THE HORSE GAZETTE
equine health
the way of the horse
a dental exam you can do
HELP YOUR HORSE
By Eleanor Blazer © 2009
Healthy, mature
ciated with the familiar swelling it out so you get a good look
horses have to go to the dentist
that occurs with strangles. in. To move the tongue, insert fight off flies and mosquitoes
too!
6. Examine the full your fingers at the corner of the
Or, at least have the
length of the lower jaw, make horse’s mouth – where the inter-
dentist come to them.
note of any hard swellings or dental gap (the bars) is located.
Is it annual checkup
with KENSINGTON masks
time for your horse…Is he
flossing?
Horses younger than
five years of age, seniors or
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horses with a history of dental
problems should be examined
twice a year. Use this simple
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checklist to detect potential
Fax: 210-698-8370
problems between visits.
1. Watch your horse
eat. Does he drop grain or tilt
Store Hours:
his head to the side while chew-
Monday - Friday: 10 am - 6 pm
ing? Does he dunk his hay in
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the water? Such behaviors are
signs of potential problems.
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2. Stand in front
Road in the HEB Shopping Center
of your horse (with him re-
strained) and compare one
soreness. Grasp the tongue. Gently pull
7. Place your fingers the tongue out and to the side.
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side of his head to the other.
Be careful he doesn’t throw
on either side of the cheek Now you should be able to look
his head and hit you. You are
about where the back teeth start. inside the mouth. If you have
checking for symmetry (one
Gently feel along the side of trouble, ask your veterinarian
side balanced with the other).
his jaw. See if you can feel the or equine dentist for assistance.
Make a note of any swellings
top and bottom row of molars. To view a video, please visit:
or indentations that are on one
Go down the top row...gently http://www.learningabouthorses.
side, but not the other.
palpating...note any soreness. com/videos/tongue.html
3. Use your fingertips
Repeat the exam on the bottom Look for hooks, miss-
and palpate gently around the
row of teeth. ing teeth, feed packed between
temporalis muscle (located
8. Observe the eyes the molars and cheek, and in-
above each eye) and masseter
and nostrils for unusual dis- flammation.
(large muscle covering the jaw).
charge or swelling. Call your veterinar-
Compare muscles for similar
9. Lift the lips and ian or equine dentist if you find
size and note any soreness. If
note the color of the gums. discomfort or anything question-
the muscles are more developed
They should be a nice healthy able.
on one side, this may be a sign
pink. We all hate a visit with
that your horse prefers to chew
10. Inspect the in- the dentist, but putting it off will
on that side.
cisors. Note how many are make it worse.
4. Check the tem-
present and the alignment. By * Earn a Bachelor of
poromandibular joint (TMJ)
the age of five there should be Science degree in equine studies
for a pain. It’s located below
six permanent incisors, top and or certification as a Professional
the ear; where the lower jaw is
bottom, for a total of 12. Horse Trainer or Riding Instruc-
“hinged”.
11. Smell your tor. Start your new career as a
5. Check parotid
horse’s breath. It should be riding instructor, horse trainer,
salivary gland and lymph nodes
pleasant enough…no foul or or stable manager. All courses
for inflammation and swelling.
excessively strong odor. are online. Start anytime and
The parotid salivary gland is
12. Try to inspect work at your own pace. Visit
located in the throatlatch area.
the cheek teeth (molars). The
www.horsecoursesonline.com
The lymph nodes are located
best way to see the molars is for information.
under the jaw and usually asso-
to gently grasp the tongue, pull
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Visit us at:
www.HorseGazette.com Page 5
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