beyond their vet school education to obtain the training, knowledge and expertise necessary to properly diagnose and treat the oral condition of my horse's mouth or was this person just running a float or farrier's rasp over my horse's teeth, saying everything was ok and then taking my money? More than likely, you were getting exactly what you were paying for....poor dental care for your horse with little to no improvement in it's health, weight, longevity, performance, attitude, well-being, nutritional intake, over feeding, founder, colic choke and the list goes on and on. Among specialized equine dental practitioners, this is in no way acceptable dental care nor has it ever been!!
Was your horse's oral condition being truly examined for abnormalities in the dentition, wear patterns, mastication patterns, crown height irregularities, tissue lacerations, periodontal disease, oral cancers, fractured teeth, congenital defects, abnormalities in bone growth, etc.?
How about was your horse's performance, health, diet, proper positioning of feed buckets, weight, eating difficulties, over feeding, bit problems, training difficulties, etc., being addressed and explained to you?
Was your horse getting a complete external exam of the facial bones, checked for bone abnormalities, TMJ difficulties, asymmetry, muscle hypertrophy and atrophy?
Was proper dental care being performed to restore normal functions to ALL aspects of a horse's mouth, body condition, health, ability to completely and efficiently process food intake, to stop chronic colic, choke, diarrhea, nutritional deficiencies, to restore longevity, training, and performance?
FOR $55.00 - $85.00? I DON'T THINK SO!!!!!
Certified equine dental practitioners are highly trained specialist who can address all the above issues for every horse. However, if you think they are going to do it for $55.00, $75.00, $85.00, etc., you are wrong!!. It will cost you to use a specialist in the field of equine dentistry just as it would to use a specialist in any profession.
Now, you as the horse owner, have the right to use whomever you want to provide dental care to your horses except, in states where it is illegal to use anyone other than a certified equine dental practitioner or veterinarian even if, the veterinarian has NOT had formal training in the field of equine dentistry. Whether it be a equine dental specialist, veterinarian, farrier, your barn manager, trainer, Joe Blow off the street, etc., it is your choice.
However, if you plan on using a certified equine dental practitioner, make no mistake about it, it will cost you. Just like it does in human dentistry and many other professions. So, if you are looking to pay the same old $55.00 - $85.00, remain uneducated about proper dental care and the vital role it plays in every aspect of your horse's life, keep the "Old School" mentality, have no intentions on doing what it takes to provide the best care in dentistry for your horse, you think that you are a leading expert in equine dental care and that knocking off rough edges and sharp points is all the dental care your horse needs, you do not need to be using a specialist.
Unfortunately, not every horse owner can afford to use a certified equine dental practitioner. It is up to you as the horse owner to make the determination of whether or not you can afford to use a specialist before you pick up the phone to set an appointment. Don't set an appointment, have a practitioner come out, examine your horse, chart out the dental abnormalities, go over treatment options, address issues that you may be experiencing with your horse and cost with you only to be shocked at the cost and decide you can't afford it. That is wasting a practitioners time.
Do your research and homework. There are plenty of equine dental websites out there to give you information and examples of what to expect when using a certified equine dental practitioner. Keep in mind that every practitioner has their own set of fees and services. Some maybe cheaper in price than others. This could be do to the fact that he/she may be certified at a beginning practitioners level and will only have enough education, training, experience and knowledge to address the basic dentistry needs of a horse.
In every profession, you have the best of the best of which, is why they are usually very expensive. Whats makes them the best at what they do is the fact that they go above and beyond in their education and training, providing unsurpassed quality of service and or care and getting great results from it, specialization, dedication, good intent and integrity, honesty, determination, having the client and or patients best interest at heart among, many other qualities.
The choice of who you use to provide dental care to your horse is yours. Just realize that if you want the best in care and you decide to use a specialist, be prepared to pay. If you choose to use a person in states where you can, who does not posses the same education, skills, experience and knowledge that a specialized equine dental practitioner has, cheaper prices, poor dental care, little to no improvement in your horse, a great risk of harm and problems are what you get to look forward to of which, you will be completely responsible for.