NOVEMBER 2013 THE RIDER /53 WHAT’S UP DOC
From the desks of Dr’s Armstrong, Frost & Rojman HALTON EQUINE VETERINARY SERVICES
What is floating?
By Dr. Laura Frost, Halton Equine Veterinary Services
My coach tells me that my
horse needs his teeth floated and I am not sure what this is or who to ask since some people at my barn are using their veterinarian and others are using a non-veterinari- an. Can you help me understand floating better?
What is floating? Floating is a term used to
describe the removal of sharp enamel points in the horse’s mouth. Sharp points develop because the horse’s tooth grows continuously until the early 20’s and due to the shape of the jaw. Horses that are stabled and fed grain diets tend to develop these points even faster than pastured horses because they are not pick- ing up as much soil to grind the points. Points develop on the upper jaw on the outside edge of the tooth and the lower jaw on the inside edge of the tooth. How frequent does my horse
need to be floated? This is often based on the individual horse but it is on average needed once a year and ideally should be every 6 months until the age of 9 and again every 6 months when the horse is in the geriatric
years.The tooth can grow an average of 14mm in length until it reaches 9 years of age and this can lead to significant points that can cause sores in the mouth.
Who performs this procedure? Your veterinarian is the only
person who can legally examine and perform dentistry for your horse in the province of
Ontario.This law can vary between provinces and states. This ruling in Ontario is based on protecting the public and the equine patient and further infor- mation can be obtained by visit- ing
www.cvo.org. The importance of veterinary dentistry has been emphasized in the last decade in our veterinary schools and as a result has produced more equine veterinarians with specific dental skills. It is illegal for anyone in the province of Ontario to offer a diagnosis or treatment on your horse other than a licensed veteri- narian.
What can I expect when my horse is floated? There are many different
ways of achieving the float. Some veterinarians use power instru- ments and others use manual floats. Either way with the appro- priate expertise you can achieve similar results with either manual or power floating. Some standards are basic to floating. Each horse should be sedated in order to have a full mouth speculum placed to
open the mouth. Use of this speculum is necessary to visualize and examine the mouth thorough- ly and without sedation this can be an unnecessary risk to both the horse and handler. The horse then should have its mouth rinsed to allow the best examination and preferably food should be with- held for a couple of hours prior to the dental exam. Another necessi- ty to ensure a good float is the use of a powerful light to allow exam- ination throughout the
mouth.The examination should include but not be limited to observing for uneven wear, sharp points, gum disease, fractured teeth, tartar, halitosis and retained caps. More recently, the use of dental mirrors placed in the mouth allows us to visualize even more problems. Once the examination is com- plete, the corrections with either power equipment or manual floats are carried out. Remove all hay or straw bedding following the float until your horse is fully awake from the sedation. This is done to prevent
choke.The sedation usual- ly lasts approximately one hour. Until the next float is scheduled, monitor your horse for halitosis, facial swelling and reluctance with the bit. If these problems are seen prior to your next scheduled dental, contact your veterinarian promptly.
Power Instruments and Manual Floats Some myths have developed
between the use of power versus manual floats. Some argue that the power equipment is too aggressive and can cause heat that is harmful to the tooth. Others believe that you get a better float with the power instruments over manual floats. Neither of these thoughts are
correct.There are dif- ferent ways of achieving the same end result and the experience of the individual behind these instru- ments is the key. Great tools in the wrong hands can be disas- trous. Great instruments in the trained professional’s hands is the best combination for your horse. Please
visit
http://youtu.be/B5KNSx7_VsQ or Scan Laura Frost BSc DVM Past Dental Committee Member of the American Association of Equine Practitioners
Respectfully, Laura Frost BSc., DVM
Halton Equine Veterinary Ser- vices
905-659-4387
www.hevs.ca
Have a question or topic of inter- est? Send us a message on Face- book to Halton Equine Veterinary Services. Visit
www.hevs.ca
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