NTED - Warning Signs
The following is a list of warning signs that can indicate that your horse is having dental problems and needs to been seen by a Certified Equine Dental Practitioner.
1. Dropping grain
2. Tilting head when eating
3. Eating slowly
4. Drooling
5. Draining fistula tract in nasal area or lower jaw
6. Soaking hay
7. Not wanting to eat
8. Cribbing
9. Chewing up and down
10. Swelling/heat of TMJ area
11. Facial muscle atrophy of one or both sides of the jaw
12. Trauma to the maxilla, mandible, TMJ
13. Foul ordor from nasal passage or mouth
14. Quidding (wads of hay or roughage found in horse's eating area)
15. Stems larger than 1/4 inch found in feces
16. Undigested food found in feces
17. Agrressive eating
18. Weight loss or sudden onset of extreme weight loss inspite of good appetite
19. Failure to gain weight
20. Facial Tenderness
21. Chronic colics and or choking
22. Discharge from nostils
23. Accumulating wads of roughage between cheek gingiva and teeth
24. Bleeding from mouth or nasal passage
Performance Signs
1. Bad attitudes
2. Tossing of head under bridle
3. Pushing on bit
4. Bucking
5. Rearing
6. Flipping over
7. Running off
8. Dropping shoulder
9. Left and Right resistance
10. Collection and flexibilty resistance
11. Refusing to take a bit
12. Pinning of ears
13. Body soreness (back, shoulders, hocks, stifles, etc)
14. Lead difficulties
15. Loss of speed
16. Not stopping squarely
17. Running backwards
18. Frequent opening of the mouth (gapping mouth)
19. Constant head or face rubbing
20. Unexplainable lameness
21. Excessive tail swishing
Regular, routine dental exams by a qualified dental practitioner is the key to catching and correcting the conditions listed above.